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Executive
Application code:K4U1
School of Public Policy

Executive MSc in Cities

Gain the skills to lead urban transformation projects and tackle complex problems in our cities. Study part-time around your career – in person or remotely.
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Discover the Executive MSc in Cities from LSE Cities

Overview

Introduction

This Executive MSc in Cities is designed for public, private, and third-sector leaders involved in delivering large-scale change in cities.

The programme draws on LSE’s interdisciplinary strengths. You’ll analyse urban projects and policies from rigorous economic, social and environmental perspectives, studying topics such as urban economics, infrastructure and environmental sustainability.

At every stage, you’ll apply theoretical concepts to real-world urban issues. You’ll complete a six-month consultancy project (in your organisation or externally) – giving you the chance to apply your learning and craft policy and programme interventions. Taught in intensive, modular blocks, this programme is run by LSE Cities, an award-winning centre that investigates the complexities of the contemporary city.  We work with our growing network of city leaders and urban specialists around the world on applied research that helps shape urban policy and practice.

Throughout the Executive MSc in Cities, you’ll engage with practitioners from local government, research institutions, development and design, urban consultancies, and infrastructure firms. You’ll gain real-life insights and practical experience – setting you up with the skills to drive urban transformation and shape sustainable development in your sector.

Hybrid-flexible learning

Hybrid-flex is the product of the programme team’s unique experience of delivering a world-class urban education programme at a global scale and is based upon two key principles, blended and flexible learning. The 2026/27 programme will be taught on this basis, allowing you to attend in-person teaching in London or remotely via Zoom to suit your needs (subject to LSE and UK government guidance). Find out more about the hybrid-flex arrangement.

Have questions about the programme?

Book a consultation call with one of our Programme Directors, Philipp Rode and Savvas Verdis.

Entry requirements

  • Undergraduate degree

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in any discipline or equivalent professional qualification.

  • Professional experience

A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in an urban related public/private/third sector, or another sector is required.

  • English language

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency. Although you don't need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE.

See our English language requirements

Please select your country from the dropdown list below to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Overseas

English language requirements

The English language requirement for this programme is Higher. Read more about our English language requirements.

Competition for places at LSE is strong. So, even if you meet the minimum entry requirements, this doesn't guarantee you an offer of a place.

However, please don’t feel deterred from applying – we want to hear from all suitably qualified students. Think carefully about how you can put together the strongest possible application to help you stand out.

Programme content

The Executive MSc in Cities consists of five teaching modules followed by a compulsory six-month urban consultancy project. Each module combines collaborative group work, self-paced online learning, and a one-week live teaching session, which can be attended either in person at LSE or remotely. These modules also include assessments specific to each course. Over the 12-month programme, you'll attend five one-week live teaching sessions. The consultancy project is undertaken either within your own organisation or with an external partner.

The dates for the live-teaching weeks during the 2026/27 academic year will be:

Week 1: 28 September – 2 October 2026
Week 2: 23-27 November 2026
Week 3: 22-26 February 2027
Week 4: 26-30 April 2027
Week 5: 21-25 June 2027

For the latest list of courses, please go to the relevant School Calendar page.

A few important points you’ll need to know:

We may need to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees due to unforeseen circumstances. We’ll always notify you as early as possible and recommend alternatives where we can.

The School is not liable for changes to published information or for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study, due to developments in teaching practice, regulatory requirements that require us to comply, lack of demand, financial unviability of a course, or due to circumstances beyond our control, such as the loss of a key member of staff or where a location or building becomes unavailable for use.

Places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements so we cannot therefore guarantee you a place.

Changes to programmes and courses may be made after you’ve accepted your offer of a place – normally due to developments in the discipline or as a consequence of student feedback. We may also make changes to course content, teaching formats or assessment methods but these are made to improve the learning experience.

For full details about the availability or content of courses and programmes, please take a look at the School’s Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department.

Some major changes to programmes/courses are posted on our updated graduate course and programme information page.

For further information on how we comply with UK consumer protection law, see your consumer rights as a student.

