Why this programme

Urban Digital Transformation & Innovation
Photo of a digital city

What does this study entail?

Digital technology has disrupted urban development and profoundly reshaped the way cities operate. From using big data to managing traffic flows to the Internet of Things (IoT) applications used to manage energy consumption in public places, urban spaces are becoming increasingly digitised. Such digital transformations and innovation drive socio-economic change and impact how we govern cities. In this programme, you will learn about the main theories and applications related to the economics and governance of urban digital transformations and innovation. Among others, students will discuss the ways digital tools can be used to govern cities better; the implications of digitalisation for contemporary governance; the (dis)advantages of cities and innovation clusters; and the impact transformations and innovation have on the economy (e.g., labour market changes). 

Why study at Erasmus University Rotterdam

  • Earn your MSc degree from a top 100 university in Rotterdam

    Erasmus University Rotterdam, consistently ranking in the top 3% globally, is celebrated for academic excellence while Rotterdam is known for iconic architecture, pioneering urban planning, and multicultural vibrancy.
  • Our teaching methods are unique

    IHS faculty members engage in real-world cases globally, integrating challenges, learnings, and questions from these experiences into our curriculum.
  • We offer a truly international and diverse environment

    The IHS classroom comprises mid-level professionals and fresh graduates with rich and varied experiences from more than 45 countries.
  • You apply everything you learn

    Students engage in a diverse learning experience through lectures, case studies, debates, simulations, assignments, and field visits in Rotterdam and other Dutch cities, with the option for thesis fieldwork abroad.
The multidisciplinary nature of the programme has changed my perspective on urban issues and helped me approach them in a more realistic way.

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What are some of the special features of this track?

Apart from earning your MSc diploma from Erasmus University Rotterdam, an institution that is consistently ranked among the top 3% of the world’s best universities, studying the Urban Digital Transformation & Innovation track also means that you will get to

GLUT game

Interdisciplinary approach to innovation and digitalisation 

This track uniquely combines economics and socio-technological studies to explore innovation and digital technologies in urban settings, both theoretically and through the analysis of practical examples. It blends theory with practical skills, helping you understand how technological innovations are reshaping urban governance and generating socio-economic challenges and opportunities, including those arising from digital and energy transitions. 

 

Get up to speed with the latest scientific insights

There is a reciprocal evolution between technology and society in cities. This course focuses on the long-term effects of using technology to change the city and helps students to develop a critical approach to governing urban digital innovation and transformation. 

Studying in a busy library
EUR

Get introduced to skills that are highly sought after in urban professionals

The master track will introduce students to key methods and techniques such as machine learning, big data analytics, network analysis, etc. 

Learn from high profile academic staff

The instructors of this course are highly experienced international academics with experience in both academic research and policy-oriented advisory projects.

#4 for Public Administration

worldwide for Public Administration Shanghai Ranking

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#5 for Planning & Development

for Planning & Development Center University Rankings (1000)

Planning and Development number 5 ranking

#13 for Development Studies

worldwide for Development Studies QS World University Ranking

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