Programme structure - Master Governing the Large Metropolis

Semester 1 at Sciences Po (September - December)

The first semester is organized around high level academic classes to provide analytical skills and a solid background in issues of public policy, political economy, governance, and urban sociology in the context of the large metropolis. Quantitative and qualitative methods for applied urban research are provided, as well as GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

Semester 2 at Sciences Po (January - mid-June)

The second semester will start with the study trip (compulsory) and  a pre-week aiming at working on the study trip report, at providing the students with basics of urban economics, as well as management tools for capstone team work. During the S2, students start their specialisation choosing to study metropolitan governance in specific regions of the world. Comparative Law and Urban and Regional Economics constitute the main disciplinary lectures. 

In their classes students are supported for academic writing and encouraged to present and discuss their draft. Students wishing to engage in the entrepreneurial track or in the research track start dedicated courses.

A Gap year between the first and the second year is possible, submitted to the approval of the GLM academic advisor, when related to a professional project and working experience, coherent with the GLM scope. 

Semester 3 at Sciences Po (September - December)

The third semester aims at providing students with management and policy skills, operational tools and procedures in professional environments. In this semester, GLM offers a deep policy specialization and students may choose one of our 4 clusters of specialisation:

Each cluster is constituted by lectures by our faculty and workshop by professionals coming from many different Countries. Choosing a cluster is suggested to better specialise. They are not compulsory, and students may find their own courses and workshops combination. 

Semester 4 : Out

Consult the programme for semester 4.

Students enrolled in the core professional track have to do an internship (not less than 14 weeks). Student are encouraged to be very pro-active in looking for the internship that better fits with their professional project. A method for seeking an internship is developed in special meetings during the second and the third semesters. 

Students doing an internship have to write an Internship Report, concerning their mission, task and learning. This report will be read and evaluated by a GLM academic tutor. Students have also the possibility to write a Professional Dissertation instead of an internship report. It is a well researched academic paper around a policy issue related to the content of the internship, evaluated by an academic committee of 4 GLM teachers, coordinated by prof. Charlotte Halpern (Sciences Po, CEE). The professional dissertation is written under the individual supervision of one of the GLM faculty. The experience has proved it to be really rewarding for the students, and some professional dissertations have been published. Dissertation are often required in the labour market. 

Students may also choose to go for a semester exchange in partner universities: Hong Kong University, Politecnico di Milano, Renmin University of China, UCL Bartlett School of Planning, University of Amsterdam, Zhejiang University and UCLA (see below).

Students enrolled in the entrepreneurial track (see below) have to spend the whole semester in the Sciences Po incubator to develop their own business project and start creating their start up. They may attend special workshop and support on their business plan, organisation and marketing strategy. They still have to write a Business Report on the development of their business project.

Students enrolled in the research track (see below) have to spend the whole semester in a large metropolis (not in Europe!), doing fieldwork, and write a Research Dissertation by mid May. They may have a support by one of Sciences Po partner university, but work under the supervision of one GLM faculty, as decided by a joint commission of the Urban School and of the School of Research of Sciences Po.

Tracks (optional) 

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