Graduate Diploma in Urban Design
The information on this page applies to future students. Current students should refer to their faculty handbooks for course information.
The Graduate Diploma in Urban Design may be undertaken full-time over one year or part-time over two years. It will produce skilled graduates who may work on all continents in design, management and teaching roles. The course will offer students expertise in urban design and urbanism in East Asia and further allow students from international backgrounds to understand urban design in an Australian context.
At the heart of the course is the urban design studio, which will allow you to synthesise your background professional expertise with new urban design knowledge and skills. The latter are drawn from the core units of the course, which cover vital historical and theoretical dimensions of urbanism and design, urban morphological investigation, and the relationship between ecological processes and city form. Electives give you the opportunity to strengthen your knowledge in other key areas: for example, architects can take electives in planning - likewise, planners can extend their understanding of architecture; and all students can reinforce their knowledge of sustainability.
The graduate diploma builds on the foundation of the graduate certificate and coursework undertaken from the graduate diploma may be counted towards the requirements for the Master of Urban Design .
Units of study
For full information on Units of Study available in this course, please visit the Sydney Courses website
Unit of Study information on faculty page
Full units of study list
- ARCH9001 - Urban Design Studio A
- ARCH9002 - Urban Design Studio B
- ARCH9028 - Conservation Methods and Practices
- ARCH9039 - General Elective 1
- ARCH9040 - General Elective 2
- ARCH9058 - General Elective 7
- ARCH9059 - General Elective 8
- ARCH9060 - Urban Design Report
- ARCH9061 - East Asian Arch and Urbanism (Classical)
- ARCH9062 - Urban Design - Ideas and Methods
- ARCH9063 - Urban Morphology
- ARCH9074 - History and Theory of Conservation
- ARCH9075 - New Design in Old Settings
- ARCH9080 - Urban Ecology,Design and Planning
- ARCH9081 - Heritage Law and Policy
- ARCH9083 - Conservation of Modern Materials
- ARCH9085 - General Elective 9
- ARCH9086 - General Elective 10
- ARCH9087 - General Elective 11
- ARCH9088 - General Elective 12
- ARCH9100 - Introduction to Urban Design
- DESA9008 - Object Design
- DESA9009 - Public Art
- DESA9011 - Photography 2
- DESA9012 - Screen Printing on Paper
- DESA9013 - Sculpture
- DESA9014 - Ceramics (Handbuilding)
- DESA9015 - Site Specific Art
- DESC9014 - Building Construction Technology
- DESC9015 - Building Energy Analysis
- DESC9040 - Electrical Services
- DESC9047 - Strategic Facility Management
- DESC9048 - Operational Facility Management
- DESC9049 - Financial Decision Making
- DESC9059 - Hydraulic Services
- DESC9067 - Mechanical Services
- DESC9071 - Organisational Analysis and Behaviour
- DESC9074 - Project Management
- DESC9090 - Audio Systems and Measurement
- DESC9111 - Energy Management in Buildings
- DESC9117 - Sound Design for New Media
- DESC9133 - Architectural Acoustics Practice
- DESC9134 - Audio and Acoustics Seminar
- DESC9137 - Spatial Audio
- DESC9138 - Architectural and Audio Acoustics
- DESC9147 - Sustainable Building Design Principles
- DESC9148 - Sustainable Building Design Practice
- DESC9150 - Sustainability Research Project
- DESC9153 - Graduate Internship
- DESC9154 - Lighting Design Software
- DESC9161 - Entertainment Lighting
- DESC9164 - Lighting Technologies
- DESC9166 - Photometry and Colorimetry
- DESC9167 - Light and Vision
- DESC9169 - Daylight in Buildings
- DESC9172 - Building Asset Management
- DESC9183 - Risk Management
- DESC9192 - Energy Code Compliance in Buildings
- DESC9200 - Introduction to Architectural Science
- DESC9201 - Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
- DESC9660 - Graduate Exchange Core A
- DESC9661 - Graduate Exchange Core B
- DESC9662 - Graduate Exchange Core C
- DESC9663 - Graduate Exchange Core D
- DESC9664 - Graduate Exchange Optional A
- DESC9665 - Graduate Exchange Optional B
- DESC9666 - Graduate Exchange Optional C
- DESC9667 - Graduate Exchange Optional D
- DESC9668 - Graduate Exchange Elective A
- DESC9669 - Graduate Exchange Elective B
- DESC9670 - Graduate Exchange Elective C
- DESC9671 - Graduate Exchange Elective D
- DESC9672 - Graduate Exchange Core E
- IDEA9101 - IDEA Laboratory 1
- IDEA9102 - IDEA Studio 1
- IDEA9106 - Design Thinking
- IDEA9201 - IDEA Laboratory 2
- IDEA9202 - IDEA Studio 2
- IDEA9302 - IDEA Research Project
- IDEA9303 - IDEA Dissertation
- PLAN9045 - Economics for Planners
- PLAN9049 - International Urban Development Planning
- PLAN9061 - Planning Principles,Systems & Practice
- PLAN9062 - Planning Law
- PLAN9063 - Strategic Planning and Design
- PLAN9064 - Land Use and Infrastructure Planning
- PLAN9068 - History & Theory of Planning & Design
- PLAN9071 - Housing & Urban and Regional Development
- PLAN9073 - GIS Based Planning Policy and Analysis
- PLAN9074 - Public & Community Finance for Planners
