This master’s programme focusses on economic and business perspectives of urban development. Urban development is driven by different private and public stakeholders at local, regional, national end even international level, and this programme provides you with an understanding of different stakeholders in developing and managing attractive and sustainable cities. The economic focus of the programme provides an appreciation for the different incentives and institutions that drive the development of sustainable cities. After graduation, you will be qualified to work in a range of positions within both private and public sectors, as well as having the opportunity to pursue PhD studies.

Rapid urban development poses both possibilities and challenges that can be seen across the world. Urban development is driven by a large number of stakeholders and interests, not least within the real estate and transport sectors, as well as public and non-governmental organisations. The programme specifically addresses the role and interaction of different stakeholders as well as institutional perspectives on the development of sustainable and liveable cities. The education is interdisciplinary with a basis in economics, business administration, and economic geography.

The programme is built around international research environments at the Department of Urban Studies. Education, as well as research, is conducted to have high policy relevance and both often actively involve stakeholders from the business or public sector. The department has close cooperations with stakeholders in the transport and real estate sectors, as well as with local and regional policymakers. The teaching staff includes researchers involved in research projects with for example K2-Swedish Knowledge Centre for Public Transport and CFFF (Centre for Real Estate Business). The programme also incorporates aspects from the research about Smarts Cities and Smart Transport carried out at the University’s Department of Computer Science and Media Technology. 

Programme structure

The first two semesters of the programme take place on campus, where courses will provide students with an understanding of the perspectives of different stakeholders and how different urban and technological challenges influences their work. During the second semester, you can choose to focus on one of the following specialisations depending on your interest: 

• real estate development and housing
• transport and infrastructure
• land use and policy
• regional development

During the third semester, you can choose between studying abroad at one of Malmö University’s 250 partner universities, taking freestanding courses at Malmö University, or doing an internship in a research project. The second year concludes with a master's thesis (30 credits).

Your future career

Urban development requires a broad knowledge of economic perspectives of societal challenges such as transport and property development, as well as deepened insights into innovative processes. These perspectives are important to understand the driving forces behind urbanisation, and to understand spatial development within and between cities and regions. After graduation, you will have a unique understanding of how such challenges affect cities and regions, making you qualified to work with these issues across sectors. Students will be of interest for the private sector in various consultancy firms or bigger construction companies, as well as in the public authorities at a local, regional and national level. The programme also provides a solid basis for PhD studies.