Graduate Certificate of Urban Design
Overview
Learn to create urban designs that allow modern cities to thrive with the Graduate Certificate of Urban Design. This course fosters creative and speculative design thinking while teaching you how to engage with people, data, and advanced technologies. We’ll teach you to address 21st Century design challenges that embrace 3D space, alongside economic, environmental, social and cultural aspects of the city.
Want free, on-the-spot advice about courses, careers, and applying?
Whether you're just starting your career or switching it up, our experts at the Swinburne Skills and Jobs Centre are on hand to help you understand your career and study options.
Upgrade your skills
- Entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation
- Effective and ethical in work and community situations
- Adaptable and able to manage change
- Aware of environments in which they’ll be contributing
Stretch your career further
- Urban designer
- Strategic planner
- Town planner
Key codes
International student visa
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Why Swinburne?
Ranked top 150 in the world for the subject of Art and Design
Graduate employers include Ford, Telstra, and Blackmagic Design.
Ranked top 20 in Australia for PG Graduate Salary – 5 stars
Qualifications
Admission to the Graduate Certificate of Urban Design will require one of the following:
- Successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Architecture); or
- Successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) with a major in Architectura;l or
- Successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours) with an Advanced Minor in Architecture; or
- Successful completion of another three year undergraduate architectural course*.
*In the case of completing another three year undergraduate architectural course, a review of prior learning in relation to the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Architecture) will be necessary. Supplemental transitionary classes may be required.
Selection will be made using a Range of Criteria which can include (but not be limited to):
- a pre-selection kit requiring submission of an on-line portfolio (between 10 and 20 pages) **
- a personal motivation statement
- university transcripts.
**Pre-selection kit: Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of between 10 and 20 pages, which must address architecture- and/or urban design-related questions and include visual examples; and provide a 200-400 word written statement, the prompts for which can be found on the application portal.
Admission to the Graduate Certificate of Urban Design will require one of the following:
- Successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Architecture); or
- Successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) with a major in Architectura;l or
- Successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours) with an Advanced Minor in Architecture; or
- Successful completion of another three year undergraduate architectural course*.
*In the case of completing another three year undergraduate architectural course, a review of prior learning in relation to the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Architecture) will be necessary. Supplemental transitionary classes may be required.
Selection will be made using a Range of Criteria which can include (but not be limited to):
- a pre-selection kit requiring submission of an on-line portfolio (between 10 and 20 pages) **
- a personal motivation statement
- university transcripts.
**Pre-selection kit: Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of between 10 and 20 pages, which must address architecture- and/or urban design-related questions and include visual examples; and provide a 200-400 word written statement, the prompts for which can be found on the application portal.
Successful completion of Australian Year 12, or equivalent overseas qualification.
Other requirements
Your portfolio
In your portfolio, we are looking for evidence of your ability to think spatially, critically and creatively, as well as the desire to design and build things. In assessing your portfolio, we would like to see your ability to conceptualize and develop ideas. As well as finished outcomes, we are also interested in concept sketches, 3d models or working drawings that display your thinking process.
Your portfolio will be assessed according to the following criteria:
- Conceptual thinking and level of ambition in your projects;
- Spatial thinking, planning and a sense of scale;
- Digital and analogue communication skills, including the use of architectural drawing conventions; and
- Construction and environmental technology.
Think carefully about how you present your portfolio as we will also consider how you structure your content into a clear, compelling story about yourself and your passion for, and commitment to, architecture and urban design.
All work must be original. All images must be clearly labelled. In the case of work that has involved others, such as group work or work with a design practice, clearly indicate what your contribution was.
Portfolios will be reviewed on a standard computer screen. Please ensure legibility accordingly.
To submit your portfolio, you’ll need to complete your online application first. We’ll then send you a link so you can upload your portfolio to Slide Room.
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
Course prerequisites
Admission to the Graduate Certificate of Urban Design course will require one of the following:
- successful completion of the Swinburne BDes(Arch); OR
- successful completion of the Swinburne BEng(Hons) with a major in Architectural; OR
- successful completion of the Swinburne BDes(Hons) (IntArch) with an Advanced Minor in Architecture; OR
- successful completion of another 3-year undergraduate architectural course**
** In the case of completing another 3-year undergraduate architectural course, a review of prior learning vis-à-vis the Swinburne BDes(Arch) will be necessary. Supplemental transitionary classes may be required.
Selection will be made using a Range of Criteria which can include (but not be limited to)
- a preselection kit requiring submission of an on-line portfolio (max. 20 pages)
- university transcripts
English language requirements
Satisfactory completion of one of the following:
- IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, and all skills 70% or above
- or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.
Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.
Credit transfer
Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Finding your fit
At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.
-
Bachelor of Design (Architecture)
-
Graduate Certificate of Urban Informatics
-
Master of Architecture
How credit points work
To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate of Urban Design, students must complete 50 credit points across three (3) units of study.
Nested programs
The Graduate Certificate of Urban Design forms the first stage in a nested suite of programs. Continue studying with the:
Your units
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Design Research Studio A
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
ARC70001 |
|
Dynamic Modelling of Cities
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
ARC80001 |
|
Theories of Buildings and Cities
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
ARC70004 |
Want to see learn more about this course?
Learn more about the Graduate Certificate of Urban Design in the course handbook.
2025 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$20,440
Total fee* ($AUD)
$20,440
2025 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$21,960.00
Fees are estimates only
The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2025 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
Fees are estimates only
The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.
To pay your fees:
- log in to My Finances
- check your Australian bank account details are correct
- check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
- pay using your preferred payment method.
Eligibility for FEE-HELP
You’re eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or UniLink or OUA course at Swinburne, and you:
- are an Australian citizen doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
- hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
- hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens
- are undertaking bridging study for overseas trained professionals and will be living in Australia for the duration of this study
- have not exceeded the new combined Help Loan limit.
The HELP limit is the maximum amount you can borrow from the government in your lifetime towards your education costs. It is fixed and cannot be topped up.
Student services and amenities fee
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.
Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365.00
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365.00
Scholarships
Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.
Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.
When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.
Apply through an agent
Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.
Apply directly
Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online!