Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Pathway to Master of Urban and Regional Planning)
Degree Level Undergraduate
Year 2025
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Entry requirements
Admission criteria
The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.
Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:
Recent secondary education- Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND - Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
- Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
- Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.
OR
Higher education study- Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
- Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above
OR
Vocational Education and Training (VET)- Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Diploma level or above
OR
Work and life experience- Qualify for Special Entry, or
- Complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
- Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past
Essential requirements for admission
Prerequisites
NoneAssumed Knowledge
None - Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
Degree overview
- Guarantee* your future place in postgraduate studies in urban and regional planning through our Fast-track to Masters package – SA’s only degree accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia.
- Benefit from our long-standing history – with more than 70 years’ experience, we’re Australia’s longest provider of planning education.
- Engage in real-life projects through our unique award-winning student Design and Construct courses, where you’ll collaborate in designing and building real-world projects across Australia - the longest running and largest practice-based teaching program of its type in Australia.
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the built environment and expand your career opportunities when you graduate with a diverse skillset that combines design, technical, and analytical skills.
- Work in award-winning, purpose-designed facilities including dedicated design studios and workshops.
- Study in a state that has developed a world class e-planning system for development assessment based on a fundamental overhaul of procedures, policies, zones and overlays.
- UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities1, we’ll ensure you get the experience your future profession demands so it’ll feel like you’re studying one minute and in a career the next.
*Academic criteria apply.
1UNSTOPPABLE® is a Kellogg Company trade mark used under licence. Ranked #43, 2024 THE Young University Rankings.
Snapshot
This Fast-track to Masters package enables you to commence your studies with a 3-year Bachelor of Architectural Studies and secure your place in the 2-year Master of Urban and Regional Planning*.
Studying this degree combination will help you stand out in the crowd with a strong skill set that combines design, technical and analytical skills. You’ll graduate with a comprehensive understanding of the built environment and the practical expertise to embark on a career in Planning.
The Bachelor of Architectural Studies has a strong practical focus. In architectural design studio classes, you will design real and speculative projects informed by contemporary architectural practice and construction, as well as undertake research and hands-on learning through industry-led and practically-focused courses.
In the Master of Urban and Regional Planning you’ll develop expertise in sustainable urban design and development, planning governance and policy, planning for healthy cities, planning law and ethics, development assessment, social policy and community-based planning, and transport and planning. You’ll have access to, and learn from, prominent industry figures through lectures, national and international field trips, industry/professional-based projects and workshops.
You will graduate with highly developed professional competencies so you can make sound, logical and ethical decisions in a range of planning contexts.
*Academic criteria apply
What you'll learn
The Bachelor of Architectural Studies will provide you with the skills and knowledge to understand design principles and methods; building structures and construction systems; digital design and communication methods; sustainable design strategies; and the social and cultural history that shapes our world.
This degree has a strong practical focus – in architectural design studio classes, you will design real and speculative projects informed by contemporary architectural practice and construction, as well as undertake research and hands-on learning through industry-led and practically-focused coursework. As well as the opportunity to gain relevant practical experience, you will gain the skills needed to design architectural environments that range in scale and complexity.
This Master of Urban and Regional Planning will equip you with the knowledge, skills and practical expertise needed to embark on a career in the field of urban and regional planning. A key component of the degree relates to the planning and development of environmentally sustainable cities and regions that acknowledge social diversity and the need for greater physical activity, social interaction, consumption of nutritious food and contact with nature, which can help to prevent chronic diseases. You will also develop advanced research skills when you complete an individual research project under the guidance of a qualified research supervisor.
You will learn about:
- sustainable urban design and development
- planning governance and policy
- planning for healthy cities
- planning law and ethics
- development assessment
- social policy and community-based planning
- transport and planning
You will also develop advanced knowledge of research methodologies and their applications to particular planning research tasks and challenges.
You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.
Study hours
For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects, as well as to contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12–26 hours of study when at university and 14–28 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include individual and/or group:
- presentations
- reports
- essays
- placement or professional project
- literature/artefact reviews
- research proposals
- research projects.
In your undergraduate degree you’ll also participate in:
- Design-based architectural and urban projects of varying scales and complexities presented and assessed through design portfolios and oral presentations
- Research and analysis into architecture and cultural history and design precedent, including Aboriginal and First Nations, presented and assessed through essays, reports, and oral presentations
- Demonstrating 2D and 3D skills in composing digital and analogue drawings and models, including Virtual and Augmented Reality.
Global opportunities
Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. You may have the option to undertake an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas while you study. We have links with universities worldwide, as well as a range of travel grants available to make going overseas much more accessible.
You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.
Take a look at the global opportunities available.
Why Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Pathway to Master of Urban and Regional Planning)
This Fast-track to Masters package guarantees* your future place in postgraduate studies in urban and regional planning and sets you up with highly developed professional competencies so you can make sound, logical and ethical decisions in a range of planning contexts.
UniSA has more than 70 years of experience in planning education – which makes us the longest provider of planning education in the country. The Master of Urban and Regional Planning also has academic alignment to our UniSA Creative Research Centres including the Australia Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE) and the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI).