Why study with us

The Executive MSc in Cities is designed for urban professionals who want to drive change in cities around the world. Delivered by the world-leading LSE Cities centre, the programme combines academic excellence with real-world impact. Participants benefit from:

  • Global reputation: study at the London School of Economics, a top-ranked institution with a strong focus on urban policy and global cities.
  • Flexible format: designed for working professionals, the programme blends online learning with five intensive one-week teaching modules, which can be attended in person or remotely.
  • Applied learning: the six-month urban consultancy project allows participants to apply their learning directly to a real-world challenge, either within their own organisation or with an external partner.
  • Diverse cohort: join a global network of urban leaders from government, business, and civil society, fostering rich peer learning and collaboration.
  • Expert faculty: learn from internationally recognised scholars and practitioners in urban development, planning, and governance, such as Ricky Burdett, Jo Beall and Tony Travers

Who are LSE Cities?

LSE Cities is an international centre that investigates the complexities of the contemporary city. It carries out research, graduate and executive education, advisory and engagement activities in London and abroad. Extending LSE’s century-old commitment to the understanding of urban society, LSE Cities investigates how complex urban systems are responding to the pressures of growth, change and globalisation with new infrastructures of design and governance that both complement and threaten social equity and environmental sustainability. LSE Cities was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for 2016-2018 in recognition of its work on training, research and policy formulation for cities of the future and a new generation of urban leaders around the world.

LSE Cities hosts a wide range of international conferences, public lecture series, seminars and awards that span the core of our research goals and works to consolidate a growing network of urban experts.

LSE Cities is affiliated with the School of Public Policy and the Department of Sociology.

Connect with us:

Meet the department

The LSE School of Public Policy (SPP) is a global community united by a shared commitment to LSE’s founding mission: to understand the causes of things and work for the betterment of society.

Our seven master’s programmes combine academic rigour with real-world relevance, tailored to suit professionals at every stage of their career — from emerging leaders to seasoned executives.

As an SPP student, you’ll join a diverse and dynamic cohort, learning from world-renowned faculty and distinguished guest speakers with experience in governments around the world.

The School is at the heart of LSE – ranked the top university in London and fifth in the world for social science and management subjects (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026). Situated in the centre of a global city, LSE is the perfect place to study and contribute to public policy debates.

Our programmes enable students to develop rigorous and empirical skills underpinning evidence-based policymaking. Students learn how to apply these skills to real-world problems and contexts. We also offer a wide range of opportunities beyond the classroom for students to develop their professional skills and prepare for their future careers, these include:

We have an inclusive, diverse community, open to enquiring minds. From small beginnings, the School of Public Policy now has a thriving community of more than 400 students who all share a passion for learning and developing new perspectives as they prepare to develop policies to transform societies around the world.

Connect with us on:

School of Public Policy

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Your application

Overview

We welcome applications from experienced working professionals based in any location who are committed to leading large-scale change in cities. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and consider all the information included on your application form. In addition to the form, you'll need to provide:

  • University transcript and degree certificate: you'll need to provide a degree transcript and certificate for each degree you list on the application form.
  • Statement of academic purpose: this should provide a brief overview of your background and outline your reasons for joining the programme. Please keep it to two pages or less.
  • Two references from people who are well-placed to comment on your potential to succeed on the programme. They may be academic or professional.
  • CV or resume: outlining your professional experience to date in chronological order.

See further information on supporting documents.

There's a non-refundable £95 application fee payable at the time of submission via credit or debit card.

Who should apply?

We welcome applications from experienced working professionals based in any location who are committed to leading large-scale change in cities.

Our alumni include senior city officials, architects, politicians, entrepreneurs, property developers, urban designers, city planners and academics. However, we'll consider applications from all experienced professionals who want to understand and deliver change in cities.

Application advice: statement of academic purpose

The statement of academic purpose is a vital part of your application. It gives programme selectors a sense of who you are beyond your CV and helps us understand your motivations for applying. We recognise that many applicants may not have engaged in academic writing for some time, and that’s absolutely fine.

Use the statement to tell us about your professional experience, the challenges or opportunities you’ve encountered in your work, and what has led you to pursue the Executive MSc in Cities. You should also explain how you hope to apply what you learn, whether to advance your career, contribute to your organisation, or drive change in your city or region.

Think of the statement as a narrative that connects your experience with your future goals. Be honest, specific, and reflective. There’s no need to use academic jargon, just focus on clearly communicating your story and aspirations. Be sure to keep the statement to two pages or less.

Need help with your application?

