Human Settlements

Overview

The intensive Advanced Master of Human Settlements at KU Leuven seeks to expose you to the multi-faceted challenge of contemporary human settlements, from multi-disciplinary and multi-scalar perspectives. You will also be encouraged to develop a critical and interpretative approach towards developing your own position within the field.

The Master of Human Settlements addresses rapid urbanisation in the developing world and contemporary urban transformations.  Architecture, urbanism, landscape architecture and spatial planning are the core disciplines underpinning the programme.

Contributions from economics, geography and anthropology, among others, complement the core, prepare you to better understand the interplay of human and natural ecosystems. The programme thrives from its truly international body of students and the faculty’s long-standing research expertise in worldwide contexts. 

Career

The programme produces interdisciplinary graduates capable of understanding and managing the complexity of urban development as well as promoting sustainable territorial transformations. The MaHS programme's graduates find employment across numerous and widespread areas.

Many of our alumni work as civil servants in urban development agencies in cities or national governments. Others are independent professionals in the field of urban design, planning, and community development. Yet others join private architecture or urban design offices or take on in leadership and policymaking positions in regional, national, and international human settlements institutions, such as UNCHS or UEPP. A small number of graduates continue the academic trajectory by obtaining a PhD.