Study Bachelors in Urban Planning in Canada from Nepal

Can You Study Urban Planning in Canada After +2 from Nepal?

Yes, you can start a bachelor’s degree in planning in Canada after +2, though only a few universities offer an accredited one.

This guide is part of our study in Canada from Nepal series. Urban planning is the study of how towns and cities grow. Planners decide where homes, roads, parks, transit and public services should go.

If you are still choosing a level, read our bachelors in Canada guide first. It shows how entry and fees work for degrees in general.

Amounts below are in Canadian dollars. Use our CAD to Rs forex converter to see them in rupees.

Why Does an Accredited Planning Program Matter?

An accredited degree shortens the route to the planner title, and employers often prefer it.

The Professional Standards Board reviews university planning degrees for the Canadian Institute of Planners. UNBC says its Bachelor of Planning is accredited by the Planning Institute of British Columbia and the Canadian Institute of Planners. Graduates can reach full membership after two years of planning experience. Without an accredited degree it takes four years, as the UNBC planning overview explains.

Waterloo says its planning degree is accredited by the Canadian Institute of Planners and is one of only two undergraduate programs with this accreditation. You can read this on the Waterloo planning degree page.

So when you compare programs, ask first whether the degree is accredited. A planning-related degree that is not accredited can still lead to jobs, but the planner title takes longer.

What Do You Need to Get Into a Planning Bachelors in Canada?

You need strong Grade 12 results in English and academic subjects, plus an English test.

Waterloo lists six Grade 12 courses for Ontario students, including English with a final grade of at least 75%, and an admission average in the low 80s. For students outside Ontario it points to an international requirements search. Check that tool for your +2 results.

UNBC has a Nepal sheet, which asks for an average grade of 2.8 or higher in English, three academic subjects and an elective for general entry. It is an older version, so check the UNBC Nepal requirements page and the planning calendar.

Use our NEB GPA calculator to check your grade. For English scores, read the minimum IELTS and PTE for Canada guide, because each university sets its own score.

How Much Does a Planning Bachelors in Canada Cost?

UNBC charges international undergraduates CAD 1,040.15 for each credit hour in 2026/27, which is about CAD 31,200 for a 30 credit year.

That year is about Rs 30 lakh. The UNBC tuition page also lists medical insurance of CAD 190 for international students.

Waterloo’s planning co-op terms in the Faculty of Environment are CAD 23,598 per term in the first year, plus about CAD 1,240 in incidental fees, as the Waterloo fee schedule shows. The page has no separate planning entry, so ask Waterloo to confirm. The co-op fee starts later.

If you care more about nature and climate than about planning cities, read our guide to environmental science in Canada.

For a full first-year budget, read our cost of studying in Canada guide. For funding, see scholarships to study in Canada.

What Do You Study in a Bachelors in Planning?

You study how land, transport, housing, the environment and communities fit together.

At UNBC the program has 72 credit hours of common requirements and 35 to 36 hours in your chosen stream. Optional courses include a field school, an internship, a professional report and an undergraduate thesis.

Planning mixes maps, writing and public talks. You work with data and sometimes software for maps. You also practise presenting your ideas to community groups.

If you like design more than policy, compare it with architecture. If you prefer nature and policy, see environmental science. For people and society, see social sciences.

How Do You Become a Registered Professional Planner in Canada?

You apply through the planning institute, log experience with a mentor, finish an ethics course and pass an exam.

The Canadian Institute of Planners lists the steps outside Quebec. You apply with an accredited degree, a prior learning route or the reciprocal route. After approval you become a Candidate with seven years to finish.

Then you meet a mentor, log work experience, finish the ethics course and pass a multiple choice exam. These steps are on the Becoming a planner page.

Quebec has its own certification through the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec. The degree alone does not give the title. It is a licence step after graduation.

Many accredited programs are master’s degrees. For example, UBC’s Master of Community and Regional Planning is accredited, as the UBC accreditation page states. So some students do a bachelor’s first and a master’s later. Our masters in Canada guide covers that step.

What Jobs Can a Planning Degree Lead To?

Planning graduates work as community, environmental and transport planners.

Employers include city governments, regional governments and consulting firms. Others are First Nations organisations and land development teams.

Many first jobs are planning assistant or junior planner roles. Some ask for mapping skills. The planner title opens senior roles later, so read each job advert for its own rules.

You can also use the degree to move into a related field such as environmental work or housing policy.

Can You Work and Stay in Canada After a Planning Degree?

You can apply for a post-graduation work permit after your degree, but permanent residence is not automatic.

During term, international students can generally work up to 24 hours a week off campus, as the IRCC off-campus work page explains.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit can last up to three years, and a degree has no field of study rule. Read our PGWP guide for the steps. For PR, read PR pathways through education in Canada.

For visa papers, see Canada student visa requirements and Canada proof of funds. For start dates, read the Canada intakes guide.

How Can Goreto Help You Apply?

Goreto counselors help you choose an accredited program, check your marks and prepare your papers.

You can meet a counselor at our Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari or Pokhara branch. Visit get in touch to find the nearest office.