Urban Studies

Entry requirements

Our research degree applicants will usually possess a good Master’s degree (or overseas equivalent). With a significant component in urban studies, planning, real estate, geography, urban and social policy, urban analytics or a related social sciences field.

Months of entry

Anytime

Course content

Urban Studies at Glasgow is widely recognised as a world-leading centre for innovative, interdisciplinary urban research with high international impact. The UK funding council ranked us joint 1st in the UK in research excellence in the Research Assessment Framework (REF, 2014), with 100% of our output assessed as internationally excellent or better.

We are multi-disciplinary in research approach and a PhD in Urban Studies will allow you to develop excellent skills in research methods and theory as well as engaging with pressing real-world problems that affect cities. You will have the opportunity to be supervised by internationally acclaimed scholars. Our strengths include:

• Big data, GIS, transport modelling, urban analytics
• Educational inequalities and outcomes for young people
• Housing, planning, real estate, regeneration, urban design
• Public policy, welfare reform, health and health inequalities
• Smart/future cities, challenges facing cities in the developing world
• Systems of governance, communities and participation

If you study with us you will have the opportunity to join a large, stimulating community of PhD students and benefit from engagement with major funded research centres, long-term research projects and will be able to join our long-established research groups.

A PhD in Urban Studies can be taken as a 1+3 programme in conjunction with an ESRC-recognised MRes programme (MRes in Urban Research or MRes Public Policy Research).

Information for international students

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

• 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
• IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Fees and funding

Fees are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Tuition fees for part-time study will be charged at half the full-time annual fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.

Possible additional fees

• Re-submission by a research student £540
• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.

Fully funded scholarships

• ESRC Doctoral Studentships
• CoSS PhD Scholarships