In an era of rapid change, space is an increasingly limited resource. The Master of Human Settlements addresses rapid urbanisation and contemporary urban transformations. Our intensive programme examines the multi-faceted challenges facing contemporary human settlements worldwide while helping you develop a critical and interpretative approach toward your own position within the field.

About this programme:

The Master of Human Settlements provides insights into the challenges and opportunities of worldwide settlements in an era of rapid change. The intensive program seeks to expose the multi-faceted challenge of contemporary human settlements, from multi-disciplinary and multi-scalar perspectives. It develops a critical and interpretative approach towards developing their own position within the field.

The Master of Human Settlements addresses rapid urbanisation in the developing world and contemporary urban transformations.  Architecture, urbanism, landscape architecture and spatial planning are the core disciplines underpinning the program. Contributions from economics, geography and anthropology, among others, complement the core, to better understand the interplay of human and natural ecosystems. The program thrives from its truly international body of students and the faculty’s long-standing research expertise in worldwide contexts. 

The development of MaHS as an ICP program is supported by a number of partners across the globe: the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa), University of Guayaquil (Ecuador), Technical University Kenya (Nairobi, Kenya), Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique) and Birzeit University (Palestine). Every year, partner co-production reinforces the unique and distinctive trait of the MaHS, namely that of an integrated approach to urban development that finds its best expression in the design studio where real-world problems are tackled. These intensive and shared design experiences are jointly organised with ICP partners as a way to balance fundamental and applied knowledge within a research-oriented approach.

Programme Master of Human Settlements:

Architecture, urbanism, landscape architecture and spatial planning are the core disciplines underpinning the programme. Contributions from economics, geography and anthropology, among others, complement the core and prepare you to better understand the interplay of human and natural ecosystems. The programme thrives from of its truly international body of students and the faculty’s longstanding research expertise in worldwide contexts.

The design studios form a significant component of the programme. They are organised as two full days of work on Mondays and Tuesdays providing an intensive and immersive working environment, as is the norm in most professional practices. A balance between teamwork and individual contributions is developed and students are subdivided into small, mixed groups from the outset. Core courses are directly related to studio practice. A research thesis can be developed in line with a specific programme profile and sup porting courses.

Human Settlements & Architecture:

The programme has a close link with the Departement of Architecture, responsible for research on architecture, interior architecture, urban design and regional planning.

Student profile:

The programme aims to provide insight into the problems of Human Settlements as related to rapid change and to the interaction between modernity and tradition, formal and informal city-making. It also aims to strengthen capacities to tackle the growth of spontaneous settlements and the design of large scale projects in a complex urban context with up-to-date insights and techniques. Its graduates have a thorough understanding of the dynamic and multifunctional aspects of the built environment, they have the skills to devise interventions that are context-responsive and sustainable and are at ease in moving back-and-forth between academic theory and day-to-day professional practice.

Applicants with some years of relevant professional experience will be preferred. Students aim at preparing themselves for a possibly international career in the field of human settlements.

Career perspectives:

The programme produces interdisciplinary graduates capable of understanding and managing the complexity of urban development as well as promoting sustainable territorial transformations. The MaHS programme's graduates find employment across numerous and widespread areas.

Many of our alumni work as civil servants in urban development agencies in cities or national governments, or are independent professionals in the field of urban design, planning, and community development. Others join private architecture or urban design offices or take on in leadership and policymaking positions in regional, national, and international human settlements institutions, such as UNCHS or UEPP. A small number of graduates continue the academic trajectory by obtaining a PhD.