Cities

Entry requirements

Merit (65+) in a taught master's degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline and an upper second class (2:1) degree in sociology or another social science.

Months of entry

September

Course content

About the MPhil/PhD programme

The MPhil/PhD Cities offers the chance to undertake a substantial piece of research that is worthy of publication and which makes an original contribution to urban studies. Students begin on the MPhil, and are upgraded to PhD status after meeting certain requirements.

The Cities programme, founded in 1998, is dedicated to the innovative exploration and analysis of urban society and urban change. Housed within the Department of Sociology, the programme offers an excellent environment for interdisciplinary graduate research on cities, space and urbanism. Students come to the programme from a range of academic and professional backgrounds, sharing an interest in linking the social and spatial study of urban issues. The doctoral programme includes training in research design, practice and presentation in the first year; access to relevant graduate taught courses to enhance general and project-specific skills; a range of student-led and international collaborations and initiatives; and opportunities for exchange and networking through other international partnerships. Research focuses on the academic expertise of staff within the Cities programme, the Department of Sociology, and LSE in general, addressing the spatial, social, economic and environmental aspects of cities and urban life.

Department of Sociology

Established in 1904, the Department of Sociology at LSE is committed to empirically rich, conceptually sophisticated, and socially and politically relevant research and scholarship.

As a Department, we seek to produce sociology that is public-facing, fully engaged with London as a global city, and with major contemporary debates in the intersection between economy, politics and society – with issues such as financialisation, inequality, migration, urban ecology, and climate change.

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students.

Fees and funding

Fees

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme. Visit the website for more information about the fees.

Funding

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

LSE offers studentships to new PhD students in the form of LSE PhD Studentships, LSE ESRC Studentships, LAHP AHRC Studentships and LSE & III PhD Studentships on Analysing and Challenging Inequalities.

These awards are open to high calibre students of all nationalities studying across all research areas at the School.

Find out more about financial support.