Urban Studies (BA)

After graduation

Fully equipped for entering the labour market

Labour market surveys show an increasing demand for students in the field of Urban Studies, particularly those who have been trained in a broad programme including social and cultural perspectives on cities and urbanisation processes.

After obtaining your bachelor’s degree you can continue with a master’s programme. Your master’s diploma will increase your chances of finding a job at a higher (academic) level.

As a graduate of our programme, you will be equipped with knowledge and skills that are needed to understand the many-sided and complex issues that cities are faced with. At the same time, you will also be a good candidate for positions in other fields that require an independent mind and sound analytical expertise.

Erik Kofi Owusu

Graduate

"I look back at it as a meaningful experience where I was able to develop my academic skills and knowledge of the world and its future cities. Whenever I visit a city, it is always interesting to see the different ways that problems are dealt with and how the city is built. I have gained this way of evaluating and viewing cities through the courses I did in urban studies, and I am grateful for that. This year, I am starting a MSc Urban Governance at Erasmus University. I think I would want work within the municipality or within a company of young minds willing to make a change within cities. At some point I will be going back to Ghana as well to contribute to its growing urban development!"

Urban Studies graduates: 'The field is interesting and relevant, and keeps expanding'

After years of hard work, Urban Studies graduates were presented with their diplomas. How do they look back on their studies? And what can we expect from them in the future? Read more. 

Your skills after graduation

After graduating from the Urban Studies programme you will have acquired invaluable skills that are sought after by employers looking for new staff and by universities selecting candidates for master’s programmes. These skills include:

• Independent thinking
• Writing texts for specific audiences
• Working in teams
• Analysis of spatial environment
• Analysing information
• Methodology, such as understanding and using statistics
• Designing research programmes that relate to urban problems and their solutions

Orient yourself on the labour market

During various moments in the Urban Studies programme, you will be given insights into the career options open to you after graduating and the steps you can take during your studies to achieve your career goals. The programme includes, for example, the course “Professional Orientation”, which will be offered in the second year.

Also, you will meet with various professionals working in relevant sectors during the course of the programme, which will give you additional opportunities for career orientation. The Urban Studies programme has excellent connections with organisations working on urban challenges. This means that you will have first-hand information about current issues as well as related career opportunities from academic experts and practitioners in guest lectures.

The specialisations that you choose in the second and third year, will give direction to your professional orientation, opening up theme-specific career opportunities. At the same time, your chosen specialisations will also determine which master’s programmes you will be admissible to. It is good to know that you can always discuss your choices and opportunities with your study advisor and the Career Service counsellors.

Our Career Service is happy to help you

Leiden University’s Faculty of Humanities’ Career Service is available for personal advice and guidance about internships and jobs. This service also offers courses and workshops in career-planning, job applications and interviews. In addition, the counsellors can advise which employers may be of interest to you. Internship coordinators and career advisors can help you match your interests and abilities with suitable internships and career options. To help you make a good start, you can make use of the Student Career Services up to six months after your graduation. There also is the option to become a member of the Leiden University’s Alumni Network and find a personal mentor.

Campus The Hague Career Event

What are your ambitions for life after graduation? The Campus The Hague Career Event is your chance to learn how to find the job you want and how to get it. The event includes workshops on a wide range of topics, as well as opportunities to network with alumni and potential employers and get tips, information and potential job leads.

Check out the aftermovie of the Campus The Hague Career Event 2018!