Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Help to create an environmentally and socially just future. The Master of Urban and Regional Planning looks to the future, shaping and developing the places we live in. We ensure these places work better for everyone, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally.

Effective planning requires knowledge and understanding of the social, economic, environmental, and geographic diversity of people and places. Planning plays a key role in determining the development, spatial design, and purpose of cities, settlements, and rural and natural landscapes.

Central to the MURPlan philosophy are the Māori concepts of manaakitanga (caring for people) and kaitiakitanga (caring for the environment). As a profession, planning engages with key issues of our times. It plays a leading role in addressing climate change, biodiversity and coastal protection, urban regeneration, housing provision, and economic development. It also engages with matters of environmental and social justice.

Entry requirements

To be accepted into this programme you need:

A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline from a tertiary institution in New Zealand, or an equivalent qualification, with an average grade of at least B; and

To be accepted by the Head of School as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.

The first requirement may be waived by the Associate Dean (Students) of the Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation for a candidate who has had extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind, equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree.

IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5 with no sub-score below 6.0

TOEFL: minimum score of 90 for the internet-based test with a minimum of 20 in writing

Pearson Test of English: minimum score of 58 (with a ‘Communicative’ score of not less than 50)

Victoria University of Wellington English for Academic Purpose (EAP) programme: minimum final scores of 4,4,5,5

Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176 or higher, with each skill score no less than 169

New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL): Level 5 (Academic)

NZAPA: English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3 (with no skill lower than Level 2)