Changes coming to Urban Planning Program from 2027

From January 2027, changes to the Bachelor of Urban Planning and Bachelor of Urban Planning (Honours) programs and their course offerings will be introduced.

Students commencing their studies in 2027 will enrol in the new program structure, which will be delivered for the first time from 2027.

Information about the program requirements is available online:

New program requirements (from 2027)

Bachelor of Urban Planning (2027)

Current and previous program requirements

Please ensure you select the relevant commencement year at the top of the page when viewing program requirements.

What does this mean for current students?

If you commenced your studies before 2027 and remain enrolled in your current program, you can continue under your existing program structure and complete your degree as planned.

You may also be eligible to transfer to the new program structure if you believe it better aligns with your interests and career goals. The choice is entirely yours—there is no requirement to change programs.

The School of Architecture, Design and Planning is here to support you in understanding your options and making the decision that is right for you. This webpage, together with the information below, is designed to help you navigate these changes with confidence.

Review the tabs on this webpage to learn more about these changes, what they mean for you, and the answers to frequently asked questions.
To assist with planning your enrolment, transition checklists are available at the end of this page. These checklists outline your options for either remaining in your current program or transitioning to the new program structure.
A Padlet has been created for students to ask general questions about the changes. Please note that the Padlet is intended for general enquiries only. Questions requiring personalised advice, including individual study plan reviews or enrolment guidance, will need to be discussed during an Academic Advisor appointment.
Academic Advisors are available to help you confirm your study plan, understand your options, and answer any questions you may have. For more information, see How do I make an appointment with the academic advisor?

What has changed?

For students commencing in 2027, key changes to the 2027 Bachelor of Urban Planning (BUPlan) include a reduction in the overall program duration as well as changes to the core courses and program electives.

	Pre-2026	2026	2027
Program Name	Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning	Bachelor of Urban Planning	Bachelor of Urban Planning
Program Duration	64 units, 4 years (or part-time equivalent)	64 units, 4 years (or part-time equivalent)	48 units, 3 years (or part-time equivalent)
Core courses	50 units	50 units	46 to 48 units
Work Integrated Learning Core Courses	Not required, optional through program electives	Not required, optional through program electives	2 to 4 units included in Core Courses
Program Elective Courses	10 to 14 units	10 to 14 Units	0 to 2 units
General Elective Courses	0 to 4 units	0 to 4 units	Not available

Program duration

The new Bachelor of Urban Planning has been redesigned as a three-year fully accredited undergraduate degree, in line with the Planning Institute of Australia's 2026 Accreditation Policy.

Current students enrolled in the pre-2027 program can be assured that their existing program remains fully accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) and will continue to provide a recognised professional qualification. This program is delivered over four years.

To support delivery of the new accredited three-year degree and maintain compliance with PIA accreditation requirements, the revised program has a more prescribed structure, with limited elective study (0–2 units of program electives).

This change enables students commencing from 2027 to complete a professionally accredited planning qualification in a shorter timeframe while continuing to meet the standards required for entry into the planning profession.

Core courses

The new three-year Bachelor of Urban Planning has been redesigned to meet the requirements of the Planning Institute of Australia's 2026 Accreditation Policy while maintaining the knowledge and skills required for professional accreditation.

As part of this redesign, the BUPlan Core course requirements have been revised and reduced from 50 units to 46–48 units. Some existing courses will be discontinued and offered for the final time between 2027 and 2029, depending on the course. New core courses will also be introduced as part of the revised program.

Students who remain in a pre-2027 program can still complete their degree as planned. Where a required course is discontinued, an appropriate replacement course will be made available to ensure students can continue progressing through their program.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

A key feature of the new program is the inclusion of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) as a core requirement. This reflects the program's emphasis on professional practice and industry engagement.

In the pre-2027 programs, WIL was available as a program elective. From 2027, students in the new program will complete 2–4 units of WIL as part of their core studies by selecting from specified ADP-shared courses during third year.

