Urban Economic Development MSc/PG Dip

The programme focuses on identifying methods of enhancing urban productivity and structural change while promoting sustainability and equity through public intervention at the city level. Students gain a critical understanding of the political economy of urban development and urban policy-making, the ability to analyse a city economy and its performance, and numerous opportunities to learn from policy experiences across the world.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four core modules (90 credits), one or two optional modules (30 credits) and a development and planning report (60 credits).

A Postgraduate Diploma, four core modules (90 credits), one or two optional modules (30 credits), full-time nine months, is offered.

• Cost-Benefit Analysis: Theory and Practice
• Managing the City Economy
• Practice in Urban Economic Development
• Either An Introduction to Public Economics and Public Policy or Urbanisation and Development

• Transforming Local Areas: Urban Design for Development
• Housing Policies: Practical Dimensions and Alternative Options
• Disaster Risk Reduction in Cities
• The City and its Relations
• Urban Development Policy, Planning and Management
• Gender in Policy and Planning
• Socially Sensitive Development in Practice
• Social Development and Poverty Reduction
• Urban Environmental Planning and Management in Development
• Urban Agriculture
• Adapting Cities to Climate Change in the Global South
• Management and Planning for Development
• The Urban Informal Economy
• Public Economics

Guided by individual supervisors, all MSc students submit a 10,000-word dissertation on a topic related to the main themes of the programme. The topic can be chosen to enhance career development or for its inherent interest.

The programme is delivered through a series of lectures, seminars, workshops, case studies and fieldwork related to cities in different parts of the world, and includes an overseas field trip. Students are assessed through unseen examinations, individual essays, coursework, team work reports, oral presentations and a dissertation.