Built Environment
Graduate Certificate in the Built Environment
Suspended
Full-time, Part-time
No
No
Pathway to the Master of Urban Development and Design
The Graduate Certificate Program offers foundational study in the field of Urban Development and Design for non-cognate disciplines and is a pathway to the Master of Urban Development and Design.
Upon completion of the graduate certificate in the built environment program you will be able to:
- Demonstrate collaborative teamwork capability
- Act with environmental responsibility
- Be an effective communicator
- Demonstrate cultural awareness and be capable of respecting diversity and acting in a socially responsible way
- Attain lifelong learning capability
- Appreciate the discipline of Urban Design in its environmental, cultural, historical and interdisciplinary context
- Be capable of independent design enquiry, rigorous analysis, critique and reflection
- Demonstrate Digital literacy capacity
*This program is suspended and the final intake will be T3 2020. From 2021, you will be able to study Urban Development and Design courses as electives in Architecture, City Planning, Construction Project Management, Landscape Architecture, and Property and Development.

Key Information
The Graduate Certificate in the Built Environment is a 0.7-year program consisting of 4 courses (24 Units Of Credit/UOC).
The program includes:
• 4 Core Courses
Key Areas of Study
Architecture and the City
Urban and Regional Planning
Urban Design
Urban Design Graphics
Progression Pathway
The Graduate Certificate in the Built Environment is a preparatory program for the Master of Urban Development and Design and the Master of Urban Development and Design (Extension), as such it is not articulated and credit is not transferable.
For course listing, descriptions and timetables please see the UNSW Online Handbook.
Students can only commence this program in Semester 1 each year. There is no option to commence this program in Semester 2.
The graduate certificate is your pathway to the graduate diploma, master and master extension qualifications, leading you to the following career opportunities:
- work in urban design consultancies
- work in city agencies
- work in the development industry
- head your own professional practice in urban design.
- proceed to doctoral studies at a major international university and a career in academia.
Related Degrees
Master of Urban Development and Design
Master of Urban Development and Design (Extension)
- UNSW ranks 25th in the world and 4th in Australia in Architecture/Built Environment (QS World Rankings 2019)
-
UNSW Sydney ranks in the top 100 universities worldwide (Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2019)
-
In the 2015 Excellence for Research in Australia (ERA) UNSW was rated as the equal-top university nationally in Built Environment and Design. Its rating in Urban Planning research was also the joint highest in Australia.
-
Be connected to a global network
-
Pathway to the Master of Urban Development and Design
-
Work on global urban design issues
-
Engage with urban development and design in Sydney
-
Multidisciplinary learning
To be eligible for this program you must have:
- A Bachelor degree in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%.
Applicants with a relevant Bachelor degree in the following fields may be eligible to apply directly for the 8131 Master of Urban Development and Design or the 8141 Master of Urban Development and Design (Extension) programs.
- Relevant fields:
Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Architecture, Design, Planning, Property Development, Construction, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Transport Engineering.
Students who satisfactorily complete this program with a credit average (65 WAM), will satisfy admission requirements for both 8131 Master of Urban Development and Design and 8141 Master of Urban Development and Design (Extension).
However as the Graduate Certificate in Built Environment 7131 is a preparatory program for both 8131 Master of Urban Development and Design and 8141 Master of Urban Development and Design (Extension), no credit is transferable if students proceed on to either one of these programs.
All domestic and international students can apply for postgraduate coursework online:
- Apply online (International students must pay an application fee of $125.)
Application deadlines:
- Term 1 (February) - apply by 30 November*
- Term 3 (September) - apply by 31 July
Late applications may be accepted after the closing dates subject to the availability of places.
If you gain entry into a program at UNSW, you can then be assessed for transfer credit for courses (subjects) studied in your previous degree.
A wide variety of scholarships and awards are available to support you when you are starting and throughout your degree. Whether it is academic, sporting, equity, indigenous, rural, degree specific, or travel and exchange you can find a scholarship that suits you.
The faculty has a number of scholarships and prizes offered to students enrolled in its programs. For information, including general scholarships available to UNSW local and international students and closing dates for applications, visit the UNSW Scholarships Website.
Fees
Tuition fees for full fee paying (non-Commonwealth supported students) local students and international students are calculated on the actual number of units of credit undertaken per term.
Student Activity Fees
When you enrol each year the University asks that you make a financial contribution to help provide services, amenities and representation for all students on campus. These include sporting facilities, subsidised food outlets, campus media, entertainment, student resources and leisure programs.
UNSW Student Contribution Charges
Students enrolling in Australian Universities for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) will pay CSP (Student Contribution) fees based on the calendar year they enrol, selected courses (subjects) and if their study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year). Please refer to the UNSW Degree Finder website for indicative first year & full program CSP fees. More information on CSP fee rates can be found at the UNSW Commonwealth Supported fees website.
Fee Schedule for Full Fee Paying Students
Tuition fees for full fee paying non-Commonwealth supported students local students and international students are calculated on the actual number of units of credit undertaken per term. All fees related information is available from myUNSW website.
Books and Equipment
Don't rush out to buy anything before your first class. Academic staff will advise you as to essential equipment and textbooks. In general studio-based programs will have higher additional costs than non-studio based programs. Costs for books, stationery and equipment vary greatly, but you should allow approximately $1000 a year for these expenses. This figure excludes computing requirements.
Living Expenses
There are a number of factors which will influence your cost of living, for example, rent will vary considerably depending on the type of property and its location. Other essential costs are food, transport, entertainment, clothing and any incidental expenses related to your programs such as field trips. As a general guide, students should have at least $2000 to cover the initial establishment expenses such as rental bond and basic furniture and allow for average weekly expenses of about $350.