Program and General Electives

To support delivery of a fully accredited planning qualification in three years, the new program provides less elective choice than the pre-2027 programs.

Students in the new program can complete up to 2 units of program electives, allowing them to pursue a specialised area of interest or participate in unique learning opportunities. General electives are no longer included in the program structure.

Students may choose to complete one 2-unit program elective alongside 2 units of Work Integrated Learning, or complete 4 units of Work Integrated Learning in place of program electives.

I want to continue in the existing pre-2027 program structure

Yes. If you commenced your studies before 2027 and have established your place in the program by successfully completing at least 2 units, you can continue in your existing program structure and complete your degree under the requirements that applied when you commenced.

As the new program is introduced, some existing core courses will be progressively discontinued and replaced with new courses. This means that some adjustments to your study plan may be required. To help you navigate these changes, a transition checklist has been developed outlining when courses will be discontinued and the approved alternative courses that can be used to meet your program requirements.

The transition arrangements have been designed to ensure that students in pre-2027 programs can continue progressing towards graduation and are not disadvantaged by these changes. We encourage you to review the transition checklist and plan your enrolment carefully. If you would like assistance with your study plan or have questions about your options, Academic Advisors are available to help and can provide personalised advice.

Can I change to the new program structure?

Yes. In some circumstances, students who commenced their studies before 2027 may choose to transfer to the new 2027 program structure.

Before making this decision, it is important to carefully consider how the new program requirements align with your completed studies and future study plans. If your program change request is approved, you will not be able to return to your previous program structure.

We strongly encourage you to complete the relevant transition checklist and seek academic advice before submitting a program change request. Academic Advisors are available to help you understand your options, review your study plan, and make an informed decision.

Please be aware that transitioning to the new program may have implications for your study plan. In some cases:

There may not be direct equivalents for all new compulsory courses.
Additional courses may be required to satisfy the new program requirements.
The new courses will be introduced progressively, which may affect the timing of when you can complete particular requirements and could impact your graduation timeline.

To apply to change to the new program structure, you must:

Complete the relevant transition checklist.
Use the transition checklist to develop your proposed study plan.
Attend an academic advice appointment to review your transition checklist and study plan.
Submit your finalised transition checklist and study plan to the Faculty at enquiries@eait.uq.edu.au.
Submit a Program Change request through SI-net during the published application period (refer to the Academic Calendar).

Taking these steps will help ensure you understand the implications of changing programs and are well positioned to meet the requirements of the new program structure.

Can I change to the new program structure to complete my degree in 3 years?

Not necessarily. Whether transferring to the 2027 program will reduce the overall duration of your studies depends on the courses you have already completed and how far you have progressed in your current program.

To help determine which option is best for you, we recommend completing both transition checklists—one for continuing in your current program and one for transitioning to the 2027 program. This will allow you to compare the remaining requirements for each pathway and understand the implications of changing programs.

Once you have completed the relevant checklist(s), you should develop a study plan by mapping your remaining courses against the semesters in which they are offered. This will help you assess the likely duration of your studies under each option.

Please note that moving to the new program structure does not automatically result in an earlier graduation date. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may be required to complete additional courses, or the timing of course availability may affect your progression.

If, after reviewing your options, you decide you would like to transition to the 2027 program structure, please follow the steps outlined in Can I change to the new program structure?

Students considering Honours should take this into account when comparing pathways. Under the new program structure, the Bachelor of Urban Planning is a three-year degree, with Honours offered as a separate one-year program. As a result, completing Honours may require an additional year of study and could affect the overall duration of your studies. For further information, please refer to I am interested in completing Honours, what does this mean for me?

I am interested in completing honours, what does this mean for me?

