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Unica Euromaster in Urban Studies – (M.Sc.)
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Faculty of Science and Bio-engineering Sciences
| Application Deadline: | EEA: 1 June, non-EEA: 1 March | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 578 ≈ € 1,131 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | Brussels / Belgium / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 24 months | Start Date: | September |
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| Languages: | English | ||
Location of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
The programme focuses on:
* 1) Glocalisation: the process of globalisation and localisation leading to a renewed importance of the city and urbanity in the 21st century. The city is considered a nodal point in postnational developments.
* 2) Europe as the unit of analysis: Europe and the European unification process are seen as part of and a reaction to this globalisation process. The scope is Europe seen through its cities and urban networks.
* 3) Interdisciplinarity and internationality as an added value. The Unica Master is a thematic master's programme focused on cross-disciplinary approaches and transdisciplinary practices (not in the least bridging urban planning and urban sociology, geography, etc.) with a focus on the socio-spatial analysis of cities.
The programme is a joint venture between 6 universities: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Universität Wien, University of Copenhagen, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. The educational programme is built on case studies from Brussels, Vienna, Copenhagen and Madrid, on extensive fieldwork and a number of excursions and visits.
4Cities, Unica Euromaster in urban studies is a unique two-year interdisciplinary and international programme. 4Cities takes students to Brussels, Copenhagen, Vienna, Madrid and a number of surrounding cities.
The course philosophy
This particular programme adds a European perspective to the field of Urban Studies: it wants to break up and to open the national perspective on urban problems. The growing importance of globalisation and the shift towards a world of flows calls for a new approach in important fields of urban policy like culture, economy, planning...
The strength of this masters programme results from the integration of analytical skills typical for the (social-)sciences and the more design oriented skills of planning and architecture. The need for interdisciplinary knowledge and skills as opposed to the more narrowly defined academic disciplines is strong.
Contents
During a period of two years, students take part in an interdisciplinary programme and study in four cities: Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid and Vienna.
Students live in each of the cities for one semester, except for the first block (Brussels) which takes a few weeks longer and the last block which consists of a short intensive stay in Madrid.
Students spend most of the last semester in a location of their choice, where they are able to work on their master thesis.
In each city the programme consists of:
* academic courses
* fieldwork
* excursions & visits
* exams
ACADEMIC COURSES:
Theoretical courses of high standard in the field of urban studies. Students will acquire scientific knowledge about the bases of urban theories in different disciplines, the city as a social product: factors, global context (globalisation, Europe, Fordism/ post-Fordism, modernism/post modernism...), the local context and heritage, planning and design processes and systems, project management...
FIELDWORK
In each of the cities students will be given a topic to study through extensive fieldwork and as a group task. This will result in a written report and public defence. Fieldwork is organised in close cooperation with non-academic urban institutions and organisations and is closely linked to ongoing academic research in each of the cities.
EXCURSIONS
in the city of residence:
During the programme several excursions will be organised to illustrate and discuss topics treated during the courses. This includes visits to public and private institutions and organisations (formal and informal ones) that are important for the local political, economic and cultural dynamics of the city.
to other cities:
A set of national and international excursions are planned (ranging from one to several days). In these excursions the objective is to raise awareness of regional and international differences in urban development. The excursions consist of guided tours and visits to relevant institutions and organisations (planning departments, development agencies, cultural actors...).
EXAMS
During or at the end of each semester exams are organised on the courses taught during the semester. The way the exams are held (oral, written, essay, combinations of several methods,...) varies from university to university.
MASTER THESIS
With supervision and tutoring at each university: VUB (5 ECTS); ULB (5 ECTS), Vienna (10 ECTS), Copenhagen (10 ECTS)
Courses
4Cities takes you on a learning path that starts in Brussels, continues in Vienna and Copenhagen and ends in Madrid. Click on one of the semesters to find out more about the courses in each city
* Semester 1 Brussels September - February 40 ECTS
* Semester 2 Vienna March - June 20 ECTS
* Semester 3 Copenhagen September - December 20 ECTS
* Semester 4 Madrid April - May 10 ECTS
* Master Thesis 30 ECTS
IELTS
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
Take testRequirements
You can apply for this programme if you have a 180 ECTS bachelor degree in geography, sociology, literature & cultural studies, architecture & planning, economy, political sciences, public management, tourism, history, criminology, leisure studies, media studies or a similar discipline.
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Accreditation
All degree programs are accredited by NVAO.
Ask a Question
You can contact Eefje Vloeberghs to ask a question about Unica Euromaster in Urban Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
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