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Postgraduate Study in Land Planning and Development

    Creating the spaces where people live and work

    Built environments play a significant role in how we function as groups of people – suburbs, towns, cities, societies.  Additionally, there is growing concern about how we respond to the natural environments within which all human activity takes place.

    Land and land use decisions have cultural, social, legal, economic and ecosystem implications and this BSc degree offers a broad perspective on these issues.

    While it may be noticeable if our built environments are poorly designed, through studying this degree, you will recognise the attributes of excellence in planning and urban development.

    Why study Land Planning and Development?

    Land planning, land administration and the process of land subdivision have significant impacts on the layout and function of human and natural landscapes. These activities influence the way land is used, patterns of residential development and assessments of the economic potential of land. For some, land also has an important cultural value.

    This degree provides an excellent foundation for those wanting a career in planning, land development and resource management, especially in relation to the subdivision and administration of land. It differs from other New Zealand planning degrees in that it emphasises engineering design and land administration, from Pākehā and Māori perspectives, as well as covering essential aspects of New Zealand legislation that relate to land development. It encompasses the practical aspects of planning and planning law.


    Are you just starting uni?

    Learn about studying Land Planning and Development as an undergraduate at Otago.

    Graduate Qualifications

    Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.

    Papers

    View a list of all related papers below.

    SURV papers

    Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
    SURV120 2025 Surveying and Spatial Science 18 points Semester 1, Semester 2
    SURV130 2025 People, Place and the Built Environment 18 points Semester 2
    SURV201 2025 Surveying Methods 1 18 points Semester 1
    SURV202 2025 Surveying Mathematics 18 points Semester 2
    SURV203 2025 Land Development Engineering 1 18 points Semester 1
    SURV204 2025 Land Development Engineering 2 18 points Semester 2
    SURV205 2025 Statutory Land Planning 1 18 points Semester 2
    SURV206 2025 Land Tenure 1 18 points Semester 2
    SURV220 2025 Geographic Information Science 18 points Semester 1
    SURV298 2025 Introductory Field Camp 0 points 1st Non standard period (3 February 2025 - 21 February 2025)
    SURV301 2025 Surveying Methods 2 18 points 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 28 November 2025)
    SURV302 2025 Geodetic Reference Systems and Network Analysis 18 points Semester 1
    SURV303 2025 Urban Design 1 18 points Semester 1
    SURV304 2025 Land Development Engineering 3 18 points Semester 2
    SURV306 2025 Land Tenure 2 18 points Semester 2
    SURV307 2025 Cadastral Surveying 1 18 points Semester 2
    SURV309 2025 Remote Sensing for Earth Observation 18 points Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
    SURV314 2025 3D Reality Capture 18 points Semester 1
    SURV319 2025 Spatial Algorithms and Programming 18 points Semester 1
    SURV320 2025 Spatial Analysis and Visualisation 18 points Semester 2
    SURV322 2025 Hydrographic Surveying 18 points Semester 1
    SURV329 2025 Selected Topics in Surveying 1 18 points Semester 1, Semester 2
    SURV399 2025 Third Year Field Course 0 points 1st Non standard period (27 October 2025 - 19 November 2025)
    SURV413 2025 Resource Mapping and Image Processing 18 points Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
    SURV418 2025 Advanced Geographic Information Science 18 points Semester 2
    SURV450 2025 Professional Practice 18 points Semester 2
    SURV451 2025 Surveying Methods 3 18 points Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
    SURV452 2025 Hydrographic Surveying 2 18 points Semester 2
    SURV453 2025 Urban Design 2 18 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV455 2025 Statutory Planning B 18 points Semester 1
    SURV456 2025 Land Tenure 3 18 points Semester 1
    SURV457 2025 Cadastral Surveying 3 18 points Semester 1
    SURV458 2025 Marine Law and the Environment 18 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV459 2025 Engineering Surveying 18 points Semester 2
    SURV462 2025 Hydrographic Field Design and Voyage 18 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV463 2025 Advanced Practical Techniques in Hydrography 18 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV465 2025 Land Development Management 18 points Semester 1
    SURV469 2025 Selected Topics in Surveying 2 18 points Semester 1, Semester 2
    SURV470 2025 Professional Project 18 points Semester 1, Semester 2
    SURV473 2025 Special Topic 36 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV474 2025 Special Topic 36 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV480 2025 Research Project 36 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 19 June 2026)
    SURV499 2025 Vacation Employment 0 points Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year
    SURV509 2025 Advanced Remote Sensing for Earth Observation 20 points Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
    SURV513 2025 Resource Mapping and Image Processing 20 points Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
    SURV514 2025 Advanced 3D Reality Capture 20 points Semester 1
    SURV518 2025 GIScience for Postgraduates 20 points Semester 2
    SURV519 2025 Spatial Algorithms and Programming 20 points Semester 1
    SURV520 2025 Advanced Spatial Analysis and Visualisation 20 points Semester 2
    SURV551 2025 Advanced Surveying Methods 20 points Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
    SURV552 2025 Advanced Hydrographic Surveying 20 points Semester 2
    SURV553 2025 Advanced Urban Design 20 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV555 2025 Advanced Statutory Planning 20 points Semester 1
    SURV556 2025 Advanced Land Tenure 20 points Semester 1
    SURV557 2025 Advanced Cadastral Surveying 20 points Semester 1
    SURV558 2025 Advanced Marine Law and the Environment 20 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV559 2025 Advanced Engineering Surveying 20 points Semester 2
    SURV562 2025 Hydrographic Field Design and Voyage 20 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV563 2025 Advanced Practical Techniques in Hydrography 20 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV565 2025 Advanced Land Development Management 20 points Semester 1
    SURV569 2025 Advanced Topics in Surveying 20 points Semester 1, Semester 2
    SURV573 2025 Special Topic 40 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV574 2025 Special Topic 40 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV575 2025 Special Topic 40 points Not offered in 2025
    SURV580 2025 Research project 40 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 19 June 2026)
    SURV590 2025 Dissertation 60 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 19 June 2026)

    Contacts

    Department of Surveying

    Email  surveying@otago.ac.nz
    Web  otago.ac.nz/surveying


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    Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.

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