At Urban Studies, we teach our students to analyse, discuss, and solve the issues arising from cities and the rapid urbanisation in a unique way. By merging together expertise from humanities, social sciences, law, science and language for the first time, we mirror the interdisciplinarity and complexity of urban issues.
The first year comprises courses that provide a general overview to introduce students to the field of the BA Urban Studies and its four themes. The eight knowledge-based courses are taught in both semesters in the form of lectures and tutorials. The lectures provide the big picture, while the tutorials address specific topics and use readings to explore these. Apart from the knowledge-based courses are the three methodology courses which aim to acquaint students with academic skills and methodologies such as writing and presenting as well as quantitative (statistics) and qualitative research methods through lectures and tutorials.
Alongside the lectures and tutorials, mentoring is a compulsory part of the first year. Here, first-year students receive more information on matters such as how the programme works.
| Course | EC | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
First semester |
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| Academic Writing and Presenting | 10 | ||
| Cultural Diversity in Urban Contexts | 5 | ||
| Determinants of Human Behaviour | 5 | ||
| Governance of Cities and Citizens | 5 | ||
| Urban Studies Foundations | 5 | ||
|
Second semester |
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| Imagining the City | 5 | ||
| Methodological Seminar | 10 | ||
| Philosophy of Science and the City | 5 | ||
| The Material City | 5 | ||
| Urban Development and Planning | 5 | ||
In the second year, the focus shifts from introductory courses to courses revolving around the four themes: The Healthy City, The Multicultural City, The Safe City, and The Sustainable City. Each semester sheds light on two themes through the mandatory Lecture Series. Complementary to these lectures, the students have the option to specialise with the option of two Thematic Electives and two Methodological Electives per semester.
Apart from the thematic courses, students need to take Advanced Qualitative Methods and Reading the City, where they hone their skills in qualitative research methods and urban history.
During the third year students continue their specialisation in a number of ways: first and foremost, by writing their Thesis in one of the two themes selected in the second year. Additionally, the Elective Credits Space can be used to take up a minor, an internship, a study abroad or an elective package worth 30 EC. For more information on the different options, see the course description below.
Apart from the course which count towards the specialisation, the student must take a Literature Seminar, aimed at familiarising students with landmark works within Urban Studies, as well as a Research Lab, where the student reflects on ongoing urban debates and broadens their understanding of analytical approaches in their discipline.
| Course | EC | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
First semester |
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| Elective Credits (Urban Studies) | 30 | ||
|
BA Thesis |
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| Urban Studies Thesis | 10 | ||
|
Second semester |
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| Literature Seminar: Theorising the City | 5 | ||
|
Thesis seminar Choose one of the following courses: |
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| Urban arts, culture and society Thesis Seminar | 5 | ||
| Urban Behavioral Science Thesis Seminar | 5 | ||
| Urban History and Development Thesis Seminar | 5 | ||
|
Research Seminar Choose one of the following courses: |
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| Urban arts, culture and society Research Lab | 10 | ||
| Urban Behavioral Science Research Lab | 10 | ||
| Urban History and Development Research Lab | 10 | ||
|
Thesis Choose one of the following courses: |
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| Urban arts, culture and society Thesis | 10 | ||
| Urban Behavioral Science Thesis | 10 | ||
| Urban Planning and Development Thesis | 10 | ||
|
Urban Environmental Science graduation project |
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| Urban Environmental Science graduation project | 25 | ||
During the first year the programme will focus on the basic concepts and knowledge of cities and urbanization, as well as skills in academic writing and presenting, and basic methodology. Group mentors will give intensive supervision.
The second year focuses on four key themes: Multicultural City, Safe City, Healthy City, and Sustainable City. You will have the opportunity to discover each of the four themes, by following compulsory introductory lectures alongside electives (knowledge-based and methodological) in two of the themes.
In the first semester of the third year you can make your own choices in the Elective Credits Space: studying abroad, a minor, an internship or electives. Your focus and thesis will be on one of the four themes. By choosing electives that fit your chosen theme, you can determine your own career path. You will also be able to work towards fulfilling the entry requirements of your preferred master’s programme after the BA Urban Studies.
Students conclude the programme by following a research lab and by writing a thesis combined with a thesis seminar.
