There are some positive signs for the future pipeline of the planning profession, with universities in Queensland reporting an increase in student enrolments in 2026.
New figures show more students are choosing planning because they understand the role planners play in shaping communities and tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our cities and regions.
At Queensland University of Technology (QUT), enrolments in Urban and Regional Planning are up around 32 per cent in 2026, compared to 2025.This reflects a growing awareness of planning as a career that connects directly to issues like housing, climate resilience, infrastructure and community wellbeing.
As Mark Limb, Senior Lecturer at QUT, puts it: “What’s most encouraging is not just the size of the cohort, but the breadth; more schools, more regions, and more students deliberately choosing planning because they understand its impact.”
The University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) is seeing a similar trend, with enrolments continuing to grow at around 10 per cent year-on-year since 2023.
It’s not just about new students coming in either. Retention is improving, student success rates are up, and graduate employment outcomes remain strong.
That’s a good sign that students are not only choosing planning, but sticking with it and moving into meaningful careers.
So what’s behind the shift?
Part of it is how planning is being taught. At QUT, for example, students are learning alongside architecture, construction, landscape architecture and interior design students. This better reflects how the industry actually works and helps build a stronger sense of identity early on.
There has also been a lot more effort going into reaching students earlier. Engagement with schools, particularly through geography teachers, is helping students connect what they learn in the classroom with real career pathways.
At UniSC, expanding into new campuses has also made a difference. It has opened up access to planning degrees for students who might not have previously considered it.
Taken together, it points to a broader shift. Planning is being seen for what it is; a career with real purpose and deep impact.
It also reinforces the momentum behind PIA’s Become a Planner campaign, which is focused on lifting awareness of the profession and encouraging more students to consider it as a career.
While we’re still waiting on final numbers from all universities, it is clear that interest is growing, and the pipeline of future planners is strengthening.
Keeping the momentum going
We need to keep building this pipeline of planners, and you can help!
That can be as simple as visiting a local school, sharing your career story, and helping students understand what planning looks like in practice.
PIA has developed a range of resources to make this easier through the Become a Planner campaign.
If you’re looking for a way to get involved:
- Reach out to a local school or teacher
- Share your experience of working in planning
- Use the tools and resources available at www.becomeaplanner.com.au
The increase in student numbers shows the message is getting through. Keeping that momentum going is now up to all of us.