What will I learn?

The MSc City Design and Social Science focuses on the relations between the social and spatial organisation of cities and urban environments.

We see design as a field of research, knowledge and practice that shapes urban environments, responds to urban problems, and integrates social, spatial and political approaches to the city. This ground-breaking programme was launched in 1998. It supports the development of interdisciplinary urban practitioners and scholars who can work across professional divides to have a positive impact on cities as both social and built environments.

This innovative, interdisciplinary programme sets the complex challenges of city design and development in their social, economic, environmental and political contexts. It is unique as a studio-based master’s with a strong orientation to practice. The programme attracts students from different academic and professional backgrounds, reflecting the range of skills involved in urban policy, design and development today. Each year, around 40 per cent of our student intake comes from architecture, urban design, planning or engineering, with around 60 per cent coming from backgrounds in social, economic and management science, law, humanities and the natural sciences.

You will leave the programme with a well-rounded set of research, analytical and practical skills for the design, development and implementation of urban projects across the public, private and community sectors, and the ability to work creatively and effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

Career

Graduates from this programme find international career opportunities across the urban design, planning and development fields in the private, public and community sectors – as designers and planners, project managers and consultants, researchers and entrepreneurs. A vibrant alumni network offers guidance and support for current students and recent graduates.

Which department am I in?

Sociology

Study options

Full Time (1 year)

Tuition fees
£30,960.00 (33,73,284) per year
This is a fixed fee
Start date

September 2025

Venue

Houghton Street

London School of Economics and Political Science,

London,

England,

WC2A 2AE, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, England

Entry requirements

For international students

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent professional qualifications or experience in any relevant field of architecture, urban design, planning, engineering, social science, law and humanities, management, mathematics, statistics or natural science. IELTS: Overall 7.0, Reading 6.5, Listening 6.5, Writing 6.5, Speaking 6.5. TOEFL iBT (including Home and Paper Editions): Overall 100; Reading 23, Listening 22, Writing 24, Speaking 22.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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