The first semester provides the students with an understanding of the numerous actors in cities continuously interacting to create value out of scarce resources. You will identify and understand stakeholders’ interests and analyze what drives and limits their actions. You will also learn about strategic work and service innovations. During the first semester, you will also improve your understanding and application of qualitative methods used in research, as well as your academic writing.

During the second semester, the focus shifts to more aggregate patterns and current issues of urban development. Using theoretical perspectives from economics and geography, you will analyze urban development with the help of statistical and GIS software.

During the third semester, you can choose between studying abroad at one of the University’s 250 partner universities, taking freestanding courses at Malmö University, or joining courses in our other master programs at the Department of Urban Studies. You can also choose to apply for a research internship and learn how to conduct research by participating in one of the department’s research projects. The second year is completed with a master's thesis (30 credits).

Autumn 2024 - Semester 1

• Urban Studies: Urban Business and Development (US710E), 15 credits, compulsory
• Urban Studies: Strategic Management and Service Innovation (US720E), 15 credits, compulsory

Spring 2025 - Semester 2

• Urban Studies: Spatial Economics (US730E), 15 credits, compulsory
• Urban Studies: Applications of Spatial Economics (US740E), 15 credits, compulsory

Spring 2026 - Semester 4

• Urban studies: Master’s Thesis - Urban Business and Development (US770E), 30 credits, compulsory

Comment

• Semester 3: Students may choose to take courses at Malmö University or another university in Sweden or abroad (i.e. exchange studies). The Department of Urban Studies will offer a few elective courses. These will be made available during semester 2 in time for application. There will be a possibility for a research internship.

Organization

Urban Studies: Urban Business and Development - Real Estate and Transport is a master’s program for students who aspire to a future career in developing and managing attractive and sustainable cities. The program is multidisciplinary in its’ content but with a basis in Business Administration, Economics, and Economic Geography. These perspectives are important to understand the driving forces behind urbanisation, and to understand spatial development within and between cities and regions. Real estate and transport and the services they generate are key factors to a viable integration of cities and regions.

The functioning of cities evolves through the collaboration and cooperation of various stakeholders, in the private as well as in public sectors. The economic perspectives in the program provide an understanding of the different incentives that drive the development of sustainable cities. It includes business development as well as social development.

The program provides students with the competence and analytical tools required to analyze and critically assess objectives in urban development, such as new business models and development projects. They can work in private, public, and non-governmental organizations that have different roles in contributing to the integration and development of cities and regions. Students can also continue with an academic career by entering into research education when they finish the program.

Semesters 1 and 2 are dedicated to mandatory courses within the main field of Urban Studies. During semester 3 students can choose to specialize by taking courses at universities abroad (exchange studies), elective courses at the Department of Urban Studies, or applying for a research internship. These courses do not need to be within the field of Urban Studies.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master's (120 credits), the student shall:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialized knowledge in certain areas of the field, as well as insight into current research and development work; and
• Demonstrate specialized methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Master's (120 credits), the student shall:

• Demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyze, assess, and deal with complex phenomena, issues, and situations even with limited information;
• Demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously, and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work;
• Demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to report and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences; and
• Demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgment and approach

For a Degree of Master's (120 credits), the student shall:

• Demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social, and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work;
• Demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society, and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used; and
• Demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Urban development requires a broad knowledge of economic perspectives of societal challenges such as transport and property development, as well as deepened insights into innovative processes. These perspectives are important to understand the driving forces behind urbanisation, and to understand spatial development within and between cities and regions. After graduation, you will have a unique understanding of how such challenges affect cities and regions, making you qualified to work with these issues across sectors. Students will be of interest to the private sector in various consultancy firms or bigger construction companies, as well as in the public authorities at a local, regional, and national level. The program also provides a solid basis for PhD studies.