Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Become a professional urban and regional planner. Develop the expertise to shape and improve urban and rural environments to make them more functional, sustainable, and appealing.

Plan great places for a sustainable future

Urban and regional planning plays a key role in guiding the spatial design, development, and purpose of cities, settlements, rural and natural landscapes.

Planners look at many aspects of modern life to provide advice on the way that changes to the environment should be made or managed. They look at all social, economic, environmental, and geographic factors to help create robust and sustainable communities and countries.

When you study for the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURPlan), you’ll learn to plan a range of areas—including managing coastal environments, and planning the development of housing and communities, transport networks, and urban regeneration.

Who can study for a MURPlan

You don’t need a specific undergraduate degree to begin the MURPlan. Students come from backgrounds as varied as:

• social sciences
• sciences
• design
• architecture
• environmental management
• law
• politics
• commerce.

Many of our students are returning to university study from work to launch a new career.

Build on your existing background and knowledge throughout your study. You’ll be able to use your new combination of skills to guide your future career in planning.

Accredited by the New Zealand Planning Institute

The MURPlan is a professional degree accredited by the New Zealand Planning Institute, an industry association that represents and supports planning in New Zealand.

When you study for the MURPlan, you’ll learn theoretical, practical, and professional skills that will help you step into work. With a core set of skills that you can apply across the planning profession, you’ll have a career for life.

How you’ll study

You can complete the MURPlan over four trimesters of study, working 40-45 hours per week.

Part one

Complete core courses in urban and regional planning that will give you a background in the principles and concepts, and their application. Develop practical skills through planning studios, professional and community engagement.

Examine planning theories, philosophies, and approaches. You’ll pay particular attention to the bicultural Aotearoa-New Zealand context and obligations to te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi).

Part two

Complete a supervised research project where you’ll propose planning solutions for an established urban or regional area.

Industry relationships

Apply your developing knowledge to the landscape and city around you. You’ll contribute to community and regional planning through our relationships with local council, central government, and professional planners.

Get the postgraduate Architecture and Design Innovation handbook

Find out more about your study options. Fill in a form to download our Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation handbook.

Download the handbook

Part-time study options

The MURPlan can be completed part-time, over six to eight trimesters of study of around 20 to 25 hours each week. Make sure you take this into account if you’re working.

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

Resources and facilities

You’ll have access to workspaces and technologies at the School of Architecture. This includes support and resources for model building, and the use of ArcGIS, and graphics packages. Take a tour of the facilities at the School of Architecture.

Future careers

Planning is a growing profession where graduate planners are always in demand. With a wide range of places to work and areas to focus, your career can grow and evolve as you do.

When you complete your degree, you will be qualified to work as a professional planner in a range of organisations and agencies. These include:

• city and regional councils
• consultancies
• iwi
• government organisations such as Kāinga Ora, the Department of Conservation, Heritage New Zealand, and NZTA
• economic, social development, environmental management, conservation, and community organisations.

Why Wellington

Wellington is a great place to be a student. It’s culturally rich, it has a stunning natural environment, and you can walk almost everywhere.

Scholarships

The Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation has a number of prizes and scholarships available each year.

We have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.

• Postgraduate and doctoral scholarships
• Search scholarships.

Financial support

You can get support to stay on top of your finances by downloading our money management resources or by meeting with one of our student finance advisers.

We can show you how to manage your student loan or allowance, and help you sort out your budget. For students facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for support from the Hardship Fund. Depending on your situation, you might also be able to get government or community support. Talk to a student finance adviser Financing your study

Work as a research assistant

You may be able to work as a research assistant while you study. These are fixed-term, short contracts where you assist an academic on a specific research project.

Find out more about current research at the School of Architecture.

Join our postgraduate community

Postgraduate study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington will help you build valuable relationships and networks with peers, University staff, and future colleagues.

You’ll have opportunities to attend events, seminars, workshops, and social functions.

The Postgraduate Students’ Association offers information on study at the University and provides a voice for you on campus.

Professional connections

The Wellington School of Architecture has professional connections and partnerships with a range of national and local organisations.

During the summer break you may be offered the opportunity to work as an intern, through our relationships with professional organisations like consultancies and councils.

While you’re studying, you can join the New Zealand Planning Institute and build connections through the Urbanerds grassroots community and our alumni group on LinkedIn.

Study for a PhD

If you do well in your Master’s degree, and show an aptitude for advanced research, you’ll be able to apply to do a PhD.

You’ll carry out original and sustained research under supervision from world-class academics in the School of Architecture.

As a PhD candidate, you’ll also be supported by the Faculty of Graduate Research.