The student
1) has a general understanding and orientation of the foundations of Urban Studies (urbanisation, governance, urban economy, urban sociology) and its specialisations (multiculturalism, well-being and health, safety, and sustainability);
2) has basic knowledge and general understanding of the reciprocity between international, national and local aspects of socio-cultural urban issues;
3) has knowledge and understanding of the long term perspectives of urbanisation processes;
4) has basic knowledge and understanding of state-of-the-art methods and techniques used in at least two of the following disciplines: Humanities, Social sciences, Sciences.
The student
5) is able to apply and compare knowledge and understanding of at least two of the following specialisations within Urban Studies: multiculturalism, well-being and health, safety, sustainability
6) is able to systematically search and select relevant literature;
7) is able to apply basic qualitative and quantitative research methods and techniques in humanities, social sciences and (environmental) sciences and more advanced methods and techniques in at least one of these disciplines;
8) is able to analyse and conceptualise phenomena in a comparative perspective;
9) is able to formulate coherent solutions for urban problems based on existing scientific theories and contemporary research;
10) is able to set up and conduct research with limited complexity within the interdisciplinary context of Urban Studies.
The student
11) is aware of current ethical concepts and principles in the field of Urban Studies and of proper scientific conduct as part of a scientific attitude;
12) is able to judge the value of theories and research practice from a philosophy of science-perspective;
13) is self-critical, is particularly able to put culturally instilled attitudes into perspective;
14) is capable of analysis, conceptualisation, reasoning;
15) is able to formulate problems and (help) find solutions;
16) is able to assess (basic) research methods and research outcomes;
17) is able to judge his or her own research as well as the research of others;
18) is able to reflect on the profession and work of practitioners.
The student
19) is able to report comprehensively, correctly and critically in English on matters pertaining to Urban Studies;
20) is able to present research results in a comprehensive manner both written and verbally to a specialist and non-specialist public;
21) is able to discuss, and come up with arguments;
22) gives feedback to peers in a constructive fashion.
The student
23) is sociable and communicative when working with others;
24) uses feedback and reasoned criticism from peers to revise his/her own point oview or argumentation;
25) takes on board the instructions and criticism of supervisors, and takes previous instructions and criticism into account in comparable situations;
26) is able to make a realistic schedule and to stick to the agreed schedule and prioritisation.
27) is able to make a conscious choice in favour of continued studies (e.g. master’s programme) or of a position in the labour market.
To be issued with a positive Binding Study Advice (BSA), students of the BA Urban Studies must obtain at least 45 EC and meet the additional requirement of passing the course Academic Writing and Presenting (semester 1) in their first academic year.
MSc. Industrial Ecology: Biodiversity in the City, Inferential Statistics, Spatial Analysis and Modelling in the Urban Environment and thesis on the Sustainable city/sustainability
MSc. Governance of Sustainability: Biodiversity in the City, Inferential Statistics, Spatial Analysis and Modelling in the Urban Environment and thesis on the Sustainable city/sustainability
MSc Law and Society: Crime, Criminalisation and the Right to the City and thesis on the Safe City/safety
(a.) Labour market preparation in Urban Studies
In addition to offering you a solid university education, Leiden University aims to prepare you as well as possible for the labour market, and in doing so contribute to the development of your employability. In this way, it will become easier for you to make the transition to the labour market, to remain employable in a dynamic labour market, in a (career) job that suits your own personal values, preferences and development.
'Employability' consists of the following aspects that you will develop within your study programme, among others:
1. Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.
2.Shared transferable skills
These are skills that are relevant to every student and that you can use in all kinds of jobs irrespective of your study programme, for example:
researching, analysing, project-based working, generating solutions, digital skills, collaborating, oral communication, written communication, presenting, societal awareness, independent learning, resilience.
3. Self-reflection
This concerns self-reflection in the context of your (study) career, including reflecting on the choices you make as a student during your studies, what can you do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market?
In addition, reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development. Who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?
4. Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through work placements, projects, practical (social) assignments, which are integrated into an elective, minor or graduation assignment.
5. Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers and alumni experiences in the field, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, speaking with people in the field, and walking along/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.
(b.) Employability in Urban Studies
Future employers are interested not only in the subject-related knowledge that you acquired during your study programme, but also in the ‘transferable skills’. These include cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, reasoning and argumentation and innovation; intrapersonal skills, such as flexibility, initiative, appreciating diversity and metacognition; and interpersonal skills, such as communication, accountability and conflict resolution. In short, they are skills that all professionals need in order to perform well. For example, in the second year you will encounter real-life case work and stakeholders in the Thematic Electives.
