City Design and Social Science

About the institution

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is ranked 5th in the world in Ranking for social science and management subjects in the QS World and Subject Rankings 2023. LSE counts 18 Nobel Prize winners among the staff and former students.

About the program

The Master Program in City Design and Social Science focuses on practice that shapes urban environments, responds to urban problems, and integrates social, spatial and political approaches to the city. It sets the complex challenges of city design and development in their social, economic, environmental and political contexts. Guest practitioners from industry, expert speakers and masterclasses on key urban issues complement the core academic program.

Students will take four compulsory courses focused on critical urban theories and issues, and options chosen from the suite of urban courses taught across LSE, plus an individual project. Main themes of the studies are social inequality, city-making, and socio-spatial research. Full-time studies take 12 months to complete and are taught in english. The number of accepted applicants is 25 (2022).

For more information

! Please make sure to check the exact costs, start and deadline dates as well as other details on the official program page.

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Here it is..

..a collection of educational programs that will give you the right tools and knowledge to make a positive impact on the built environment!

Learn more about our collection of educational programs in our blog!

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Focus explained

We have grouped the study programs based on their focus, so that you can easily find the one matching your interest. Here below you can find a short explanation of what you will find in each of them.

Building & Design

The program focuses on architectural design, construction and technical infrastructure of the building process.

Space & Territory

The program has a geographical perspective, e.g. urban planning, rural development or public spaces.

Interdisciplinary

The program stands out by combining different sciences or approaches with the aim of giving to the student deeper understanding of the subject of study.

Society

The program emphasizes the human dimension of the built environment, e.g. participatory processes or inclusive designs.

Business & Management

The program addresses how to organize architectural and spatial infrastructures or processes, either for private or public actors.

Materials

The program explores (certain) building materials and/or technical circularity processes.

Digitalisation & Technology

The program emphasizes the technological aspects of the built environment, e.g. BIM, robotics or digitalisation.