COURSE CURRICULUM

The Urban Data Science and Analytics MSc provides a comprehensive program to develop technical and analytical expertise in understanding and shaping cities through data science. In the first semester, students gain foundational skills through modules in programming for spatial data science, data science for practical applications, and analysing cities, which combine technical training with interdisciplinary approaches to urban complexity, policy, and planning. The second semester expands these skills through analytics for urban policy and creative coding for real-world problems, incorporating hands-on projects, fieldwork, and collaboration with industry experts to tackle practical urban challenges. Students also have opportunities to specialise through optional modules in geographic data visualisation, geodemographics, and transport data science, enhancing their ability to analyse spatial, social, and mobility datasets. The program culminates in a substantial Urban Data Science Project, where students apply their knowledge to a real-world problem, producing a coded analysis workbook and supporting report, with the possibility of industry collaboration. Dissertation themes cover diverse urban issues such as transport and mobility, housing, urban inequalities, pollution, health and wellbeing, smart cities, and vulnerable populations. Graduates develop a strong combination of programming, analytical, and critical thinking skills, equipping them for careers in urban data science, policy, planning, transport, and related sectors where data-driven insights inform decision-making and sustainable urban development.