Academics

Cities around the world are changing rapidly as a result of globalisation, climate change, migration and rapid urbanisation. Cities are confronted with conflicts resulting from economic competition, health and ecological crises and social inequalities. But some of these changes also present opportunities and innovation. Several global initiatives, including the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, stress the importance of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable to adapt to and prepare for these global urban transformations. As a student in this research Master’s programme, you will analyse transformations taking place in cities all over the world using theories and methods from multiple social-scientific disciplines, based on a geographical and spatial planning perspective. Global urban transformations have long-lasting spatial and social effects, and have resulted in new dynamics of inclusion as well as exclusion in cities worldwide.

Aims

In the Research Master’s programme in Human Geography and Planning ‘Global Urban Transformations’ you will learn:

  • to understand the complexities of developing, planning, and governing cities in the context of global transformations.
  • reasons behind these diverse developments in the urbanised world,
  • to translate up-to-date theoretical and methodological developments in human geography and planning into empirical research.
  • to master a multi-scalar approach to understand how global forces intersect with local conditions.

Leading scholars from the fields of urban geography, economic geography, international development studies, and spatial planning will teach and actively participate in this Master's degree programme, bringing expertise and experience from research across the globe. You will develop critical thinking skills regarding current approaches and instruments for the governance of urban transformations.

The need for researchers capable of analysing the complexity of contemporary urban issues is growing rapidly. Beyond creating foundations for a PhD, this Master's programme will also prepare you for a career in research-oriented NGO’s, industry, public administration and urban planning, and activism.