Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Postgraduate Certificate in Planning (PGCertPlan) is a short postgraduate qualification designed to develop advanced planning knowledge and practical planning skills.
• It represents the first 60 credits of Massey's Postgraduate Diploma in Planning and can provide a pathway into further postgraduate planning study.
• After completing the certificate, students may potentially progress to the Postgraduate Diploma in Planning or the Master of Resource and Environmental Planning, subject to the relevant admission and progression requirements.
• Massey specifically describes the qualification as suitable for students who want to make a start in planning, develop critical planning skills, or change careers while continuing to work.
• The programme is delivered through distance and online learning, allowing students to undertake study while remaining employed.
• The curriculum covers contemporary planning issues in Aotearoa New Zealand, including planning law, policy, urban planning, M?ori planning, natural resources, climate resilience, GIS and professional planning practice.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The PGCertPlan uses a flexible structure rather than a single compulsory set of subjects.

Students complete 60 credits from the approved schedule. Current courses listed on the programme page include:

• 132729 Mana Taiao: Advanced Maori Planning – 30 credits
• 132730 Policy Analysis and Evaluation: Foundations and Practice – 30 credits
• 132731 Planning Law – 30 credits
• 132732 Planning Theory – 30 credits
• 132734 Transport & Urban Planning – 30 credits
• 132735 Reframing Human-Nature Relationships in Environmental Planning – 30 credits
• 132736 Planning Practice – 30 credits
• 132742 Planning History: From Town Planning to Resource Management – 30 credits
• 132751 Planning for Natural Hazards and Climate Resilient Development – 30 credits
• 145739 GIS Principles and Applications – 30 credits.

Key subject areas include:

• Planning theory and philosophy
• Planning law in the Aotearoa New Zealand context
• Policy analysis and evaluation
• Maori planning and Te Tiriti-led approaches
• Urban and transport planning
• Environmental planning
• Natural resource management
• Planning practice and professional ethics
• Planning history
• Natural hazards and climate-resilient development
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Sustainable and inclusive urban development.

Disciplines / Specialisations

• The PGCertPlan is awarded without a formal specialisation.
• The qualification regulations explicitly state that the Postgraduate Certificate in Planning is awarded without specialisation.
• Students nevertheless have flexibility to build their 60 credits around particular areas of planning interest through the available courses.

Possible areas of focus include:

• Maori planning
• Planning policy
• Planning law
• Planning theory
• Urban and transport planning
• Environmental planning
• Natural resource planning
• Planning practice
• Climate resilience and natural hazards
• GIS and spatial analysis.

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 8 postgraduate qualification.
• 60 credits.
• Six months full-time.
• Part-time study available.
• Distance and online delivery.
• International students can study online from outside New Zealand.
• Flexible block-mode and distance learning can allow students to continue working while studying.
• Contemporary planning curriculum covering policy, law, M?ori planning, urban development, environmental planning, climate resilience, GIS and professional practice.
• Can provide a progression route towards the Postgraduate Diploma in Planning.
• It may also provide a pathway towards Massey's Master of Resource and Environmental Planning, subject to the master's entry and progression requirements.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies the following employment areas for graduates of the qualification:

• Private planning and consulting firms
• Regional councils
• City and district councils
• Environmental and other non-governmental organisations
• Central government
• International humanitarian and aid organisations.

Massey specifically gives examples of government organisations and agencies such as:

• Ministry for the Environment
• Department of Conservation
• New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

The qualification can be relevant to roles involving:

• Planning policy
• Resource and environmental planning
• Urban planning
• Transport planning
• Environmental management
• Policy analysis
• Spatial/GIS work
• Planning consultancy
• Local and central government planning.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• Current qualification: Postgraduate Certificate in Planning (PGCertPlan).
• Current level: NZQF Level 8.
• Current credit requirement: 60 credits.
• Current full-time duration: 6 months.
• Current delivery: distance and online.
• Current international delivery: online study from outside New Zealand.
• Current qualification has no formal specialisation.
• A bachelor's degree or equivalent is required.
• The programme-specific English requirement is IELTS 7.0 overall with no band below 6.0, where the stated conditions apply.
• Some courses may require attendance at contact workshops, block courses, field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials or laboratories.
• The current programme schedule has been updated from older course descriptions. For example, the current page lists "Transport & Urban Planning" and "Reframing Human-Nature Relationships in Environmental Planning", while older regulations used different titles such as "Urban Planning and Development" and "Natural Resource Policy and Planning". The current live programme page should therefore be used for present course selection.
• Not every course is necessarily suitable for every student; prerequisites, restrictions and availability need to be checked during course planning.

International Student Visa Requirements

The PGCertPlan is specifically available to international students studying online from outside New Zealand. Therefore, a student who remains outside New Zealand and completes the programme online does not normally need a New Zealand student visa simply to undertake the online qualification.

If an international student is required and eligible to study physically in New Zealand, the relevant immigration route would generally be the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to Immigration New Zealand's assessment.

Current Fee Paying Student Visa requirements include:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or an acceptable scholarship.
• Sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meeting health and character requirements.
• Genuine intention to study.
• Evidence of plans and/or funds to leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.