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Dual Master's Degree in African and Southern Urban Studies with The African Center for cities (UCT)
Two-Year Dual-Degree
Programme in English
France & South Africa
The Urban School of Sciences Po (Paris) and the African Center for Cities (UCT), two highly rated institutions in Urban Studies worldwide, are launching a new dual master’s degree program to begin in January 2027.
The dual master’s draws on synergies between the two universities in cutting-edge interdisciplinary training in urban governance and urban policy. It provides students with the enriching experience and on-the-ground training in two dynamic global cities.
Students spend their first semester in Cape Town, the second year in Paris, and return to Cape Town for the final semester of the programme.
The Urban School of Sciences Po is committed to training professionals who will imagine, lead, and manage the future transformation of cities. It is renowned for its emphasis on urban governance, comparative political economy, and urban policy analysis. At the Urban School, we are committed to an interdisciplinary approach to social sciences (including politics, sociology, economics, law, history, urban planning, and geography) in the context of urban transformation, climate crisis, smart cities, housing, public space, infrastructure, and mobility.
The African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town is a leading interdisciplinary research hub focused on the dynamics of urbanisation in Africa. Bridging urban studies, planning, and development practice, the ACC addresses key issues such as sustainability, urban inequality, infrastructure, and governance. It is internationally recognised for producing engaged scholarship that combines critical theory with applied, grounded research. Deeply rooted in the African urban context, the ACC fosters innovative thinking on inclusive urban futures and actively collaborates with city governments, civil society, and global institutions to influence policy and practice.
Objectives and Skills
The Master in African and Southern Urban Studies offers a unique opportunity to engage critically with the dynamics of urbanisation from the perspective of the Global South, with a strong focus on research. Delivered as a dual degree between the African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town and the Urban School of Sciences Po, the programme combines rigorous academic training and applied learning in Cape Town and Paris — two urban laboratories facing complex development challenges.
The programme provides advanced interdisciplinary training in Southern urban theory and everyday urban life. Drawing on grounded, context-rich research and the vibrant intellectual environment of both institutions, students are placed at the intersection of theory, policy, and practice. They also have the opportunity to pursue fieldwork, internships, or capstone projects during their time in Cape Town and Paris.
Students in the programme will acquire the knowledge, skills, and experience to:
- Understand the dynamics of urban governance, spatial transformation, and development policy through a comparative and context-sensitive lens, grounded in the realities of the Global South.
- Contribute to the design and implementation of inclusive, just, and sustainable urban policies, informed by critical theory and practical experience in two distinct metropolitan environments.
Programme overview
Download the program structure (PDF)
Students begin the programme in Cape Town in January with the first semester of the Master of Philosophy in Urban Studies specialising in Southern Urbanism at the African Center for Cities. At Sciences Po, students will be enrolled in the first year of the two-year Master’s programme “Urban Governance, Policy and Planning”, “Governing the Large Metropolis” stream, offered at the Urban School. Finally, during the last semester, students return to UCT to complete both coursework and a research component, culminating in the submission of a master’s dissertation. The courses from this final semester can be followed online, to allow Students to deep-dive in field work.
During their group projects and learning expedition (at Sciences Po) and research (at UCT), students will work, both individually and collectively, in real professional situations. This professional immersion will encompass diverse sectors, including urban planning, urban services, transportation, real estate, housing, sustainable development, and smart cities, among others.
Providing all course requirements have been met, students will graduate after two years with both master’s degrees, one granted by UCT and the other by Sciences Po.
Careers
The Sciences Po – UCT Dual Degree offers access to stimulating career paths in both South Africa and France, while also providing strong professional training in a comparative and critical research approach within the Global South.
The degree prepares graduates for careers in the public sector, nonprofits and NGOs, international organisations, utility firms, planning agencies, applied research organisations, consulting firms, and development agencies.
Validation and Degree
Students are registered at Sciences Po and UCT over the two years and have access to the student services of both universities.
Students must validate coursework under the requirements of the university at which they are studying each year.
- 60 ECTS during the year (two semesters) at Sciences Po
- 90 ECTS during the two semesters at UCT
To earn both degrees, students must validate the academic requirements of both universities.
Admissions
This dual degree programme is open to candidates worldwide with a diversity of backgrounds (Bachelors in Social Sciences, Architecture, Engineering, etc.). It is intended for aspiring professionals interested in public or private sector careers with an international perspective.
Candidates to these dual degree programs apply directly on the Sciences Po website (online application only).
Tuition and Fees
Students pay their fees:
To find out about possible funding, consult the grants offered by Sciences Po and UCT.
Contact
- African Center for Cities: anna.selmeczi@uct.ac.za
- Urban School: cyriel.pelletier@sciencespo.fr
