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Bachelor in Urban Studies

Lead the future of cities and society

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Bachelor in Urban Studies

Duration4 years

LanguageEnglish

LocationSegovia and Madrid

IntakeSeptember

Mode of studyFull-time

FormatIn-person

Duration4 years

LanguageEnglish

LocationSegovia and Madrid

IntakeSeptember

Mode of studyFull-time

FormatIn-person

THE BACHELOR IN URBAN STUDIES

The Bachelor in Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary program which prepares students to understand and tackle the challenges associated with cities and urban development. Using problem-based learning and a hands-on approach to address real-world issues, the program equips students with the specialized skills needed for an international career in urban change, whether in the public, private or non-profit sectors.

This four-year undergraduate program is designed by IE School of Architecture and Design, an innovative, international institution which bridges the traditional gaps between academia, our communities, and the professional world.

Bachelor in Urban Studies | IE University

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR

YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT…

City life and seeing connections among people, places, and processes even where they’re not obvious. You have a keen interest on practicing sustainability in cities to improve people’s lives and discovering more about cities and their impacts on a social, natural and built environments while understanding social ecosystems from multiple perspectives.

LOOKING FOR…

Create and impact on your immediate surroundings, make visible the invisible dynamics at work in cities, and understand the peoples and structures that make up cities.

TO BECOME...

Urban strategy consultant
Sustainability specialist
Community development expert
Public administration technician
Mobility specialist
Urban designer

Bachelor in Applied Mathematics | IE University

Location

If you choose to study the Bachelor in Urban Studies, then you will study the first year in Segovia and the last three years in Madrid.

Study in Madrid

Study in Segovia

FACT SHEET

PROGRAM

Bachelor in Urban Studies

DURATION

4 years

LANGUAGE

English

CENTRES OF STUDY AND NUMBER OF PLACES

Centro de Estudios Superiores IE (Madrid) – 60 places

Escuela Técnica Superior de Estudios Integrados de Arquitectura (Segovia) – 60 places

CREDITS

Total number of credits: 240 ECTS*

Distribution of credits and subjects**:

Core subjects – 60 ECTS

Mandatory subjects – 138 ECTS

Elective subjects – 30 ECTS

Final Project – 12 ECTS

AREA OF KNOWLEDGE

Architecture, Construction, Urban Planning, Civil Engineering

TEACHING METHODOLOGY

Face-to-face

SPANISH MINISTRY’S REGISTRY OF UNIVERSITIES, CENTRES AND DEGREES

RUCT

ASSURANCE AGENCY

ACSUCYL*** – Buscador Títulos Oficiales

*European Credit Transfer System

**The character of the subjects is defined by the Spanish legislation

***Quality Assurance Agency for the University System in Castilla y León

FIVE REASONS TO CHOOSE THE BACHELOR IN URBAN STUDIES

01.

INTERDISCIPLINARY MINDSET

You’re curious and ready to question the world around you from multiple perspectives. You want to study a truly interdisciplinary program which integrates different areas of knowledge all with an eye on the city to promote creativity, innovation and opportunity. The Bachelor in Urban Studies gives you the opportunity to broaden your skills and forge your own unique career path.

02.

TURN PROBLEMS INTO OPPORTUNITIES

Two, 50, 75 and 80 are the four numbers which provide a measure of the impact of cities. Although, they only occupy 2% of the planet’s surface, they accommodate more than 50% of the population, they consume 75% of global energy and produce 80% of global CO2 emissions. While our cities are places of innovation and contribute to our quality of life, but also produce challenges. Major problems exist in cities, but so do the major opportunities, opening a world of career possibilities.

03.

MAKE A REAL IMPACT ON THE WORLD

Sustainability is fundamental to our future. Cities need to play an increasingly important role in tackling climate change. Cities’ exposure to climate and disaster risk is on the increase, as is their use of resources and generation of waste. The Bachelor in Urban Studies gives you the conceptual and analytical frameworks and skills needed for professions focused on urban change.

04.

TECHNOLOGY FOR PEOPLE

The Bachelor in Urban Studies uniquely combines social sciences with sustainability and new technologies in an innovative and creative way. Through real-world projects and case studies, you’ll be able to apply your learning immediately. Our city-labs will enable you to put theory into practice, and our collaborative agreements with top organizations give you real-world experience of problem-solving.

05.

CONNECT PHYSICAL SPACE WITH THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

In this program, you’ll learn to see the connections between physical spaces and the social realm, understanding the complex relationship between the city and its inhabitants. You’ll see analyze the reality of the city from various perspectives, allowing you to discover integrated solutions which make a difference to people’s lives.