It is therefore important that during your study programme you not only acquire as much knowledge as possible about your subject, but also are aware of the skills you have gained and the further skills you still want to learn. The course descriptions in the e-Prospectus of Urban Studies include, in addition to the courses’ learning objectives, a list of the skills that they aim to develop.
The skills you may encounter in the various courses are:
Collaboration
Persuasion
Research
Self-directed learning
Creative thinking
Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Urban Studies Foundations (BA1)
Elective Safe City: Crime, Criminalisation and the Right to the City (BA2)
Elective Multicultural City: The Production of Belonging (BA2)
Elective Sustainable City: Biodiversity in the City (BA2)
Elective Healty City: Population Health Management and Health Behaviour Change (BA2)
Shared transferable skills
Methodological electives (BA2)
Reading the City (BA2)
Advanced Qualitative Methods (BA2)
Self-reflection
Organisational Theory and Workplace Preparation (BA2)
Literature Seminar (BA3)
Practical experience
Elective Safe City: Crime, Criminalisation and the Right to the City (BA2)
Elective Multicultural City: The Production of Belonging (BA2)
Elective Sustainable City: Biodiversity in the City (BA2)
Elective Healty City: Population Health Management and Health Behaviour Change (BA2)
Research Labs (BA3)
Labour market orientation
(c.) Activities to prepare for the labour market alongside / outside the curriculum
The curriculum of Urban Studies is characterised by training our students to analyse, discuss, and solve challenges that arise due to rapid global urbanisation. By merging together expertise from humanities, social sciences, law, and science for the first time, we mirror the interdisciplinarity and complexity of urban issues.
How can you use this knowledge and the skills that you acquire? Which specialisation should you choose within your study programme and why? What skills do you already have, and what further skills do you still want to learn? How do you translate the courses that you choose into something that you’d like to do after graduation?
These questions and more will be discussed at various times during your study programme. You may already have spoken about them with your study coordinator, the Humanities Career Service or other students, or made use of the Leiden University Career Zone. Many different activities are organised to help you reflect on your own wishes and options, and give you the chance to explore the job market. All these activities are focused on the questions: ‘What can I do?’, ‘What do I want?’ and ‘How do I achieve my goals?’.
You will be notified via the Humanities website, your study programme website and email about further activities in the area of job market preparation. The following activities will help you to thoroughly explore your options, so we advise you to take careful note of them:
Workshops and faculty career events organised by the Humanities Career Service
Minor's Information Market
Information about the different choices within your study program; (optional) subjects, minors, honours education, study abroad, internships, career prospects
Information about the choice of a master's degree
Study abroad festival
Master's Open Day
Activities of study association ASTUS
(d.) Humanities Career Service, LU Career Zone and career workshops calendar
Humanities Career Service
The Humanities Career Service offers information and advice on internships, study (re)orientation and master's choice, orientation on the labour market and careers.
Leiden University Career Zone Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career. You can find advice, information, (career) tests and tools in the area of (study) career planning, career possibilities with your study, job market orientation, job applications, the Alumni Mentor network, job portal, workshops and events and career services.
Workshops and events
On the Workshop calendar you will find an overview of career and application workshops, organised by the Humanities career Service.
If you have any questions about career choices, whether in your studies or on the job market, you are welcome to book an appointment with the career adviser of the Humanities Career Service, or with your Study Advisers.
Students who have not yet completed Professional Orientation before September 2024, should take Reading the City in semester 1. If they have already completed Reading the City as a methodological elective, they should instead follow Humanities and Urbanism: Productive Methodologies.
Students who have not yet completed Urban Studies in Practice before September 2024 should take one of the three Research Labs in block 3.
Students who started their BA Urban Studies before September 2023 and have not yet completed both Introduction to Methodology and Data Collection Methods should take the Methodological Seminar in its entirety.
Students who started their BA Urban Studies before September 2023 and have not yet completed Introduction to Methodology should take the new Methodological Seminar in block 3, including the midterm exam and the two work group modules of that block.
Students who started their BA Urban Studies before September 2023 and have not yet completed Data Collection Methods should take the new Methodological Seminar in block 4, including the final exam and the two work group modules of that block.