European Urban Studies, M.Sc.

The aim of the European Urban Studies Master’s programme is to train urban researchers through a European perspective. In order to achieve this, we treat comprehensive questions on current urban development in a transdisciplinary way.  Courses take place in the Institute for European Urban Studies (IfEU) and the programme aims to foster a deeper understanding of research designs, scientific methods, and field research. The curriculum is structured to support independent research. 
The Master's programme is completed over four semesters and students are required to earn a total of 120 ECTS during the course of the programme.  The Urban Studies programme focusses on the following six areas: 

- Urban Planning
- Urban Studies and Social Research
- Urban Design
- Urban Architecture
- Landscape Architecture and Planning
- Spatial Planning and Research

The European Urban Studies programme includes an integrated field research semester during the third semester. 

The first and second semesters of the curriculum are designed to prepare students with in-depth scientific and subject-related knowledge within the field of European urban studies.  Students are also encouraged to come up with their own research topics. The courses are taught in English, but students also learn another European language.  The programme's European focus is supported by courses that deal with questions of European urban development, both generally and in certain individual cities in particular.
The second semester consists of a study project based on a common interdisciplinary research issue in cooperation with a European partner university.  The semester is organized as a study project and allows students the opportunity to put the scientific and empirical research methods learned in the first semester into practice.  

The third semester consists of an individual research project done through the Institute for European Urban Studies (IfEU) and can be carried out either in Germany or in another European country. Students must submit an exposé and plan for this research project by the end of their second semester. The exposé and plan must be approved by the supervising professor.  The IfEU offers support in arranging contacts for field research in Germany and abroad, but the primary responsibility lies with the student. 

In the fourth semester, students prepare their Master’s thesis. By this point, students have acquired the necessary basic empirical research skills through the »Academic Development« modules (1st and 2nd semesters) and the »Guided Research Project« module (3rd semester), which make up the curriculum.  There is a significant thematic and methodological overlap between the 3rd and 4th semesters.  Because of this, students are able to use their Master’s thesis to substantiate the findings from their individual research projects and integrate them into the academic discourse.  The individual research projects consist of an introspective research project and the presentation of this project in the colloquium. The Master’s programme concludes with the scientific Master’s thesis and the oral Master's examination.  
Successful candidates graduate with the »Master of Science« (M.Sc.) title.

Graduates are highly qualified to work internationally in a variety of positions in the field of Urban Studies. The Guided Research Project and a vast network of European research institutions allow graduates to easily connect with potential employers.