Study programmes

The Master programme was collaboratively developed in the project’s first phase and started in 2019. It is a one-year full time or two-year part-time degree. The programme responds to challenges associated with rapid urbanisation process by providing practice-oriented knowledge and innovative skills to graduates who have a drive for urban transformation. Students are introduced to the field of urban management through four crucial and cross-cutting dimensions: (1) Politics and policy of the urban (2) Understanding complex urban systems (3) Managing change processes (4) Coproducing knowledge between theory and practice. In line with global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and New Urban Agenda as well as other global agendas which tackle developmental and urban challenges in a cross-sectorial manner, the MUS (UM) stresses the interdisciplinary diagnosis/analysis and prognosis of urban issues across all scales. To enter the programme an honours or equivalent degree with a minimum average of 65% is required. The application for degree porgrammes at Wits closes end of August for international students and end of September for South African students. Please note that candidates with a previous degree from a university outside of South Africa must have their qualifications certified by the South African Qualifications Authority to apply for the programme. The academic year in South Africa starts in February. Career opportunities for graduates include positions in government agencies, urban planning organisations, city governments, private consulting firms, and non-profit organisations. The practical knowledge and hands-on skills taught as a part of the programme are applicable world-wide.

The Master in Urban Management Programme at the University of Lagos is designed to bridge the gap in contemporary urban governance, policy and developmental studies in Nigeria, the larger African context and Global South in general. The programme is aimed at equipping students with the relevant analytical skills to understand and address global, national and local issues that affect urban communities, and also to equip them with the technical capacity to respond to these issues taking into consideration the needs of diverse urban populations. The programme was developed on the premise of the requirements for the actualisation of the African Union Declaration (Agenda 2063), the New Urban Agenda of the United Nations (Habitat III), and the Sustainable Development Goals, and the growing recognition of local authorities as an essential component of actualizing sustainable development, hence the need for capacity development for public officials and other stakeholders at the municipal scale of development. The programme offers advanced capacity development to graduates from all disciplines who are interested in community and city level management, governance, administration and practice. These include public officials, as well as civil servants, local government officials, private sector employees, international organisation employees, civil society actors, members of NGOs, as well as community activists. The course is offered on part time basis over four semesters of course work, with a final semester dedicated to research and advocacy project. Lectures are conducted in hybrid format to cater for those in employment: weekends, physical and online classes. The academic session at UNILAG normally starts around October/November.

The MPhil and PhD in Sustainable Urbanisation Programmes at the University of Lagos aims to fill a gap in contemporary urban governance, policy, and development studies. The program's goal is to train research professionals to be experts in analyzing and providing multidisciplinary solutions to the policy formulation and implementation challenges of 21st century urbanization with a focus on Africa and the cities of the global south. The Program intends to investigate and address urban development issues from a pan-African, evidence-based, and dynamic solutions perspective. It intends to focus on multidisciplinary intellectual explorations of various approaches to achieving the SDGs in Africa. Based on the requirements for implementing the African Union Declaration (Agenda 2063) and the New Urban Agenda of the United Nations (Habitat III). The programs aim to provide advanced capacity development to people with an interest in SDG-related research and practice. They include researchers, government employees, civil servants, local government officials, private sector workers, staff members of international organizations, members of civil society organizations, and local community activists. The courses are offered both full-time and part-time. The MPhil program duration is minimum of four semesters for full-time students and six semesters for part-time students. The PhD program duration is for minimum of six semesters for full-time students and eight semesters for part-time students. Candidates interested in these programme must have relevant academic background in any of the following disciplines.

• Sustainable Urbanisation, Housing Development and Management
• Urban Management; Facility Management; Construction Management; Project Management (with focus on the built environment)
• Built Environment Disciplines including Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, Estate Management, Land Economy, Quantity Surveying, Building, Landscape Architecture, Land Surveying and Geographic Information Systems
• Social Science disciplines including Geography, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Philosophy and Law (with focus on land and environment)
• Interdisciplinary Studies including Urban Studies, International Relations, international Development, History and Strategic Studies, Public Policy, Peace and Conflict Studies, Transport Studies and Sustainable Development