Contact the Programme Manager Nermin Abdulla for support.

42
Applications
18
Intake
2:1
2024 Ratio

Fees and funding

The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.

You're charged a fee for your programme. Your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover fieldwork, travel or living costs in London.

Home

£42,200

Home student fee

The fee above is for 2026/27.

If you're made an offer of a place on the Executive MSc in Cities, you'll be asked to pay a pre-registration fee of £1,500 to secure your place on the programme. This fee will be deducted from the total cost of tuition.

For this programme, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their fee status.

Fee reduction

Students who have completed and passed an undergraduate or graduate degree at LSE and are beginning an Executive MSc at the School are eligible for a 10 per cent tuition fee reduction.

Students who have completed and passed two or more Summer School courses are eligible for a five per cent reduction.

If you meet the eligibility criteria for both discounts, the higher 10 per cent discount rate will apply.

Find out more about the LSE alumni discount.

Scholarships

This programme isn't eligible for LSE financial support. However, tuition fee support is available via the LSE Cities.

If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, your programme application must be submitted by the relevant deadline:

  • Round 2 (full scholarship): 1 April 2026
  • Round 3 (partial scholarship): 1 June 2026.

Bloomberg Scholarships for Public Service

Open to applicants of all nationalities, who work in the public sector. The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition.

Deadline to apply for this scholarship: 1 April 2026.

Learn more about how to apply

LSE Cities Scholarship

Open to individuals from all nationalities, sectors, and locations, the scholarship offers partial awards up to £10,000 toward tuition fees, based on financial need.

Deadline to apply for this scholarship: 1 June 2026.

Learn more about how to apply

LSE Cities Alumni Scholarship

Open to individuals from all nationalities, sectors, and locations, the scholarship offers partial awards up to £10,000 toward tuition fees, based on financial need.

Deadline to apply for this scholarship: 1 June 2026.

Learn more about how to apply

Learning and assessment

How you learn

The programme is designed for professionals in full-time employment. It includes five intensive teaching blocks over 12 months, followed by a six-month consultancy project.

Teaching is delivered through a combination of seminars, case challenges, workshops, group work, site visits, presentations, and pitches. Participants also complete online learning materials in advance of each teaching block.

As part of our hybrid-flex model, participants can choose to attend live sessions either in person or remotely.

Read more about our hybrid-flex model

Academic mentor: you’ll meet regularly with your academic mentor to discuss your progress. They offer guidance on academic matters and, when appropriate, can support you with personal concerns.

Additional academic support: at LSE, there are many opportunities to enhance your learning beyond the classroom.

The Learning Lab is the place to discover and develop the skills you’ll need to reach your academic goals at LSE.

Through the Learning Lab, you can:

  • attend practical workshops and one-to-one sessions on essay writing, conducting research, and on managing your reading lists, workloads, and deadlines
  • develop your academic writing, reading, and critical-thinking skills to meet degree-level expectations
  • work in study groups to strengthen collaboration, cross-cultural communication, and teamwork skills in a supportive environment.

Disability and Mental Health Service: we’re committed to helping all students reach their full potential. The Disability and Mental Health Service offers free, confidential advice and is the first point of contact for students seeking support.

Graduate destinations

Overview

This programme is designed to enable graduates to pursue roles in city leadership, international organisations, consultancy, and academia, as well as to support those looking to pivot into new sectors or expand their impact within existing roles.

As an Executive MSc in Cities participant, you’ll benefit from tailored career support designed for mid- to senior-level professionals working in urban policy, planning, infrastructure, and development.

LSE Careers offers a wide range of resources to support your professional development, including:

  • one-to-one career consultations
  • CV and application reviews
  • interview preparation
  • Access to networking events and panels

Throughout the year, leading global organisations, including consultancies, development banks, city governments, and NGOs, host presentations and events at LSE, offering valuable insights and networking opportunities.

You’ll also join the Executive MSc in Cities alumni network, a global community of urban professionals. This network offers ongoing opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and peer support long after graduation.

This data is drawn from the 2022/23 Graduate Outcomes Survey, conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Where included, median salaries are based on respondents in full-time employment who were paid in UK pounds sterling. Graduates from 2022/23 were the sixth and final cohort to take part in the Graduate Outcomes Survey. For data aggregated across the past five years, please visit the LSE Careers website.