ABPL20035 Cities: From Local to Global
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- No final exam: all coursework
- About 3 class hours a week
Is ABPL20035 hard?
ABPL20035: About average. Makes it easier: No final exam.
What you learn
Why cities matter, from local councils to global cities: growth, inequality and how urban places are run.
After it you can
- Explain how global forces shape local places
- Collect and use field data about a suburb
- Discuss equity issues in city planning
What you need first
None
What it leads to
- PLAN30001 Planning Scenario and Policy Workshop
- PLAN30003 Research Methods for Planners
- PROP30002 Sustainable Management of Design Assets
How it’s assessed
Reports and essays 70%, Assignments 30%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 7 students on StudentVIP (2014–2025)
- Most reviewers found it interesting and well run, a good general intro to urban planning, including as a breadth subject.
- Assignments centre on a real Melbourne council area and include fieldwork such as counting people and short interviews.
- Guest panels were a highlight for some, but others found the lectures less relevant to the assignments. A few said marking was tough.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate ABPL20035
Quick answers
- When is ABPL20035 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking ABPL20035?
- No prerequisites.
- Does ABPL20035 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Reports and essays 70%, Assignments 30%.
- Is ABPL20035 hard?
- From 7 student reviews on StudentVIP: Most reviewers found it interesting and well run, a good general intro to urban planning, including as a breadth subject.
- What do students say about ABPL20035?
- Most reviewers found it interesting and well run, a good general intro to urban planning, including as a breadth subject. Assignments centre on a real Melbourne council area and include fieldwork such as counting people and short interviews. Guest panels were a highlight for some, but others found the lectures less relevant to the assignments. A few said marking was tough.
- How many class hours a week does ABPL20035 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take ABPL20035 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after ABPL20035?
- 3 subjects need it first, for example PLAN30001, PLAN30003, PROP30002.
- Can I rate ABPL20035?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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