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    ACC and Urban School of Sciences Po launching collaborative degree

    The African Centre for Cities (University of Cape Town) and the Urban School of Sciences Po (Paris) are launching a groundbreaking collaborative Master’s degree in African and Southern Urban Studies, starting January 2027. This two-year programme is rooted in Southern urban theory and brings together rigorous academic training and applied learning across Cape Town and Paris — two urban laboratories facing complex development challenges. Students who complete the programme will earn two degrees: one from UCT and one from Sciences Po. The programme is designed for those wishing to pursue doctoral studies or careers in policy, governance, planning, consulting, or development with an urban focus. It is interdisciplinary and open to graduates from the social sciences, architecture, engineering, and related fields worldwide.

    The MPhil 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. The programme combines rigorous academic training and applied learning in Cape Town and Paris — two urban laboratories facing complex development challenges.

    The African Centre for Cities (ACC) 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.
    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. The Urban School is 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.

    Applications close on 31 March 2026. Learn more about the programme and how to apply here.

    RESEARCH DETAILS

    Title:

    ACC and Urban School of Sciences Po launching collaborative degree

    People:
    Anna Selmeczi
    Themes:

    Programme:

    MPhil in Urban Studies — Southern Urbanism

    Research details