Programme Overview

OVERVIEW

This programme draws on LSE’s interdisciplinary strengths. You’ll analyse urban projects and policies from rigorous economic, social and environmental perspectives, studying topics such as urban economics, infrastructure and environmental sustainability.

At every stage of this 18-month programme, you’ll apply theoretical concepts to real-world urban issues.  Taught in intensive, modular blocks, each block has a live teaching week where you'll have the opportunity to learn with our faculty and high-profile guest speakers with direct governmental, civic and industrial experience of urban change. Through these sessions, participants are exposed to the latest analysis, strategy and delivery tools to address urgent issues of urban inequality, economic development and environmental sustainability. You’ll then complete a six-month consultancy project (in your organisation or externally) – giving you the chance to apply your learning and craft policy and programme interventions.

Throughout the Executive MSc in Cities, you’ll engage with practitioners from local government, research institutions, development and design, urban consultancies, and infrastructure firms. You’ll gain real-life insights and practical experience – setting you up with the skills to drive urban transformation and shape sustainable development in your sector.

Short film introducing the programme

Programme Structure and Hybrid Flex

The Executive MSc in Cities is made up of five modules, which are taught over the first 12 months of the programme, and a six-month urban consultancy project. Alongside, the programme’s core curriculum participants will also engage with leadership training designed to make you a better urban leader and social networking sessions.

Each module consists of blended learning materials, live teaching weeks, and collaborative work:

• Blended learning materials, to be completed by participants in their own time, include recorded lectures, readings, and learning activities hosted on the learning platform, LearnWorlds, and made available to participants three weeks in advance of live teaching.
• All participants must attend five one-week live teaching weeks, either in-person at LSE or remotely. Live teaching includes a mix of seminars, case challenges, workshops, group work, site visits, presentations and pitches. Live teaching expands on the teaching delivered via LearnWorlds and offers participants the opportunity to discuss, debate, and interrogate.  

As part of the hybrid-flex teaching model, all Executive MSc in Cities participants have the option to attend live teaching in-person or remotely. Please see our Hybrid Flex page for further information.

Following the completion of the modules, participants will then undertake a compulsory six-month urban consultancy project, hosted by either your own organisation or an external organisation.