The majority of students engaging in development planning studies do so with the intent of becoming qualified to assist in the preliminary stages of civil engineering or construction projects. This term might also refer to personal or business development courses.

Students who hold some secondary education credentials and wish to enter a specific profession might find themselves best served by a graduate diploma program. These courses often take a focused look at a subject over the period of one or two years.

Part time learning allows one to obtain part-time degrees even if one cannot attend school on a full-time basis. One can learn at his or own pace, gradually accumulating credits which count towards final qualification.