Urban Studies Leiden University

Overview

Urban Studies is built on four themes that cover the major issues of today’s urban reality: the sustainable city, the multicultural city, the safe city and the healthy city. You will have the opportunity to specialise in one or several of these themes in the second or third year.

Take for instance, sustainability: how will we manage when it comes to dealing with issues such as waste and scarcity of natural resources in the cities? And what about the wide range of ethnic and socio-economic groups living in urban areas: how do we keep cities inclusive and just? How do we ensure that cities are safe places to live in, for everyone? And what do we do about the health hazards that come with crowded cities?

Do you want to know all about cities?

In this English taught bachelor’s programme, you will explore a wide range of urban issues, while working both in the class room and in the field: the city itself. You will build a solid academic foundation, studying the theory on urban development, on the development of cities, and on the expected further developments. Additionally, in the course of the programme (second and third year), you will work on real-life urban challenges. Together with our non-academic partners and stakeholders, you will develop policy-relevant solutions for concrete urban problems.

In the course of the Urban Studies programme from Leiden University , you will acquire a solid set of methodological and professional skills in the field of urban studies. They will help you prepare for your future career – whether this career will be in academia, business or the public sector. Field trips to major Dutch cities, our career orientation programme and individual and group-based research projects guarantee valuable, hands-on experience.

Uniquely, you will have the opportunity to tailor the programme according to your personal interests by focusing on one or several of our themes: the sustainable city, the multicultural city, the safe city and the healthy city. In the second year, you will choose your specialisation courses. In the first semester of your third year you will have the opportunity to do an internship, study at a university abroad or do a minor, consisting of a selection of courses of your choice. During the final semester of your study, you will combine a practical course on urban problem-solving with the pièce de résistance of your Urban Studies experience, your final thesis.

After graduation

Once you have obtained your bachelor’s degree, you are ready for a next step: continuing your studies or entering the labour market. Completing the Urban Studies programme will give you an excellent preparation for both options.

Accreditation

NVAO