MSc in Sustainable Urban Development

How you will study

The MSc is taught through seven intensive in-person teaching weeks and one online unit. Six of the in-person teaching weeks are held in Oxford and one in London. The 'Researching the Urban' online unit involves weekly engagement (both synchronous and asynchronous) during the second term of Year 1. The overall schedule encompasses lectures, workshops, presentations, site visits, group projects, seminars, and tutorials. Classes encourage active participation, enabling students to learn from each other. You will prepare for sessions by reading a selection of recommended books, book chapters and articles.

Typically, there are six to eight weeks between each teaching week, and you should expect to spend an average of 20 hours per week on independent study.

You will be allocated a course tutor who will support your academic development, and who you will meet during each teaching week. In the second year, you will be allocated a dissertation supervisor from the course team. 

The course in detail

The course aims to equip graduates to address complex, multi-level challenges, engage effectively in global discourses, and pursue impactful careers in academia, policymaking, and practice. Programme level outcomes include:

• Comprehending urban change processes and formulating actions in light of urban sustainability challenges
• Applying advanced knowledge to cross-sector and multi-level urban sustainability challenges
• Actively participating in and contributing to global discussions on sustainable urban development and governance
• Undertaking independent and ethical research
• Critically evaluating various forms of evidence and sources
• Demonstrating independent critical thinking and effective communication skills for a range of audiences and purposes

Course content and structure

You will attend seven intensive in-person teaching weeks and one online unit during the two years of study. One of these seven in-person teaching weeks  held at the offices of The King's Foundation in London. The remaining six are held in Oxford at Oxford Lifelong Learning. Each week addresses a core theme of the course.

Year 1:

• Introducing Sustainable Urban Development (Oxford)
• Climate Change (Oxford)
• Researching the Urban (Online)
• Financing Sustainability (Oxford)
• Sustainable Mobilities (Oxford)

Year 2:

• Place, Community and Urban Design (London)
• Southern Urbanisms (Oxford)
• Governance, Leadership and Future Cities (Oxford)

Assessment

This course has a diverse assessment method, including essays, theoretically informed critical personal reflections, a funding proposal and critical policy analysis, where you can gain practical skills that are highly valued in the workplace. These include effective communication, problem-solving, and the ability to convey complex ideas to different audiences. The first assignment is formative and will provide you with valuable feedback at the start of your studies. The remaining seven assignments are summative.

You will spend the latter half of the second year working on a 10,000-word dissertation. You will choose the topic with the guidance of your supervisor. Research methods are taught from the start, particularly in the ‘Researching the Urban’ online unit, and give students an understanding of research strategies, fostering the skills needed for designing, conducting, analysing, interpreting and reporting a small-scale research study that is required for the dissertation.

Associated organisations

The programme runs in partnership with The King's Foundation.

Oxford college affiliation

As a matriculated postgraduate degree student, you will become a member of one of the University’s multidisciplinary colleges, enabling you to encounter new perspectives in your field or learn more about many other different subjects from fellow college members.

The collegiate system makes studying at Oxford a truly special experience. Oxford colleges are a friendly and diverse communities, where you could find yourself absorbed in fascinating conversations with students and academics from a variety of disciplines at college seminars, dinners, and informal occasions. 

For a list of colleges that accept students on the MSc in Sustainable Urban Development please see the 'college preference' tab on the Graduate Admissions course page.

To find out more about Oxford University colleges, please consult the University's Graduate Admissions website.

Teaching staff

The MSc is delivered by tutors from institutes and departments across the University of Oxford, and in collaboration with a comprehensive range of commercial, governmental and non-government organisations specialising in sustainable urban development.

Departmental teaching staff are listed below, with full details available on our MSUD academic staff page.

Course Director

Dr Patricia Canelas, Course Director and Departmental Lecturer
Keywords: Urban planning and governance; property development; landed estates; housing.

 

Other core teaching staff

Dr Nihan Akyelken, Associate Professor
Keywords: Transport and mobility; inequalities and development planning; infrastructure investments; labour markets and urban accessibility.

 

Dr Idalina Baptista, DPhil Course Director, Associate Professor
Keywords: African urbanization; urban planning and governance; energy infrastructure; urban theory.

 

Dr Francesca Froy, Departmental Lecturer
Keywords: Urban morphology, evolutionary economic geography, governance, skills, network analysis.

 

Dr Debbie Hopkins, Associate Professor
Keywords: Transport and mobilities; sustainable tourism; low carbon transitions; work and labour; infrastructures; energy systems.

 

Dr David Howard, Director of Studies and Associate Professor
Keywords: Latin American and Caribbean urbanization; social sustainability; housing and urban livelihoods.

 

Prof Nigel Mehdi, Departmental Lecturer
Keywords: Economics of sustainability; urban economics; real estate markets, smart cities and big data.

 

Prof Vlad Mykhnenko, Professor
Keywords: Urban and regional economies; shrinking cities; resilience; economic convergence, divergence and territorial cohesion; fiscal federalism.

 

Dr Matthew Hardy, Tutor
Keywords: Sustainable urbanism; urban resilience; European architectural history and climate.

