What will I learn?
The Urban Spatial Science MRes course equips students with a multi-disciplinary and critical perspective on approaches to understanding, monitoring and improving global urban resilience and sustainability through the use of data and spatial analysis. The Urban Spatial Science MRes delves into the theoretical, social, and scientific underpinnings of the modern built environment through a geospatial, data-centric approach. Delivered by The Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA), this postgraduate research course emphasises a hands-on understanding of advanced technical and methodological practices in urban analytics and data-driven decision-making. Key skills developed include mathematical, statistical, and simulation modelling computer programming spatial analysis and data visualisation. These practical skills are reinforced by broad theoretical perspectives covering demographics, economics, urban form and function, network interactions and complexity, governance and policy, planning, and urban science. Optional modules are offered that align with four primary research themes: Smart Cities and Urban Policy Big Data Modelling and Simulation and Data Visualisation. Core concepts applicable to all research themes establish a strong foundation in urban spatial science, while the research themes enable specialised exploration. The course is intentionally interdisciplinary, leveraging expertise from geography, planning, computer science, physics, and the arts and humanities. Graduates of the Urban Spatial Science MRes gain proficiency in coding, data-informed urban analytics, and a critical understanding of the limitations of technology-driven ‘solutionism’. This equips them to be both technically skilled and critically reflective – able to look past the hype around smart cities, urban data science and urban science, and discern real insights. We are looking for students interested in cities, data science, the environment, spatial science, visualisation and computational methods. There is no required academic background, but students with architecture, planning or geography degrees would be suited to the course. We welcome applicants from any stage of their career. This programme is also available on a modular (flexible) basis, with a duration of 5 calendar years.
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