Structure

During a period of two years, students take part in an interdisciplinary programme and study in four cities: Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid and Vienna.

Students live in each of the cities for one semester, except for the first block (Brussels) which takes a few weeks longer and the last block which consists of a short intensive stay in Madrid.

Students spend most of the last semester in a location of their choice, where they are able to work on their master thesis.

In each city the programme consists of:
• academic courses
• fieldwork
• excursions & visits
• exams

ACADEMIC COURSES:
Theoretical courses of high standard in the field of urban studies. Students will acquire scientific knowledge about the bases of urban theories in different disciplines, the city as a social product: factors, global context (globalisation, Europe, Fordism/ post-Fordism, modernism/post modernism…), the local context and heritage, planning and design processes and systems, project management...

FIELDWORK
In each of the cities students will be given a topic to study through extensive fieldwork and as a group task. This will result in a written report and public defence. Fieldwork is organised in close cooperation with non-academic urban institutions and organisations and is closely linked to ongoing academic research in each of the cities.

EXCURSIONS
in the city of residence:
During the programme several excursions will be organised to illustrate and discuss topics treated during the courses. This includes visits to public and private institutions and organisations (formal and informal ones) that are important for the local political, economic and cultural dynamics of the city.

to other cities:
A set of national and international excursions are planned (ranging from one to several days). In these excursions the objective is to raise awareness of regional and international differences in urban development. The excursions consist of guided tours and visits to relevant institutions and organisations (planning departments, development agencies, cultural actors...).

EXAMS
During or at the end of each semester exams are organised on the courses taught during the semester. The way the exams are held (oral, written, essay, combinations of several methods,...) varies from university to university.

MASTER THESIS
With supervision and tutoring at each university: VUB (5 ECTS); ULB (5 ECTS), Vienna (10 ECTS), Copenhagen (10 ECTS)

Courses

4Cities takes you on a learning path that starts in Brussels, continues in Vienna and Copenhagen and ends in Madrid. Click on one of the semesters to find out more about the courses in each city