Why Study / Key Benefits

The Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal (MURR) focuses on how cities and communities can respond to major contemporary urban challenges, including:

• Flood risk
• Coastal erosion
• Sea-level rise
• Demographic growth
• Urban expansion
• Natural hazards
• Environmental change
• Community resilience
• Urban renewal

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme comprises 180 points.

The current formal structure is:

1. GEOG402 Sustainable and Resilient Cities — 30 points
2. GEOG409 Coasts and Rivers: from Natural Processes to Urban Environments — 30 points
3. GEOG697 Community Based Thesis — 90 points
4. Approved 400-level courses — 30 points

Disciplines / Specialisations

The MURR has no formal majors, minors or endorsements.

It is multidisciplinary and can incorporate:

• Urban resilience
• Urban renewal
• Geography
• Environmental science
• Urban planning
• Disaster risk reduction
• Hazard management
• Sustainability
• Transportation
• Water science
• Community engagement
• Environmental management
• Local and regional government

Programme Highlights

Important features include:

• 180-point Level 9 master's degree
• Normally completed in 1 year full-time
• Up to 3 years part-time
• February/Semester 1 start
• Campus-based study
• Strong focus on urban resilience and renewal
• Christchurch used as an important real-world context
• 90-point community-based thesis
• Direct engagement with a community or organisational partner
• Interdisciplinary elective opportunities
• Focus on environmental and human responses to urban challenges
• Potential preparation for PhD research

Career Outcomes

UC states that the MURR provides skills and competencies for professional employment in organisations involved in urban resilience and renewal.

Potential career areas include:

• Environmental management
• Disaster risk reduction
• Hazard management
• Environmental consulting
• Urban resilience
• Urban renewal
• Local government
• Regional government
• Environmental planning
• Sustainability
• Transport planning
• Community and organisational development

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current MURR regulations came into force on 1 January 2025 and are the applicable formal qualification regulations in the 2026 UC Calendar.

Important current requirements include:

• Relevant university degree
• B GPA or better
• Approval by the Executive Dean of Science or delegate
• 150 points from the prescribed compulsory-course schedule
• 30 additional approved 400-level points
• No formal majors, minors or endorsements
• Maximum completion period of 36 months

nternational Student Visa Requirements

International students normally require a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa for on-campus MURR study.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that the visa:

• Costs from NZD 850
• Can allow a stay of up to 4 years
• Has an advertised processing time of 80% within 8 weeks
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider
• Requires sufficient funds to pay tuition or an appropriate scholarship
• Requires sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor
• Requires acceptable medical and travel insurance
• Requires the applicant to satisfy the other visa requirements
• Requires genuine intentions to study and the ability to leave New Zealand when required