Regulations for the Degree of Master of Planning (MPlan)

1. Admission to the Programme

   1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).
   2. Every applicant shall have been awarded a bachelor's degree in any subject with an average grade of at least B or have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities).

2. Structure of the Programme

   1. The programme of study shall consist of PLAN 435, PLAN 438, PLAN 535 ,GEOG 401, GEOG 457, GEOG 536, and Planning-related papers as approved by the Co-ordinator of the Planning Programme, to a total value of 240 points.
   2. With the approval of the Co-ordinator of the Planning Programme, one or more papers from relevant subject areas may be substituted for a prescribed paper.
   3. In exceptional circumstances, with the approval of the Co-ordinator of the Planning Programme, GEOG 401 and the 80 further points of Planning-related papers may be replaced by a Planning thesis PLAN5, with a value of 100 points.
   4. A candidate shall, before commencing the investigation to be described in the planning thesis, secure the approval of the Co-ordinator of the Planning Programme for the topic, the supervisor(s) and the proposed course of the investigation.
   5. A candidate shall submit the thesis by 1 December of the year of enrolment in the thesis.
   6. A candidate may not present a planning thesis which has previously been accepted for another degree.

3. Duration of the Programme

   1. A candidate shall normally follow a programme of study for not less than two years.
   2. A candidate must satisfy the requirements for the degree within four years of commencing the programme.

4. Examination of the Planning Thesis

   1. The Head of School concerned (or nominee) shall appoint a Convener of Examiners who shall oversee the examination of each thesis.
   2. The thesis shall be examined by at least two examiners, one of whom may be external to the University.
   3. Where both examiners are internal to the University, the examined thesis shall be subject to external moderation.
   4. The candidate's supervisor shall not be an examiner.
   5. Each examiner shall supply a written report on the planning thesis and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the work as submitted.
   6. Where the examiners cannot agree on a result, the Head of Programme should so report to the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Humanities) or nominee who shall arrive at a decision after consulting a referee who should normally be external to the University.

5. Withdrawal from the Programme

   Where a candidate withdraws from the programme after completing 120 points, the Pro- Vice Chancellor (Humanities) or nominee may recommend the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects.

6. Level of Award of the Degree

   The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.

7. Variations

   The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.

Note
(i) A personal programme of study approved under regulation 7 may not meet the requirements for membership of the New Zealand Planning Institute.