The Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies [BA(US)] is an interdisciplinary, studio-based and professionally-oriented programme offered by the Department of Urban Planning and Design. BA(US) aims to equip students with in-depth knowledge about diverse aspects of cities and urban systems, which forms an essential basis of various urban professions, with an emphasis on urban systems and their interactions with planning and policy interventions. The programme’s four-year curriculum highlights research, applied statistical analysis, observation and communication, and covers theories and methods, design thinking and design skills. Through integrated problem-based learning, students will develop the ability to analyse urban problems from multiple perspectives and propose appropriate policy, regulatory, design and other interventions. Upon graduation, students will acquire skills in spatial analysis that allow them to investigate the urban economy, society and environment, and become an expert in understanding how land, property development, government policy and laws shape cities. 

Those with a BA(US) degree will be entitled to various career opportunities. For example, they can become professional urban planners after pursuing our Master of Science in Urban Planning, Hong Kong’s only professional postgraduate degree programme in planning accredited by the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). They can also continue their studies in other professional postgraduate programmes in urban analytics, urban design, housing management, transport policy and planning, landscape architecture, conservation, environment and real estate, at HKU or other local/overseas universities.

The Master of Arts in Transport Policy and Planning [MA(TranspPol&Plan)] programme is co-organised by the Department of Geography, the Department of Urban Planning and Design and the Department of Civil Engineering at The University of Hong Kong. It aims to provide the expanding transport sector in Hong Kong with a steady supply of well-trained professionals at the executive level, and offer training for graduates aspiring to pursue careers in the transport industry.

It is the leading programme of its kind in Asia specialising in Transport Policy and Planning. Its comprehensiveness and multidisciplinary nature train students to deal with various transport issues from different angles and perspectives.

This programme is highly relevant to the needs of the contemporary world of transport. Students not only learn about fundamental transport knowledge and the latest developments in the field but also acquire essential communication and presentation skills. The course places heavy emphasis on developing students' critical and analytical mindsets. These qualities are highly valued by employers in the transport industry.

The MATPP qualifications are widely recognised and highly regarded within both the public and private sectors. It receives full accreditation by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as a Specialism programme for students who would like to specialize in transport policy and planning.

Senior government officials and senior personnel from private firms contribute to the programme as teachers and invited guest speakers, and the MATPP Association helps to foster closer ties among teachers, graduates and fellow students. Graduates are able to widen their professional network with the support of a strong alumni network.

The Master of Urban Studies and Housing Management (formerly Master of Housing Management) is an interdisciplinary programme offered by the Department of Urban Planning and Design (DUPAD). The MUS&HM degree programme has two streams of study, the Urban Studies Stream and the Professional Stream.  

The MUS&HM-Professional Stream was the first Master curriculum for training practising housing professionals in Hong Kong, which has been established for over 30 years. It is designed not only to upgrade the training and skills of practising housing professionals, but also to provide intellectual and professional training to those wishing to specialise in the housing area at postgraduate level. In addition to standard coursework, a special workshop on communication skills is offered.  The MUS&HM-Professional Stream is recognised by the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Hong Kong Institute of Housing.

The MUS&HM-Urban Studies Stream is designed to upgrade the intellectual capability and skills of students who have already completed their undergraduate studies from various backgrounds and are interested in contemporary urban and housing issues. This curriculum will provide interdisciplinary training to those wishing to specialise in the urban and housing areas at postgraduate level, through offering courses on the latest debates and methodologies pertinent to urban and housing studies.

The Master of Science in Urban Analytics [MSc(Urban Analytics)] is offered as a one-year full-time programme. The evolving technological basis of cities is reshaping our urban life and allowing us to understand, plan, manage and optimise cities in completely new ways. The Master of Science in Urban Analytics programme is therefore designed to train and upskill students and professionals able to apply novel urban science and analytics in planning and managing the development of cities. Aiming to bridge the disciplines of social science, urban planning and design and data science, the programme provides a balance between analytical and practical skills on the one hand, and on the other, domain knowledge and urban theory from social, economic, behavioural, environmental and management sciences.