BACHELOR IN URBAN STUDIES Pillars

EXPERIENCE THE CITY AS HUB OF INNOVATION

The Bachelor in Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary program for students who are interested in the complex issues facing cities today. The program focuses on the conceptual and analytical frameworks and specialized skills needed for professions that deal with urban change. You’ll study the city—past and present—and explore the latest trends in urban and environmental planning and policy, statistics, data science, geospatial analysis, and visualization. Using a hands-on approach, you’ll work with data and new technologies to address real urban problems.

AN INTERDISCIPLINARY DEGREE FOR ULTIMATE CAREER CHOICE

With the Bachelor in Urban Studies, you can be sure of future-proofing your career. The program combines skills and insights drawn from multiple disciplines: social sciences, technology, natural science, law and policy, culture and humanities, and architecture and design. We’ve developed our own teaching methodology which incorporates knowledge from these disciplines, bringing them together to promote creativity, innovation, and opportunity.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND REAL-WORLD SKILLS

The Bachelor in Urban Studies is structured into three components: the natural environment, the social environment and the built environment. The integration of these three components takes place in our innovative City Lab, where you’ll undertake hands-on projects. In the natural environment component of the program, you’ll learn about the functioning of ecosystems and the resources our cities use. The social environment examines the structure of social groups, urban demography, and city governance. And the built environment component deals with the physical aspects of cities such as city form, buildings, streets and open spaces with a special focus on urban design and planning.

A FUTURE-FORWARD PROGRAM WITH A PROBLEM-SOLVING FOCUS

The entire four-year program is structured around problem-based learning. Using practical examples of the real problems of cities, you´ll be able to develop your skills in our City Lab, which acts as a link between the academic and professional worlds. What’s more, our locations in Madrid and Segovia, with easy access to cities throughout Europe, mean we can use our cities as laboratories, allowing you to gain plenty of hands-on experience.

Using advanced technologies to gather information about aspects of the city and techniques such as data visualization, digital twins, and AI and VR, you’ll learn to model and interpret the behavior of different city systems. The program will be continuously updated with the latest technologies, so your skills are kept up to date.

Student Stories

At IE University, more than 75% of our student body comes from outside Spain, representing an average of 130 nationalities on campus each year. We take great pride in these numbers—and in the individuals behind them.

Our students are natural go-getters with a global outlook and a dream of a better future. Regardless of their degrees or passions, they strive every day to unleash their innovative potential and reach their goals. Driving this shared vision are people from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences. They are both united and entirely unique. These are our students. Discover their stories.

Tristán SartoriusUndergraduate student

"The emphasis IE University puts on entrepreneurship and teamwork intensified my drive to apply since I consider both to be crucial tools for my future."

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María González Rodríguez de BiedmaUndergraduate student

"I love being able to think outside of the box and submerge myself in such an international environment. I’m seeing things in new ways, discovering the unknown, and developing the ability to zoom in on problems and understand things from many different perspectives."

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Sebastian IdelfonsoUndergraduate student

"Find beauty and happiness in the little things."

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Danielle WhiteUndergraduate student

"The bigger the positive impact I can create throughout my career, the more likely I will be successful."

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Hannah DemeyereUndergraduate student

"The university has so many opportunities. You really can choose what you're interested in for your own personal development."

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BACHELOR IN URBAN STUDIES

Manuel Pérez Romero,Academic Director of this program and Chair of the Center of Sustainable Cities at IE University, explains in-depth the Bachelor in Urban Studies.

Faculty Stories

Our 500-strong faculty guides students to unleash their potential day in, day out. Their influence across all five Schools can’t be overstated, inspiring young, energetic minds as they define their personal and professional trajectories.

But what kind of person does it take to create such impact? The individuals that make up the IE University faculty are special. Coming from diverse, global backgrounds, they each bring distinct perspectives and innovative ideas that embody what makes IE University stand out. Their stories are personal and unique—but don’t take our word for it. Read their stories to see for yourself.

Cem Sinan KayatekinProfessor at IE School of Architecture and Design

"I try to shed the mysteries of the city for the future architect and open up the city for the future urbanist who wants to grapple with the complexities of the city today."

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Tomohisa MiyauchiProfessor, IE School of Architecture & Design

"Learning can start anytime by asking simple questions about why and being curious about our everyday surroundings."

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Alejandro PardoProfessor at IE School of Architecture and Design

"The most relevant lessons for achieving success come from failing—preparation, tenacity and a bit of patience is the formula for a sustaining success."

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Ruxandra Iancu-BratosinProfessor at IE University School of Architecture and Design

"Some of the things I’ve learned in my life, and which I try to pass on, is how to embrace the little failures and frustrations that come with the design process, to enjoy the freedom of experiment, and to be bold and fearless."

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