Health in Urban Development MSc

UCL (University College London)

UCL’s Health in Urban Development MSc develops the capacity of urban health professionals and development practitioners to respond to the challenges of urban inequalities, informality and environmental risks in the 21st century. Our course examines the relationships between health, social justice, urban governance and development planning in the urban context of the Global South and Global North, as well as the effects of urbanisation, social interactions and policies on the physical and mental health of communities. The Health in Urban Development MSc equips you with the analytical, methodological and practical skills needed to address complex urban health challenges in a rapidly urbanising world. You gain a strong foundation in critical thinking and research, with a focus on how health, inequality and planning intersect in both the Global South and Global North. During the degree, you explore the impact of urban systems—including housing, infrastructure, food, water, sanitation and mobility—on physical and mental health. Through classroom learning and real-world engagements, you build your ability to evaluate policy and community-level responses, work with diverse stakeholders, and design health-centred strategies for inclusive urban development. We emphasise learning through practice. You take part in fieldwork during an overseas practice engagement and in collaborative workshops, giving you the space to test ideas, reflect on your own role as a practitioner, and engage directly with the lived realities of urban communities. You shape your learning journey by choosing from a wide range of optional modules across The Bartlett Development Planning Unit and UCL. Our specialist optional modules span key areas of urban development, including post-disaster recovery, housing, urban design, environmental planning, infrastructure, climate adaptation, food systems, and city economies in the Global South. By the end of the programme, you will: Acquire the skills to assess how urbanisation and inequality affect health in a variety of contexts Understand and apply key frameworks for urban health and development practice. Gain real-world experience working with communities, practitioners and global partners. Grow as a reflective and ethical urban health professional, with transferable skills in analysis, communication, teamwork and project delivery. The Health in Urban Development MSc is designed for both recent graduates and experienced professionals who want to engage with urban health justice. What unites our students is a shared interest in addressing the health impacts of inequality, marginalisation and rapid urban change. We encourage applications from those who are strongly motivated to develop human-centred responses to today’s urban health challenges. Applicants from a range of academic backgrounds may apply, including but not limited to health, development studies, social sciences (including geography and anthropology), urban planning or architecture. We also welcome applications from professionals already working in the growing field of urban health, including those with a focus on the Global South. Our diverse international cohort fosters a collaborative learning environment, where you learn not only from academics and practitioners but also from one another. This programme is also available on a modular (flexible) basis, with a duration of 5 calendar years.