Urban Development and Governance Erasmus University Rotterdam

Overview

Part of the Erasmus Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities (EGSH), the Urban Development and Governance programme at Erasmus University Rotterdam offers a chance to earn your doctoral degree from the high-ranking Erasmus University (#72 globally). Participants learn from and with urban policy advisers and real-life cases, connect with like-minded people from all over the world and expand their professional network.

The educational programmes at IHS are designed to equip students with the knowledge and the skills to become competent urban professionals. Many of our academic staff are still practising in the field, and their teaching material is made up of their real-life case studies. This learning context ensures that our students are experienced in applying theory learnt in the classroom to actual situations. Once they become graduates, they have the practical skills that employers are looking for.

Participating in any of our programmes provides a gateway to an international network of urban professionals, institutes and capacity building initiatives. Graduates and students will benefit from the extensive network of IHS, including an alumni association with over 9,000 members and contacts with donor agencies and training centres. IHS is engaged in over 100 urban programmes and projects at any time, enabling a direct link between theory and practice. IHS lecturers have worked all over the world, thus creating a possibility to discuss and initiate programmes and projects in your country and your cities.

Career opportunities

Cities are expanding at a rapid rate. More than one billion people have been urbanised in the last half a century, and experts are predicting that this number is only set to increase. As the population expands and an increasing emphasis is put on creating “smart cities”, urban professionals and planning experts are being called upon to ensure that our cities can accommodate their growing populations and implement sustainability and technology initiatives.

Whether working to improve housing opportunities, fixing transport links or creating ways to make our cities more environmentally friendly, as a PhD graduate in Urban Development and Governance, there are many directions that your urban career could take.