Environmental issues and concerns are becoming increasingly important in the area of urban planning. Planners respond to emerging challenges and pressures by evaluating, analysing and creating innovative solutions, and communicating them effectively. This involves working collaboratively with communities and other key stakeholders.
Griffith’s urban and environmental planning graduates enjoy an edge in the job market because they can work across social, environmental and economic divides to understand and solve complex environmental problems.
There are many other reasons for choosing to study urban and environmental engineering at Griffith:
- Top researchers
Griffith’s urban and environmental planning research is performing above world standard, placing it among the equal top-ranked planning schools in Australia, according to the Federal Government’s Excellence in Research for Australia* 2010 evaluation. Griffith research in the areas of physical geography and environmental geosciences, and soil sciences are also ranked above world standard. Our researchers are engaged with contemporary planning issues at a variety of levels, both in Australia and overseas. - Expert teaching informed by industry
Griffith has one of the largest teams of environmental planning educators in the country. Our teachers are leaders in their fields who have previously held planning and environmental roles in private practice, state government departments and international consulting firms. Many currently hold positions on federal, state and local government boards and advisory bodies. - Award-winning teachers
Our award-winning teachers include Dr Eddo Coiacetto who has received an Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, and Dr Caryl Bosman who has won a Griffith 'Best Teacher' award for her studio courses on several occasions. - Practical industry experience
All final-year undergraduate planning students complete a coordinated professional work placement as a part of their study program. - Top facilities
You will have 24-hour access to dedicated state-of-the-art planning studios and Geographic Information Systems computer laboratories with the latest software. - Global opportunities
Our Study Abroad program gives you the opportunity to complete one or two semesters of your degree at an overseas university. In recent years, students have studied in the UK, the USA, Canada, Austria, France, Denmark and Finland. See griffith.edu.au/international/study-abroad - Wide range of specialisations
You can choose a double degree which will allow you to specialise in: applied biology, applied chemistry, climate change adaptation, ecotourism, environmental science, marine biology, environmental protection, environmental sustainability, or natural resources and pollution. - Scholarships worth $4million
Griffith has one of the most rewarding and supportive university scholarship programs in Australia, offering more than 400 scholarships to the value of $4 million. The scholarships can help with course fees, text books, accommodation costs and living expenses.
In particular, high-achieving urban and environmental planning students are eligible to apply for one of 10 School of Environment Undergraduate Commencing Bursaries valued at $1500 each. See griffith.edu.au/scholarships - World-class university ranking
Griffith University is one of only two universities in South East Queensland to make all three of the world's most prominent university ranking indices in 2011: the ARWU/Shanghai Jiao Tong Index, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS World University Rankings. Griffith also made the prestigious Nature Publishing Index 2010. These rankings cement Griffith’s reputation as a leading teaching and research university.
I enjoyed completing university with a very strong and tight-knit cohort. It was great that friends would rarely be fragmented between classes. It helped my learning, and encouraged my colleagues to also gain an enthusiasm for learning. I enjoyed the teaching style that lecturers possessed. A lot of the case studies or examples they used from around the world really motivated me in my learning, and now my career.. (Graduate Destinations Survey, B. Environmental Planning graduate student 2009)
The planning practicum program allowed the students and lecturers to gain a valuable insight into what its like to work in a professional environment. This was extremely useful to help understand what fields we would like to work in.. (B Environmental Planning Graduate 2008)
Working in an environment where people really valued the natural environment. That cannot be mimicked and is invaluable towards getting the most out of the environmental planning course. (G.Dip Environmental Planning graduate 2007)
1 *Based on fields of research at the 4-digit level in the Excellence in Research for Australia 2010 National Report