 

Mr Ben Bolgar, Tutor
Keywords: Eco towns; green buildings; placemaking; urban regeneration; traditional urbanism and rapid urbanisation.

 

Resources and facilities

The course aims to enable students to make the most of the University’s resources (e.g. its libraries and computer facilities), to provide a high quality of academic and pastoral support, and to maximise the potential for learning within a peer group.

All students can take advantage of the excellent dining facilities and common room bar at Rewley House, where they may relax and network with others on the programme. See Facilities and Services at the Department for more details. 

Library facilities

Students will have access to the electronic online resources of Oxford University's Library Services, including the Bodleian Library, and all other University libraries. Students, using their University card, can also use the in-person facilities of the Bodleian Libraries.

IT requirements and facilities

This course uses the Department’s online assignment submission system. In order to prepare and submit your course assignments you will need access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

Students of this course may use the student computing facilities provided in Departmental buildings.

Accommodation

Accommodation costs are not included in course fees however, the Department offers a full residential and catering facility in Oxford. Rewley House accommodation has been rated as 4-Star Campus Accommodation under Visit England. See accommodation details.

Application details

For information about entry requirements and how to apply, please visit the MSc in Sustainable Urban Development page on the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions website.

If you have any questions about the progress of your application, please contact the Course Administrator, email: sud@conted.ox.ac.uk, or the Graduate Admissions Office, tel: 01865 270059; email: graduate.admissions@admin.ox.ac.uk

Application deadlines

12:00 midday UK time on:

• Stage 1: Friday 14 November 2025 (Applications more likely to receive earlier decisions)
• Stage 2: Wednesday 28 January 2026 (Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships)
• Stage 3: Tuesday 3 March 2026 

When to apply

Early application for the programme is strongly advised. After the March deadline, the course will only stay open for that year's entry if places are still available. 

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.  

If you would like to discuss the programme please contact:

• Tel: +44 (0)1865 286952
• Email: sud@conted.ox.ac.uk

Fee rates for the academic year 2026-27

These rates (in pounds sterling) are for students joining in the 2026-27 academic year and will increase annually.

An Annual Award Fee is due for every academic year (or part-year) attended, and there is a minimum of two Annual Award Fees payable. Module or Dissertation Fees are payable in advance as invoiced. A Module Fee is payable in respect of each teaching week. The Dissertation Fee is comprised of three Module Fees. Fees must be paid in accordance with the Terms and Conditions for the programme.

• Annual award fee: £12,745
• Module fee: £2,800
• Dissertation fee: £8,400

Illustration for full programme (completing in two years, with eight teaching weeks and a dissertation):

Year 1:
Annual Award Fee: £12,745*
plus 5 Module Fees: £14,000*
Total Year 1: £26,745

Year 2:
Annual Award Fee: £12,745*
plus 3 Module Fees: £8,400*
plus Dissertation Fee: £8,400*
Total Year 2: £29,545*

Total= £56,290*

*Notes:

1. The fee rates listed are for the academic year shown, and you should be aware that these rates will increase annually.
2. The Illustration is based on the fee rates for the academic year shown; however, fee rates for attendance in future years will increase, so students attending for more than one year should expect the total to be higher than is shown in the Illustration. The exact amount will depend on the fee rates set annually, and upon the years you are in attendance; these are normally published well before the start of each academic year, but for your own budgetary purposes you may wish to estimate a 7% annual increase on fee rates.

Scholarships and sources of funding

The MSc Sustainable Urban Development Programme Scholarship is open to anyone applying for the MSc in Sustainable Urban Development.

You will be automatically considered for a Clarendon Scholarship if you are made a conditional offer following the January deadline. You do not need to submit a separate application. Clarendon scholars are selected for their outstanding academic merit and potential.

For details on college scholarships for part-time graduate students, please visit the University's Graduate Admissions funding guide. Further details can also be found on the University's Fees and Funding page.

Details of funding opportunities, including grants, bursaries, loans, scholarships and benefit information are also available on our Sources of Funding page.

English language ability

Prospective students whose first language is not English should note that English language certification at a higher level is required, and any offer of a place will be conditional on the receipt of an original certificate (see the ‘Notes of Guidance’). Please see the entry requirements on the Graduate Admissions course page for more details. 

Visas

International applicants, please note that it is not possible to be resident in the UK on the basis of this course. As the MSc is a two-year, part-time course, it does not have the number of teaching hours per week required for a student visa, and international students will not be permitted to live in the UK on the basis of undertaking the course.

International students must research whether they require a visa, and if so, obtain an appropriate visa to cover their time in England before coming to the UK. 

If offered a place on the course, please note that your offer is made on the basis of our entry requirements and does not necessarily mean you will be eligible to apply for a visa to study. We can provide a letter in support of Visitor visa applications to students accepted on to this course.

For information on visas, please refer to guidance from the University:

• Find out if you need to apply for a visa

• Short periods of study as a Visitor

See also guidance from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

Contact information

If you have any questions about this course, please email: sud@conted.ox.ac.uk

Student spotlights

Discover how our current and former students have used the MSc in Sustainable Urban Development for career progression or further study. View all student spotlights here.