Your Honours options will depend on the program you are enrolled in and when you plan to commence Honours.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning (pre-2026) or the 2026 Bachelor of Urban Planning can still apply to enter the Bachelor of Urban Planning (Honours) in their fourth year. This Honours program will continue to be available for commencing students until the end of 2029, after which it will be discontinued.

Students who complete one of these undergraduate programs and are due to commence a fourth year from 2030 onwards will no longer be able to enrol in the Bachelor of Urban Planning (Honours). Instead, they may be eligible to apply for the new Bachelor of Built Environment & Design (Honours), a one-year honours program offered by ADP following completion of their undergraduate degree.

Students who commence the 2027 Bachelor of Urban Planning or who choose to transfer to the 2027 program structure will not be eligible to enrol in the Bachelor of Urban Planning (Honours). This is because the new Bachelor of Urban Planning is a three-year undergraduate degree, with Honours offered separately through the Bachelor of Built Environment & Design (Honours).

If you are considering transferring to the 2027 program, it is important to consider your Honours plans when comparing your options. Depending on your circumstances, remaining in your current program structure may provide a different pathway to Honours than transitioning to the new program.

If you would like advice on which pathway best aligns with your academic and career goals, we encourage you to discuss your options with an Academic Advisor.

How do I make an appointment with the academic advisor?

Academic Advisors are available to help you understand your options, review your study plan, answer questions about the program changes, and provide personalised enrolment advice.

To make the most of your appointment, please complete the following steps before booking:

Review the information provided on this webpage.
Complete the relevant transition checklist.
Prepare a draft study plan based on your preferred pathway.

Once you have completed these steps, you can book an appointment with an Academic Advisor here.

To ensure Academic Advisors can provide you with the most accurate advice, you will be asked to submit your completed transition checklist and draft study plan when making your booking. These documents will be reviewed prior to your appointment and used to guide the discussion.

If you are unsure which transition checklist applies to you, we encourage you to review the available resources on this webpage before booking your appointment.

Will the School be checking if my enrolment is correct?

The School is committed to supporting you through these program changes and has a range of resources available to help you plan your enrolment. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that your enrolment complies with your program requirements and supports your progression towards graduation.

We strongly encourage all students to review the relevant transition checklist and use it to develop a study plan before enrolling in courses. These resources have been designed to help you understand your program requirements and make informed enrolment decisions.

Please note that formal graduation checks are conducted by the EAIT Faculty during your expected final semester. As a result, the School may not be aware of issues with an individual student's enrolment or study plan before this time.

If you are unsure about your enrolment, study plan, or program requirements, we encourage you to book an appointment with an Academic Advisor as early as possible. Academic Advisors can provide personalised guidance and help ensure you are on track to meet your program requirements.

Students wishing to transition to the new 2027 program structure are required to attend an Academic Advisor appointment before submitting a program change request.

Transition checklists and study plans

Please refer to the relevant transition checklist and study plans below to help you understand your options and plan your enrolment.

A blank study plan template is also available to help you map out your remaining courses and progression to graduation.

I would like to continue in the pre-2026 Bachelor of Regional and Town Planning (BRTP) program structure

Use the following resources:

Study plans for students continuing in the pre-2026 BRTP program are available on the Program Information and Study Plans page. Please refer to the Planning (pre-2027 program) section.

I would like to continue in the 2026 Bachelor of Urban Planning (BUPlan) program structure

Use the following resources:

Study plans for students continuing in the 2026 BUPlan program are available on the Program Information and Study Plans page. Please refer to the Planning (pre-2027 program) section.

I would like to transition to the 2027 Bachelor of Urban Planning (BUPlan) program structure

Before deciding whether to transfer, we strongly recommend completing the transition checklist and preparing a study plan so that you can understand the implications for your remaining courses and expected completion date.

Use the following resource:

Transition checklist - Continuing Students Transitioning to the 2027 Bachelor of Urban Planning

If you are considering transitioning to the 2027 program structure, you must attend an Academic Advisor appointment before submitting a Program Change request.