New international Master's degree seeks innovative solutions for post-industrial cities

The University of Oulu is offering a new international multidisciplinary Master's programme "Redesigning the Post-Industrial City" (RePIC), which aims to address the challenges of post-industrial cities and their residents. This is the first joint degree programme developed within the scope of the European University UNIC. Upon graduation, students will be able to work as urban planners and managers, for example. The application period for the course began on 15 March.

The two-year study programme focuses on strengthening the challenge-based design thinking skills of its participants, particularly in an urban context. The programme will cover topics such as innovation and digitalisation of public administration, healthy urban planning in European cities, cultural economy, heritage economy and tourism, and resilient cities. The programme includes a mandatory mobility period between 2-3 hosting universities, giving students a unique opportunity to understand the diversity of urban challenges European cities are facing.

The RePIC program is delivered in English and designed to provide students with extensive opportunities to enhance their employability by addressing urban challenges through collaborations with local communities, city governments, and researchers specializing in the themes of the programme. This will involve team-based practices and co-design approaches through the CityLabs concept developed at the European University UNIC. In CityLabs, students solve societal challenges in collaboration with cities as part of their studies.

RePIC is a unique opportunity to obtain a European joint master’s degree, awarded by eight UNIC member universities: Ruhr-Universität Bochum (Germany), University College Cork (Ireland), Universidad de Deusto (Spain), Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (The Netherlands), Koç University (Turkey), Université de Liège (Belgium), University of Oulu and University of Zagreb (Croatia).

Applications are open to those with at least a bachelor's degree in subjects such as architecture, urban planning, geography, business studies, or sociology. For more detailed selection criteria, please consult the website of programme. The programme costs €4 500 per academic year for a Finnish student. Applications are made through Ruhr University.

Interested candidates should attend the upcoming online information session on 24 March at 18:00. The info session will be held in English.

The deadline for applications is 31 May and together 60 students will be admitted. The programme will start in the autumn of 2023.

What is the European University UNIC?

European Universities are networks of higher education institutions in the European Higher Education Area that work together for the benefit of students, teachers, researchers, and the surrounding societies. European University UNIC is a network of ten universities from across Europe that together focus on promoting educational cooperation and addressing the challenges of post-industrial partner cities. In Oulu, this change is linked to population growth and new opportunities for urban development.

Last updated: 17.3.2023