In the Bachelor of Architectural Studies you’ll have the opportunity to take part in the unique award-winning Design and Construct courses, where you’ll collaborate, design, and build community projects in remote locations in Australia and overseas with students from other design disciplines, just like in the real world.
Throughout your studies, you will have access to and learn from prominent industry figures through lectures, national and international field trips, industry/professional-based projects and workshops.
*Academic criteria apply
Your career
Planners work at local, national and international levels and are involved in a diverse range of professional activities, including environmental, social, heritage, transport and community planning, and urban design. Planners often find employment with local, state and federal governments and in private consultancies.
Graduates may be involved in:
- planning and designing towns, suburbs and regions
- development assessment
- environmental and transport planning
- social and community-based planning
- the protection of heritage buildings and landscapes
- planning for active living and health promotion
- neighbourhood and urban regeneration
- development of regional and rural communities, and
- infill and master planning.
Roles to consider include:
- Urban designer: design at the urban scale and participate in educating civic leaders and public about shaping our streets, suburbs, and cities
- Heritage consultant: develop sustainable re-use practices in design to protect and maintain heritage projects and sites of important ongoing cultural value
- Project or construction manager: involves initiating, planning, and managing a team to deliver projects of varying scales and complexities.
Professional Accreditation
The Master of Urban and Regional Planning is recognised by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) and provides full exemption from the educational requirements for membership of the Institute. Holding a professionally accredited qualification enables graduates to apply for Corporate membership of PIA and subsequently undertake training to gain status as a Professional Certified Planner. Graduates will be required to undertake continuing professional development which is offered by PIA.
Applying to study with us:
- go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
- you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application
Alternative Pathways
Australian
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
International
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
see the full list of entry pathways that may apply
Deferment
This degree is available for deferment. This option is made available by responding to your offer during the application process via the SATAC website. Applicants who receive an offer into a midyear degree are eligible to defer for six months.
Scholarships
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
UniSA Excellence Scholarships
$5,000 scholarship for South Australian students with an ATAR of 99 who enrol to study a UniSA undergraduate degree.
UniSA Outstanding Achievement Scholarship
Up to $10,000 per annum (full time) for South Australian students who obtain an ATAR of 99.95 or IB equivalent and enrol to study at UniSA.
Your study experience and support
Our campuses are home to fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments. But you’ll also discover that your journey at UniSA is about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. You’ll find student sports and fitness facilities, community clinics, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
Student services
Our student services provide you with all the support you need at university. We want you to succeed, and if you need help, we're here to assist. You can access a full range of support services, including:
- academic counselling
- personal counselling
- social support services, including family support and nearby childcare
- common rooms
- prayer rooms
- security officers
- career services and mentoring
- Wirringka Student Services, offering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students a supportive place to study
- as well as services offered through our student association, USASA.
When you become a UniSA student, you can also contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and more.
24/7 digital environment
Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.
Your program director
Ask UniSA
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How do I apply?
The way you apply for UniSA will depend on the undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree you're interested in studying.
The majority of applications are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Check out more information on the SATAC website and follow the appropriate process for your degree of interest.
There are a small number of degrees that you need to apply for through direct application processes. The process you need to follow will be listed on the 'How to Apply' section of the degree homepage, but you'll also be taken to where you need to go if you hit the 'apply' button.
If you are interested in studying one of our 100% online degrees you'll need to apply directly to UniSA Online.
You can find more information about the application processes for UniSA on our How to Apply webpage.
If you're more interested in applying for a postgraduate degree by research, check out and follow the information in our step by step guide to applying. -
Is there a closing date for applications?
Applications for all degrees will close ahead of study commencing, but the timelines may vary for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Undergraduate
The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be guaranteed equal consideration is generally in very late November or early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers. More competitive degrees may not make any offers after the main offer round. Find more information on the Key Dates section of the SATAC website, but you can also call the Future Student Enquiries team for more information on 08 8302 376.
Postgraduate
Many postgraduate by coursework degrees do not have set closing dates. The exceptions are highly competitive degrees, so it is best to check – either on the degree homepage on the SATAC website or by checking with our Future Student Enquiries team.
As most postgraduate applications are assessed as they are submitted and offers are continuous, there are no set closing dates for applications. Degrees can be filled and closed with little notice so it is best to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on a place. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquires team on (08) 8302 2376 or submit an enquiry.
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What credit can I receive for previous studies?
You may be eligible for credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area and completed within a certain timeframe. Receiving credit or RPL will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree. You can read more about our pre-existing credit agreements through our online Credit Assessor. If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning (RPL) for this experience. Credit and RPL is assessed by the Program Director once you've received an offer, and you apply through UniSA's current student experts, Campus Central.
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Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?
Future Student Enquiries welcomes the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your study options at UniSA. We can discuss degree information, entry requirements and pathways, applications, general career outcomes and student life, so you have the information to make the best study decision for your future. Head to our Book an Appointment webpage to find a date and time to speak with us, and take your next steps on journey to university study.
