Programme Introduction
Be an Urban Flâneur
A flâneur is a person who saunters around town and appreciates things. According to cultural critic Walter Benjamin (1892–1940), an urban flâneur strolls casually through a city, enthralled by its dynamism and diversity. Our Urban Studies Programme (URSP) admits about 20 prospective flâneurs each year, grooming them to become urban leaders who meet urbanisation challenges with sustainable measures.
The URSP Programme aims to help prospective flâneurs like you who care about our cities develop the capacity to read cities. We prepare you with concepts and skills to understand the urban realm to make it a better and more sustainable place for humankind. The Programme empowers you with the ability to develop ‘planet, place and people-friendly’ cities by learning about different theories and schools of thought; the rigorous application of skills and techniques for urban analysis; and contextual learning of best practices in sustainable development, governance, planning and design.
Jointly organised by the School of Architecture and the Department of Geography and Resource Management, the URSP programme not only provides you with urban development theories, but also equips you with the capacity to appreciate the importance of aesthetics in directing urban development towards a sustainable and climate-proof future.
Ranking
#24 in Geography
#51–100 in Architecture and Built Environment
(QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023)
Craft Your Path
The URSP Programme engages our students with diverse learning pedagogical approaches, such as lectures, tutorials, field trips, site investigation and public forums. The Programme allows you to dig into the academic side while embracing practical experience to explore innovative solutions for urban issues.
To better prepare for further studies, you may choose to declare your concentration in one of four specialised streams:
- Urban Planning and Design
- Urban Environment
- Urban Policy and Governance
- Smart Sustainable Cities
The URSP Programme is dedicated to widening its students’ perspectives through immersive, international learning opportunities, such as interning in professional practices, ranging from urban planning to environmental protection, and overseas student exchange programmes. As a URSP student, you can apply for the ARUP Scholarship, comprising a scholarship of HK$15,000 and an eight-week, full-time, paid summer internship. The Programme also offers you an exclusive opportunity to study abroad in our student exchange partnering institution: the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at the University of Sheffield, one of the top RTPI-accredited planning schools in the UK.
Career Prospects
Sustainable solutions often originate from detailed observations and place-based knowledge. In our highly specialised world, an integrated understanding of fragmented issues helps us develop sharp analytical and problem-solving skills. Urban issues are often highly complex problems, demanding creative, out-of-the-box solutions. The knowledge and skills acquired in this interdisciplinary programme allow you to be marketable in the public, private and civic sectors.
Our URSP graduates excel in a range of professions and fields. Half the class of 2023 are pursuing further studies in urban planning, the conservation of historic buildings and cultural management, while over 45% of the graduates are working in sectors such as:
- Commerce and industry: Over 45%
- Education: About 20%
- Social and public services and other sectors: Over 35%
Some of our URSP graduates’ employers in the past five years include:
- AECOM
- Albert So Surveyors Limited
- Beam Society Ltd
- CTA Consultant Limited
- Cushman and Wakefield
- DeSPACE (International) Limited
- Hong Kong Green Building Council
- Hong Kong Green Finance Association
- Lai Sun Development Company Limited
- MTR Corporation
- Ove Arup & Partners
- RHL International Limited
- Shinewing
- TCC Global
- Townland Consultants Limited
[Figures as of August 2023]
CUHK URSP is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the world’s leading professional body for qualifications and standards in land, property, infrastructure and construction. Our Programme is also the only undergraduate programme in Hong Kong that has obtained Spatial Planning accreditation by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), an international Chartered Institute for town planners. Our URSP graduates are eligible to apply for Chartered Membership in the two institutions upon completion of the specified requirements. Membership can enhance the skills and employability of graduates and facilitate their building of a global professional network.
If you are interested in this programme, please review the application requirements and deadlines specific to the respective admission scheme to increase your chances of getting accepted.
