Program Overview

Master of Science in Urban Analytics

The Master of Science in Urban Analytics (MSc(Urban Analytics)) is a one-year full-time programme designed to train and upskill students and professionals in applying novel urban science and analytics in planning and managing the development of cities. The programme aims to bridge the disciplines of social science, urban planning and design, and data science, providing a balance between analytical and practical skills, as well as domain knowledge and urban theory from social, economic, behavioural, environmental, and management sciences.

Programme Aims

• Equip students and urban professionals with cutting-edge analytics and modelling skills
• Enable good understanding of urban sciences underlying smart city development techniques
• Support urban policy makers and urban planning/design/surveying practitioners with urban analytics

Professional Accreditation

The MSc(Urban Analytics) programme has received “specialist” accreditation from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). Graduates can become members of RTPI under the Associate Route, becoming RTPI Associate Members after 2 years of planning experience and then RTPI Chartered Members after another 2 years of planning experience via A-APC.

RTPI Memberships

• To become a Student Member of RTPI as a student of MUA
• To become an Associate Member of RTPI as a graduate of MUA
• To become a Chartered Member of RTPI as an Associate member of RTPI

Student Awards in Competitions

Year 2024

• The Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) Awards – Open Category 2024
• Esri Young Scholars Award (YSA) program – Individual and Group Application
• Location Matters! Tech Challenge Competition – Student Category

Year 2023

• The Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) Awards – Open Category 2023
• Esri Young Scholars Award (YSA) program – Group Application
• 2023 Baidu Large Language Model Application Innovation Challenge

Year 2022

• Open GIS Competition – Open Category
• Esri Young Scholars Award (YSA) program – Group Application
• 6th Chengyuan Cup – Planning Decision Support Model Design Contest

Careers of Graduates

The majority of MUA graduates work in planning and design institutes, companies, or organizations in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Another group of students find urban analytics/data scientist jobs in world-leading finance and internet companies.

Main Teaching Staff

• Yeh, Anthony G.O. (BA HKU; MSc. Asian Inst Tech; MRP; PhD Syracuse; Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)
• Ma, Jun (BEng HUST; PhD HKUST)
• Yang, Tianren (BEng Tongji; MSc Georgia Tech; MEng Tongji; PhD Cambridge)
• Zhang, Xiaohu (BSc SYSU; PhD HKU)
• Zhao, Zhan (BEng Tongji; MS UBC; PhD MIT)
• Zhou, Yulun (BEng Fudan; MSc CUHK; PhD CUHK)