Urban and environmental planning

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The sustainability of tomorrow's communities depends on how they are planned today

Rapid urbanisation, a changing climate, and a carbon-constrained economy, are key challenges. Professional urban, regional and environmental planners are playing an increasing role in ensuring we live in more sustainable and vibrant communities.

Learn how to manage environmental issues and human activities in urban and regional planning practices. You'll develop specialist knowledge and skills in the areas of land use and environmental planning, biophysical, socio-economic and cultural sciences, statutory planning in the Queensland context, and professional and ethical planning practice.

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Study urban and environmental planning at Griffith

The inclusion of work-integrated learning activities in the urban and environmental planning degree program demonstrates our commitment to preparing graduates for success in their working life.

Our planning degrees are distinctive in putting the “environment” into planning policy and practice – you’ll study within Australia’s first School of Environment. We provide design and evidence based planning studios that draw upon the socio-economic and biophysical sciences to give you the skills you’ll need to tackle complex real world contemporary planning problems.

We have one of the largest teams of urban and environmental planning educators in Australia, who are leaders in the field. The Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia to ensure our graduates meet the strict accreditation requirements for employment as a professional planner.

5-Star Rated

Architecture and Planning at Griffith are rated 5-stars for Educational Experience, Teaching Quality and Skills Development by the Good Universities Guide 2018, a leading independent provider of high-quality education and career information.

Ethan Bowering

Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning/Bachelor of Science

During his time at Griffith, Ethan Bowering won the Prime Minister's Australia Asia Award, travelling to Hong Kong to study, and interned in Beijing with the United Nations Environment Programme. After graduating, he landed a job as a policy officer for the Commonwealth Department of the Environment. Now he's completing a Master of Public Policy at the prestigious University of Cambridge, thanks to receiving a Cambridge Australia A P Platt Scholarship. He hopes this qualification will prepare him for a leadership role in environmental policy in Australia.

Study options

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Degrees	Campus	OP
Bachelor of Environmental Science	Nathan	15
Bachelor of Environmental Science	Gold Coast	15
Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning	Gold Coast	15
Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning	Nathan	15
Graduate Certificate in Urban and Environmental Planning	Nathan
Graduate Diploma of Research Studies in Environment	Gold Coast Nathan
Master of Environment	Nathan Online
Master of Environmental Engineering	Nathan Online
Master of Urban and Environmental Planning	Nathan

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Expand your qualifications and your career options with our range of double degrees. As a double degree graduate, you’ll have a special skill set that will help you stand out with future employers.

Double Degrees	Campus	OP
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Environmental Science	Nathan	12
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Environmental Science	Gold Coast	12
Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning/Bachelor of Science	Nathan	15
Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning/Bachelor of Science	Gold Coast	15

It is important to check the degree requirements including placement requirements, before you apply.

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Career outcomes

Our graduates are highly successful and follow a number of career paths, from urban planning in cities through to strategic planning for metropolitan regions; from planning for natural resource management to transport and social planning. You may find work in development companies implementing proposals for new housing estates, tourism complexes, transport networks, shopping centres and other commercial projects. You'll also find opportunities with all levels of government, including state and local government agencies, as well as business and industry groups, community organisations and private consulting firms.

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03 Oct 2019

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04 Jul 2019

Graduate’s sustainable Lady Elliot Island design wins national architecture award

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Monday 21 October — Friday 25 October

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Tuesday 29 October — Thursday 31 October

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Monday 16 December — Thursday 19 December

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