Get started in Postgraduate Architecture, Design and Planning

Welcome to Postgraduate Architecture, Design and Planning at UQ.

Use this page as your step-by-step guide to get you started in the:

Graduate Certificate in Urban Development and Design
Graduate Certificate in Urban Planning
Graduate Diploma in Urban Planning
Master of Architecture
Master of Urban Development and Design
Master of Urban Planning

If you are getting started in an Undergraduate program, you can find information on getting started here.

Orientation for Semester 2, 2026 will take place on Thursday the 23rd of July 2026. Click the button below to register:

1. Get to know your program

Starting at UQ is a step-by-step guide to planning your studies, and includes all the new-student basics you'll need to know to get started:

The enrolment process and registering for courses
Student ID cards and purchasing textbooks.
Fees information

It is important to be familiar with your program structure, as well as the rules and specific requirements you need to adhere to in order to complete your program and graduate. Refer to the Programs and Courses page for your specific program requirements.

As Architecture, Design and Planning students, you belong in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning (ADP) within the faculty. Information and resources for students in ADP can be found in the First year student guide section of the School website.

2. Prepare for study

There are a number of things you can do to ensure you hit the ground running when semester begins:

Plan your practical living arrangements for the start of semester, including finding work or financial assistance
Mark important dates in your calendar
Get essential information about computer requirements and specific software programs (login required) so you are ready from day one
Complete the compulsory Academic Integrity tutorial and get to know the Student Code of Conduct Policy.

Time management

The expectation at UQ is that you need to spend at least 10-12 hours per week for each course you are enrolled in (this includes class time, additional study, and working on assessment tasks). For a normal full-time study load (8 units), this is 40-48 hours per week (or more, if you want to achieve higher grades).

UQ offers some great study skills and time management resources to help you set goals and for planning your study time on a daily, weekly and semesterly basis.

It is recommended that in your first semester at UQ you should limit paid employment to 8-10 hours per week. If you have caring duties, health problems and other responsibilities, that means you can't commit to 40 - 48 hours per week. You should get in touch with an Academic Advisor to discuss whether a reduced study load is possible.

Public Transport and Car Parking

It is recommended that new students use public transport where possible to and from university as there are limited car spaces available on campus and usually fill up very early. Car parking comes with a daily charge.

Learn more about public transport and even cycling options to the university.

IT Essentials for your studies

For all of your IT questions as a new EAIT student, we recommend referring to our New EAIT Student IT Help page. From here, you can also check if your laptop or desktop meets the minimum specification requirements for your studies.

3. Understanding your timetable

Timetables can be tricky to understand. Watch the My Timetable tutorial to make things easier.

Once you have enrolled into your courses, you'll have 2 weeks to preference your timetable from 12pm on the 22^nd of June until 9am on the 6^th July. If you are enrolling after this period, you will be able to select your timetable and make adjustments from 12pm Monday the 13^th of July.

We know this process can be confusing so here are four useful tips and terms to help you out:

Timetable clashes occur when classes are scheduled at the same time. Use My Timetable to see alternative class times that work with your schedule.
Waitlist a class if you want to swap your class allocation with an option that works better for you. The earlier you do this, the better chance you have of getting the class you want. Watch the "How to make a class adjustment" video on YouTube.
Delayed Viewing gives you the option to view a lecture recording at a later time instead of attending the lecture in person. This is helpful when you want to schedule another class at the same time as the lecture. Please note that this is not offered for all lectures, so plan your timetable carefully.
Timetables can change, especially during the first 2 weeks of semester. Make sure you check My Timetable regularly to keep up to date.

For more information around timetables, view our Enrolment and class allocation page.

To check when class preference and adjustment periods begin and end, refer to our Academic Calendar.

4. Register for and attend your orientation events

5. Get Support and Get Connected

UQ is a big place to explore, so it can be hard to navigate by yourself when you first arrive.

Refer to our Find support page to get answers around:

help with your courses
academic advice
what the Engineering Architecture and Information Technology (EAIT) Faculty Office can support you with
UQ Student Support and Wellbeing Services and what they provide
the UQ Student Union
and much more!

Then, once you're feeling a bit more settled, there are many opportunities to connect with your community where you can make lifelong friends, learn new skills and feel more at home with UQ.

We recommend exploring our student clubs and societies, where you can meet other students with similar interests and passions.

If you're interested in working on your own project or learning about what other students are working on, you can check out UQ Innovate.

To further explore other ways to get involved, refer to our Placement and opportunities page.