Programme aims

• Equip urban professionals with cutting-edge analytics and modelling skills
• Develop good understanding of urban sciences underlying smart city development techniques
• Support urban policy makers and planning/design/surveying practitioners with urban analytics

The Master of Science in Urban Analytics degree requires 69 credits within one year of full-time study. The curriculum of the programme consists of seven urban analytics courses (6 credits each), two urban theory courses (6 credits each; two from an approved list of courses), and a dissertation/capstone project (15 credits).

Professional Accreditation

MUA has received ‘specialist’ accreditation from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).  Graduates could become members of RTPI under the Associate Route.

RTPI memberships:

1. To become a Student Member of RTPI as a student of MUA:
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/membership/about-rtpi-membership/apply/
2. To become an Associate Member of RTPI as a graduate of MUA:
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/membership/about-rtpi-membership/apply/associate/
3. To become a Chartered Member of RTPI as an Associate member of RTPI:
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/membership/assessment-of-professional-competence/associate-apc/

The Master of Science in Urban Design and Transport [MSc(UDT)] programme provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary education in Urban Design and Transport designed to equip graduates with core knowledge and technical competencies in design thinking, urban design values creation and management and sciences in Urban Design and Transport. The programme emphasises the integration of emerging transformative technologies, design, and behavioural analytics in an age of great urban challenges. The programme is co-organised by the Department of Urban Planning and Design, the Department of Geography, and the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong.

The MSc(UDT) is a specialised, professional degree, designed to lead directly to professional qualification and registration in Urban Design and Transport. The programme is seeking accreditation by:

• the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT),
• the UK's Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as a specialism programme,
• the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design (HKIUD)
• the Great Bay Area Urban Design Alliance (GBAUA)

Programme highlights
The programme comprises lecture courses, design studios and capstone experience, focusing on urban design and transport in dynamic, high-density urban environments. Through electives, students can develop a specialism in a sub-field of transport modelling, finance, law and development management, and housing economics and development.

Career prospects:
Graduates may take up professional positions in governments, NGOs, urban design and transport planning, design practices and consultancies in Hong Kong, Mainland China and beyond. Graduates may also pursue further studies in the MPhil and PhD programmes at HKU and other reputable universities worldwide.

The Master of Science in Urban Planning [MSc(Urban Planning)] programme is recognised by the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) and its graduates can become full corporate members of the HKIP after completing two years of relevant working experience and the professional assessments. Graduates from the MSc(Urban Planning) programme can become corporate members of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in the UK after going through the assessment of professional competency. MSc(Urban Planning) graduates specialising in transport planning can apply for membership of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong (CILT-HK).

The MSc(Urban Planning) programme is both academically rigorous and professionally oriented. The programme provides comprehensive training in the theory, methodology and practice of urban planning, equipping students to seek employment in urban planning and related fields in the public and private sectors. As urban planning requires multidisciplinary perspectives, students are admitted with degrees from a variety of related disciplines such as architecture, civil engineering, environmental sciences, geography, urban studies, social sciences, real estate, urban design, surveying and so on.

The programme comprises the core elements of lecture courses and studios, focusing on spatial planning in dynamic, high-density urban environments. Students are also required to develop a specialism in a sub-field of urban planning such as transport, housing, environment, conservation, urban design, international planning and so on, through taking elective courses and completing a dissertation related to the specialization.

The Master of Urban Design (MUD) provides an education in the design of the built environment for an era of extreme urban challenges.  Urban design is emerging as a distinct knowledge domain.  MUD is a one-year, full-time postgraduate programme offered by the Department of Urban Planning and Design in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong. The programme attracts a diverse body of local and international students, most with prior backgrounds in architecture, landscape architecture, urban and transport planning, and related disciplines. MUD graduates pursue careers as design professionals, and many go on to work in the world's most dynamic metropolises.

