Victoria University of Wellington
Master of Urban and Regional Planning – MURPlan
Wellington, New Zealand
Master degree
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Dec 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
23 Feb 2026
TUITION FEES
NZD 45,700 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* approximately per 120 points
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
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.
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.
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.
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.