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Master of Planning (MPlan)

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    Overview

    The Master of Planning (MPlan) degree requires two years of full-time, or the equivalent in part-time, study and entails postgraduate coursework in planning and planning-related subjects, as well as a significant piece of supervised research. There are two streams: one involving a thesis, and the other a research project. The normal admission requirement for both streams is a completed Bachelor's degree in any subject(s) relevant to planning.

    A candidate's academic programme is decided at enrolment, and the research topic is determined at the end of the first year of studies. The thesis or the research project must be submitted by the end of the final year of the programme.

    The MPlan is a professional qualification, and graduates are employed in local, regional and national government agencies, health boards, industry and planning consultancies in New Zealand and overseas. Some proceed to doctoral studies in preparation for employment in a university or as consultants on policy and planning.

    Information for new applicants

    This programme is subject to limitations on enrolment numbers. Qualified domestic students are given first preference, but places may be available for international students.

    Related Info

    Contact

    Website otago.ac.nz/planning

    Subjects

          Requirements

          See all programmes

          Regulations for the Degree of Master of Planning (MPlan)

          1. Admission to the Programme

            1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).
            2. Every applicant shall have been awarded a bachelor's degree in any subject with an average grade of at least B or have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).

          2. Structure of the Programme

            1. The programme of study shall consist of PLAN 435, PLAN 438, PLAN 535 ,GEOG 401, GEOG 457, GEOG 536, and Planning-related papers as approved by the Co-ordinator of the Planning Programme, to a total value of 240 points.
            2. With the approval of the Co-ordinator of the Planning Programme, one or more papers from relevant subject areas may be substituted for a prescribed paper.
            3. In exceptional circumstances, with the approval of the Co-ordinator of the Planning Programme, GEOG 401 and the 80 further points of Planning-related papers may be replaced by a Planning thesis PLAN5, with a value of 100 points.
            4. A candidate shall, before commencing the investigation to be described in the planning thesis, secure the approval of the Co-ordinator of the Planning Programme for the topic, the supervisor(s) and the proposed course of the investigation.
            5. A candidate shall submit the thesis by 1 December of the year of enrolment in the thesis.
            6. A candidate may not present a planning thesis which has previously been accepted for another degree.

          3. Duration of the Programme

            1. A candidate shall normally follow a programme of study for not less than two years.
            2. A candidate must satisfy the requirements for the degree within four years of commencing the programme.

          4. Examination of the Planning Thesis

            1. The Head of School concerned (or nominee) shall appoint a Convener of Examiners who shall oversee the examination of each thesis.
            2. The thesis shall be examined by at least two examiners, one of whom may be external to the University.
            3. Where both examiners are internal to the University, the examined thesis shall be subject to external moderation.
            4. The candidate's supervisor shall not be an examiner.
            5. Each examiner shall supply a written report on the planning thesis and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the work as submitted.
            6. Where the examiners cannot agree on a result, the Head of Programme should so report to the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Humanities) or nominee who shall arrive at a decision after consulting a referee who should normally be external to the University.

          5. Withdrawal from the Programme

            Where a candidate withdraws from the programme after completing 120 points, the Pro- Vice Chancellor (Humanities) or nominee may recommend the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects.

          6. Level of Award of the Degree

            The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.

          7. Variations

            The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.

          Note
          (i) A personal programme of study approved under regulation 7 may not meet the requirements for membership of the New Zealand Planning Institute.

          This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

          Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.

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