Urban Analytics and Visualisation (MSc) (2022 Entry)
About this taught graduate course
Course overview
For the first time in history, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. At the same time, cities and urbanised regions in general are increasingly linked and influenced by “smart” technologies.
Urban Analytics and Visualisation is an emerging interdisciplinary approach to addressing the urban challenges arising from these developments. Our unique MSc develops both the practical and theoretical skills needed – such as data analytics, urban theory, and visualisation techniques – to tackle these challenges, combining practice with cutting-edge theoretical and methodological understanding of urban systems.
Our course offers you:
- Deep understanding of the nexus between urban life and digital technology
- Thorough knowledge of interdisciplinary urban analytical methods
- Practical and analytical skills to explore, visualise, and make sense of city-scale spatial data
- Interdisciplinary methodological skills to design solutions to the world’s urban challenges
- Capitalising on emerging developments in big data analytics and digital technologies
Skills from this degree
- Software skills: R including geospatial R packages; GeoDa (a spatial visual analytics tool); QGIS (an open-source geographical information system); (possibly more, depending on optional modules chosen)
- Communication of scientific results to different audiences (including the general public)
- Interdisciplinary discussion and collaboration skills
- Application of urban theories to real-world problems
- Critical reflection about data, information, tools/methods
- Project management and team working skills (managing extensive group work projects)
General entry requirements
Minimum requirements
2:i undergraduate degree.
English language requirements
You can find out more about our English language requirements. This course requires the following:
- Band B
- IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.
International qualifications
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.
For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.
Additional requirements
There are no additional entry requirements for this course.
Core modules
Spatial Methods and Practice in Urban Science
This module introduces you to the rapidly growing field of urban science with a focus on concepts and methods for understanding modern cities and the integration of emerging technologies in the urban space. It provides a broad and systematic exposure to a range of topics and methods on urban science with emphasis given to spatial analysis.
Urban Data: Theory and Methodology
This module aims to provide an overview of the theoretical and the practical debates surrounding the rapidly growing sub-field of Urban Science. You will develop an appreciation for both the computer-based approach to data science and the social science contexts behind the real-world problems of cities.
Dissertation
The CIM Masters dissertation is a piece of work (10,000 words) which addresses a single student-selected subject. The topic may concern any aspect of the subject matter of their Masters programme.
The dissertation is an exercise in independent study in which you can pursue a topic of interest. It allows you to further develop a range of independent research skills, including literature search and bibliography construction, theoretical argument, and generation/appraisal of empirical evidence.
Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:
- Media Activism
- Urban Resilience, Disasters and Data
- User Interface Cultures: Design, Method and Critique
- Visualisation
- Digital Cities
- Digital Sociology
- Ethnography, Knowledge and Practice
- Ecological Futures: Science, Culture and Media
- Data Science Across Disciplines: Principles, Practice and Critique
Teaching
Modules in this course make use of a range of teaching and learning techniques, including, for example:
- Online Virtual Learning Environment
- Student Group and Project Work
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Reading and Directed Critical Discussion
- Independent Research by Students
- Practice-Based Activities
Class sizes
A typical seminar size for this course consists of around 12-16 students.
Typical contact hours
There are typically around 7-9 hours contact hours per week, depending on optional modules chosen.
Assessment
A combination of essays, reports, design projects, technical report writing, practice assessments, group work and presentations and an individual research project (10,000 word dissertation).
Reading lists
Most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library. If you would like to view reading lists for the current cohort of students you can visit our Warwick Library web page.
Your timetable
Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.
Your career
Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including: AXA, BaiDu, GroupM, Just Eat, Skyscanner, The Labour Party and University of Warwick. They have pursued roles such as: authors, writers and translators; business and financial project management professionals; buyers and procurement officers; data analysts and product managers; marketing associate professionals; quality assurance and regulatory professionals and researchers.
Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:
- Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
- Careers in AI and Data Science
- Discovering Careers in the Creative Industries
- Discuss What’s Next After Your CIM Master’s Degree
Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies (CIM)
The Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies (CIM) was established at Warwick in 2012 to foster innovative and experimental forms of knowledge production through a sustained focus on methodology. CIM is dedicated to expanding the role of interdisciplinary methods through new lines of inquiry that cut across disciplinary boundaries, both intellectually and institutionally.
Method is central to the formation and transformation of disciplinary knowledges, and the challenge of working across and in between disciplines is both exciting and pressing. Our research team is drawn from across the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences, with expertise in a variety of substantive domains.
Within Warwick, CIM is an advocate of interdisciplinary research and study. Beyond Warwick and beyond the academy, CIM explores new forms of public engagement, both with potential research users and with the experts, experimenters and institutions in business, civil society and government that are at the forefront of applied methodological innovation.
Find out more about us on our website.
Our Postgraduate courses
Tuition fees
Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.
Taught course fees Research course fees
Fee Status Guidance
The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support.
If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information, however we are awaiting guidance from the UK government regarding fee status for EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members living in the UK for academic year 2021/22 onwards. We are not able to confirm the fee status for these students until the relevant eligibility criteria have been confirmed. Once we have received further information from the UK government, we will provide you with an update on your fee status and let you know if any additional information is required. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides guidance to UK universities on fees status criteria, you can find the latest guidance on the impact of Brexit on fees and student support on the UKCISA website.
Additional course costs
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad. Information about department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:
- Core text books
- Printer credits
- Dissertation binding
- Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Scholarships and bursaries
Funding routes available
Find out about the many different funding routes available for postgraduate study at Warwick.
Living costs
Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.
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