The programme focuses on urban design challenges in Asian cities with an emphasis on international perspectives, exploring topics such as climate change and renewable energy, high-density urbanization and livelihood, health-quality of life, green infrastructure and social cohesion, sustainable mobility and social equity. Teaching is informed by cutting edge urban design analytics research and imaginative design thinking that takes full advantage of its location in Hong Kong, a living hyper-density indoor and outdoor volumetric laboratory for urban design. Students acquire urban design skills through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, design studios, design reviews, and local and international field study visits. These are led by academics and practitioners in urban design, urban design analytics and related disciplines.

The Master of Urban Design programme is accredited by Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design (HKIUD) and the UK's Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) under its specialism scheme. The MUD Programme run over three semesters (equivalent to 1.5 years).  The MUD Programme is equivalent to European Master' Degree measured by the European Credit Transfer System (90 ECTS).  Upon completing the MUD programme, graduates are entitled to a one-year IANG working visa which can be extended by employers.

For applicants who satisfy admissions criteria for both the MUD and Master of Science in Urban Planning (MUP) programmes, there is the option of applying for admission to both programmes and completing both degrees in a period of 2½ years, instead of 3. MUP is fully recognized by the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) and Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), and Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).

The programme welcomes Asian Bank Development and Asian Bank Development JSP postgraduate scholarship applicants.

The MPhil degree is a postgraduate programme that focuses on research work.  The programme is available in all faculties and schools/departments, allowing candidates to select their field of study from a wide spectrum of subjects and specialise their research in distinct fields on offer. Students can register on either a full-time (2-year) or part-time (3-year) basis.  The programme offers an introductory experience to research studies and is suitable for those who wish to later pursue a PhD degree or become professionals in their specialised area.

MPhil students will receive ongoing advice and guidance from a dedicated academic or a team of academics in conducting research and thesis writing.  The programme also provides students with solid academic training and diverse educational experiences.  Coursework has been incorporated into the curriculum, introducing students to research techniques and also discipline-specific knowledge.  Students may take part in different workshops, conferences, and competitions to further develop their research skills and perspectives.  The award of the MPhil degree is based on satisfactorily completing courses, submitting a thesis that displays some originality and demonstrates a sound understanding of the field of study and the appropriate research methods, and satisfying the examiners in an oral examination, unless waived, (and any other examination if required) in matters relevant to the subject of the thesis.

Selected full-time MPhil students who have attained good academic qualifications will be provided financial assistance in the form of Postgraduate Scholarships.  Various scholarships and conference/travel support are also available to enrich students’ learning experience and promote professional and personal development.

The PhD degree is a highly recognised advanced research postgraduate programme.  It is available in both full-time and part-time mode.  Candidates can select their field of study from a wide spectrum of subjects as the programme is available in all faculties and schools/departments.  The PhD programme is intellectually demanding, requiring strong analytical skills, critical thinking ability, and language proficiency for undertaking independent research to produce original ideas with significant impact.  It aims to cultivate competent researchers who would like to develop their career in research, academia, and other professional areas.  The 4-year PhD programme is available for candidates who have obtained a good bachelor’s degree with honours and/or a taught master’s degree, while the 3-year PhD programme is offered to those with a research master’s degree.

PhD study focuses on conducting independent research, under the supervision of a dedicated academic or a team of academics, leading to the final submission of a thesis.  In addition, the 4-year PhD programme has a compulsory coursework component, which encompasses advanced specialist knowledge and language and research skills to enhance students’ abilities in different stages of their research studies and prepare them for research work and thesis writing.  The award of the PhD degree is based on satisfactorily completing courses, where prescribed, submitting a thesis that should be an original contribution to knowledge and worthy of publication, and satisfying the examiners in an oral examination (and any other examination if required) in matters relevant to the subject of the thesis.

Selected full-time PhD students who have attained good academic qualifications will be provided financial assistance in the form of Postgraduate Scholarships.  Various scholarships, fellowships, and conference/travel support are also available to enrich students’ learning experience and promote professional and personal development.