European Urban Studies (EUS)

Overview

This Master's programme tackles contemporary urban challenges in a globalised world, with particular attention to social cohesion, housing, cultural diversity, sustainable planning and urban mobility. It adopts a transdisciplinary perspective, bringing together methods and knowledge from urban planning, urban sociology, urban design, landscape and spatial planning to examine how cities evolve across Europe and beyond.

What you will gain

The curriculum is designed to train researchers in urban studies by developing students’ analytical, research and planning skills. Graduates are prepared for professional roles in urban planning, research and academic institutions, and the wider civil society sector. The programme also supports self-directed research projects and provides preparation for further academic work such as a PhD.

Core focus areas

The programme’s thematic and methodological interaction enables in-depth study of diverse urban topics through these subject areas:

• European Cities
• Urban and Landscape Planning
• Urban Sociology
• Research Methods and Research Design

Admissions / applicant profile (concise)

• Language of instruction: English
• Suitable for applicants seeking a research-oriented Master’s in the field of architecture/urban studies
• Aimed at those planning careers in urban planning, academic research, public institutions or civil society, or who intend to pursue doctoral studies

More information and the full study brochure are available here:
https://www.uni-weimar.de/de/architektur-und-urbanistik/institute/ifeu/studium/european-urban-studies-msc/

This two-year, interdisciplinary master's trains students to analyse contemporary urban challenges across Europe from comparative, theoretical and practical angles. Teaching combines seminars and lectures with hands-on study and research projects so that you can link conceptual debates in urban studies (European cities, planning and urban sociology) to concrete research practice. You will also take a language course in a European language (not English) to strengthen your ability to work in multilingual research settings.

A central feature is the individually developed research project carried out in the third semester at a partner university or research institute (abroad or in Germany) under academic supervision. You prepare this project during the first two semesters through thematic seminars, research-methodology training and a comparative study project conducted with a European partner institution. The research project includes virtual supervision, is presented in a colloquium and written up as a research article; its findings can feed into your final master’s thesis and provide a starting point for doctoral research.

Learning outcomes focus on advanced, comparative urban research skills: formulating research questions, selecting and applying qualitative and quantitative methods, designing and managing a research process, and communicating results to academic and professional audiences. Graduates emerge with experience of international collaboration, fieldwork in a different urban context, academic writing (including a research article and a 30‑ECTS thesis), and preparation for further research or practice in urban planning, policy or academia.

Key modules and requirements

• Compulsory courses on European Cities — 12 ECTS
• Compulsory courses in Urban and Landscape Planning — 9 ECTS
• Compulsory courses in Urban Sociology — 6 ECTS
• Two compulsory research methodology courses — 6 ECTS (total)
• Comparative study project with integrated research training — 12 ECTS
• Language course in a European language (not English) — 3 ECTS
• Elective courses — 12 ECTS
• Research project (abroad or in Germany) with project supervision — 30 ECTS
• Master's thesis — 30 ECTS

Total programme workload: 120 ECTS. Instructional formats include seminars, lectures, a study project and a research project; possible exchange activities with partner universities include block seminars, online courses, guest lectures or excursions.

Graduates are prepared for research and planning-oriented careers in urban planning offices, research institutes, universities, public administration, NGOs and international organisations. The programme’s strong methodological training and its supervised research project abroad equip students for roles requiring empirical research, comparative urban analysis and policy advice.

The degree also prepares students for further academic study (PhD) by training them in research design, methodology and academic writing. Alumni can pursue positions in consultancy, civil society organisations, municipal planning departments, and European or international urban policy institutions, where interdisciplinary urban expertise is required.