Urban Studies and Planning | Master's programme

How do we deal with and develop complex urban environments?

The Master’s Programme in Urban Studies and Planning (USP) prepares students to excel as professionals capable of understanding and addressing complex urban development challenges. Students learn to address such challenges through a curriculum and pedagogical approach that includes interdisciplinary breadth as well as depth in core areas of knowledge, skill and practice. USP is a joint programme between the University of Helsinki and Aalto University.

There are three study tracks in the Master’s programme in Urban Studies & Planning: 1) USP Plans: Urban planning and Design 2) USP Peoples: Urban Life, Economy and Cultures 3)  USP Systems: Urban Ecologies and Systems. Find out more about the programme structure, content and courses from the link below.
Basic information
Scope of studies and length 120 ECTS credits, 2 years
Degree level Master
Language Finnish, English, Swedish
Tuition fee per year (only non-EU/EEA citizens) 15 000 EUR
Application period Next application period starts in Dec 2025 / Jan 2026.
How to apply

The quick guide gives you a general overview of the application process at the University of Helsinki and how to apply. Make sure that you meet the admission criteria, prepare your documents in advance and apply when applications are open.

Please note that there is only one intake per academic year. The online application form is open only during the application period. The admission criteria for the programme can be found in Studyinfo.
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Choosing your degree

There are different admission tracks for the USP programme at the University of Helsinki and Aalto University. At the University of Helsinki, students can apply for four different degrees: 1) Master of Arts (Faculty of Arts), 2) Master of Science (Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences), 3) Master of Science (Faculty of Science), 4) Master of Social Sciences (Faculty of Social Sciences). The degree is to be chosen when applying to the programme and cannot be later changed. The applicability of previous studies is assessed according to the selected target degree.
Studying at the University of Helsinki