Further course information
Study plan
Candidates for the Graduate Diploma in Urban Design complete 48 credit points (cp) made up of four core units of study (36cp) including two 12cp studio units, and two elective units of study (12cp) offered by the faculty, subject to meeting prior learning requirements and timetabling.
Graduate opportunities
The course will prepare graduates for a career as an urban designer. Urban designers take into consideration a project's purpose, size and geographic data in their design recommendations. Working with private companies or public agencies, urban designers may be responsible for surveying land for a new housing complex, expanding a medical facility or developing a subway system. Urban designers may also participate in educating civic leaders and the public about the details of the projects scheduled for their communities.
Admission
Admission requirements
A successful applicant for admission to the Graduate Diploma of Urban Design will have a professional degree in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning or a closely related design area and submit a portfolio of work with their application. Your portfolio should show several examples of design and design-related work completed as part of your university studies and/or samples of work from professional or equivalent experience (preferably both). Further, your particular role in producing each item of submitted work should be made clear. The portfolio must be on paper only, consist of approximately 10 A4 or A3 sheets, and include drawings and other relevant items of illustration such as photographs of models, with supporting explanation.
How to apply
Domestic students
How to apply
Applications are completed online.
Please note that students may commence studies in Semester 2, however some courses are only available in part-time capacity due to the units on offer.
Please refer to the individual course homepage to map your course of study, and note the time limits to complete postgraduate programs: Masters: 6 Calendar Years, Grad Dip: 4 Calendar Years, Grad Cert: 3 Calendar Years. http://sydney.edu.au/architecture/future_students/index.shtml
More detail on the Program including course planner, credit request forms and timetable links can be found at the Faculty of Architecture, Design & Planning homepage. http://sydney.edu.au/architecture
International students
How to apply
Overseas applicants may apply (i) directly to the University, or (ii) through a University overseas representative (education agent).
Fee disclaimer
Domestic students
Indicative postgraduate student contribution amount
Indicative postgraduate student contribution amount not available for Graduate Diploma in Urban Design.
Annual review for postgraduate student contribution amount
Annual review for postgraduate student contribution amount not available for Graduate Diploma in Urban Design.
Postgraduate Domestic Tuition Fee
This 2013, tuition fee for a domestic postgraduate student represents the fee that is payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2012 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). If your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL your fee will differ.
Annual review for postgraduate domestic tuition fee
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental fees
For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution and/or course fee. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information in this prospectus, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.
The academic requirements that are displayed are applicable to currently available courses only, and are updated annually in October and may be changed without notice. The Faculty Handbook and the University of Sydney Calendar are the official legal source of information relating to study at the University of Sydney, and you are referred to those documents
Please note that if you are classified by the University as a Research Training Scheme student in accordance with the Other Grants Guidelines (Research) 2010, you will be exempt from the payment of any SCA or tuition fees for courses undertaken as part of a Research Masters degree and Research Doctoral degree. More information about your eligibility for this Scheme is available here.
International students
International tuition fees for postgraduate students
This 2013, tuition fee for international postgraduate students represents the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013, for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). If your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL your fee will differ.
Annual review
Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
Additional incidental fees and health insurance
For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. The University's Future Students' webpage has further information about these additional incidental fees for postgraduate coursework students and postgraduate research students.
In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.
Potential for inaccuracy
Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.