Eligibility
Applicants are eligible for the MSc in Urban Studies if they have completed a 180 ECTS academic bachelor degree or its equivalent in geography, planning, architecture, history, criminology, political science, sociology, demography, media and communication studies, cultural studies, or a similar discipline. Additionally, proof of fluency in English is required and should be sought well in advance of the application window. Students who do not have a (valid) proof of fluency in English at the time of applying are also eligible. In such cases offers of admission are conditional, meaning that a valid proof of English must be demonstrated before the offer of admission can be finalised. See the FAQ section for details.
Prospective applicants with a degree from a field not mentioned above should contact us. Please explain how your degree has helped prepare you for the MSc in Urban Studies and provide more information on the specific coursework you have undertaken (including transcripts of your course units). Students who have not completed their undergraduate degree at the time of applying but will do so before the enrolment deadline are also eligible. In such cases offers of admission are conditional, meaning that successful completion of an undergraduate degree must be demonstrated before the offer of admission can be finalised.
Application deadlines
The MSc in Urban Studies has two application deadlines each year: 7 February (for non-EU students) and 7 May (for EU students). Applications can be submitted until 12:00 CET (Midday Brussels time) on the deadline day. No applications will be reviewed until the application window closes. The online application module will open in November-December.
Application process
The application process consists of two steps.
Step 1:
All applicants need to register for and complete the online application module. Use the following URL to request an access code for the online application module: https://masterurbanstudies-form.eu/register/.
Following registration, you will receive the access code via e-mail. Use the following URL to access the online application module: https://masterurbanstudies-form.eu/login/.
Enter your e-mail address and access code. If you did not receive your access code via e-mail (or if you lost it), use this link to request a new access code.
The MSc in Urban Studies application committee will review all applications. Applicants are selected on the basis of the following criteria: relevance of the previous degree, and proof of fluency in English. As the MSc in Urban Studies is a challenging programme, we particularly encourage students with a high grade average to apply. In order to get a sense of the profile and interests of applicants, we also ask applicants to submit a motivation letter.
Step 2:
Only those applicants selected will be requested to enroll. The full application instructions are included within the online application module. Read through all instructions and information provided in the module. This will help you avoid any mistakes and make the application process as efficient as possible. Please note that various documents will need to be uploaded within the application module and before the application deadline. The required documents include: diploma from previous studies; grades list from previous studies; motivation letter; proof of English language proficiency; copy of valid passport; passport-style photograph.
Note on languages: the core courses and most elective courses of the MSc in Urban Studies are taught in English. However, the diploma and marks list will be accepted in English, Dutch, French, or German. If either the official diploma or official marks list is in another language, then two versions must be submitted: the original and a certified translation into English, Dutch, French, or German. The motivation letter must be submitted in English.
Fees
The total fee for the MSc in Urban Studies includes the tuition fee as well as a fee for administrative and logistical costs. The tuition fee does not include the cost of student housing, food, visas, certain excursions, or other expenses related to daily life in Brussels. The administrative and logistical fee includes the expenses for local and international site visits and most excursions that are part of the curriculum (transportation, accommodation, visits).
Fees are per academic year. For the academic year 2026/2027, the tuition fee is €1.194 for EU nationals and €5.369 for non-EU nationals. The administrative and logistical fee is €900. All fees are subject to change.