Program Overview

Overview of the Smart and Sustainable Cities Program

The Smart and Sustainable Cities program is a postgraduate course offered by Trinity College Dublin, led by the School of Natural Sciences and delivered by staff from all faculties across the university. The program aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of smart and sustainable cities, using tools from urban geography and planning, engineering and computer science, and ecology.

Course Details

• Awards: NFQ Level 9
• Number of Places: 32 Places
• Next Intake: September 2025
• Course Director: Dr. Philip Lawton
• Closing Date: 31st July 2025

Admission Requirements

Applicants are expected to have an upper second-class (2.1), or above, Honours Bachelor's degree in a social science or science-based course. Non-standard applicants may be considered based on workplace experience or other relevant criteria.

English Language Requirements

All applicants are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language, meeting Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Course Content

Students take 7 compulsory core modules, including:

• Urban Governance
• Smart Eco-Cities of the Future
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
• Urban Sustainability
• Introduction to Machine Learning
• Research Method
• Fieldtrip
• Placement
• A written Dissertation

Students also choose 3 elective modules from a range of options, including:

• Transportation Policy
• Transportation Modelling & Planning
• Energy Policy & Building Energy Demand
• Urban Computing*
• Artificial Intelligence*
• Machine Learning*
• Environmental Policies
• Human Interaction with Biodiversity
• Climate Justice, Climate Change & Development

*For these modules, students would be expected to have previous experience in cognate areas.

Career Opportunities

This course is designed to meet the learning needs of students who want to enter an expansive but demanding employment market, preparing them for professional work in institutions and public or private companies in the field of Smart and Sustainable Cities. Graduates have pursued careers in smart city organisations as well as sustainability initiatives.

Course Fees

For a full list of postgraduate fees, please refer to the relevant section of the university's website.

Testimonial

This course has placed my previous experience in hydrology within a broader context, providing me with a deeper and more critical understanding of sustainability. The course has allowed me to build on existing skills and engage with complex, tangible topics through both a critical and practical lens — something I intend to carry forward in my future career.

Pauline Marsilla

Graduate

Related Courses

• Biodiversity and Conservation (M.Sc. / P.Grad.Dip.)
• Development Practice (M.Sc./P.Grad.Dip.)
• Environmental Sciences (M.Sc. / P.Grad.Dip.)
• Global Challenges for Sustainability (Charm EU) (M.Sc.)