Key Topics in Urban Studies

This online winter course can be completed at your own pace, and will introduce you to the field of Urban Studies through a series of pre-recorded lectures by our team of experts. Their lectures will introduce you to key topics in the multidisciplinary study of cities, combined with video tours, readings and assignments. This asynchronous online course is ideal to gain a broad overview of the central issues being debated and discussed in urban studies today. Cities and city life are in constant flux, undergoing transformations through local, regional, national and global pressures and developments. With the majority of the world’s population living in urban areas and many people calling these places home, 'the urban' forms an extremely important unit of analysis. Today, approximately 55% of the world’s population lives in Urban areas and the United Nations have projected that this will go up to 68% by 2050. This means that many of societies’ current and future challenges are inseperable from the urban context. Understanding the cities and urban environments of the present and how we experience, produce, and plan them, provide key insights into the cities of the future. The study of urban environments from different disciplines and working towards innovative, sustainable, and just cities, is therefore more important than ever. This programme will include the following topics: Urban psychology and sensescapes Housing, gentrification, and inequality Urban planning, governance, and property development Urban social movements Circular Cities The influence of digital platforms on cities Smart urban ecology

Target group

For current university students of all levels and professionals from any discipline. A general interest in urban studies from a variety of perspectives is essential.