Urban informatics is the study of how rich behavioural data from cities and their citizens can be collected, analysed, understood, and communicated through computation. Urban Informatics seeks to inform improvements that can increase the wellbeing of city residents, whether by government organisations or industries involved in providing services in cities. Our Urban Informatics MSc equips you with the technical, analytical, and communication skills required to conduct effective urban data analysis, with experience of detailed case study topics and the communication of results to effect change. Your degree offers a range of knowledge, attributes, skills and experiences that are valuable for your future.

Key benefits

• 6th in the UK for Computer Science (QS World Rankings 2024)
• Based in the Department of Informatics and associated with the Centre for Urban Science and Progress London (CUSP London), which has connections to New York University and the University of Warwick.
• The Department of Informatics has a reputation for delivering research-led teaching and project supervision from leading experts in their field.
• You'll interact with world-class experts in many exciting areas of Computer Science, including Algorithms and Data Analysis, Cybersecurity, Human-Centred Computing and Software Systems.
• You'll study a wide-range of innovative modules, covering both the theory and practice of modern Computer Science.
• Friendly and supportive learning environment, with students from across the globe.
• Based in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences, with links to both Health and Social Science and Public Policy and world-leading teaching and research.

“King’s is very well ranked and has an excellent Informatics department. The central location means you are close to big tech companies and you can interact with them, also thanks to the different events that King’s organises with them.”

Luis, Advanced Computing MScShow more

Course essentials

The first term provides foundation modules in core data science techniques, the theories underlying the study of cities, and ways to communicate analyses so as to affect policy-making. The second term focuses on data analysis for cities, providing insight into both spatial and network analysis as well as providing more depth on data mining techniques. In term two you will also take a specialised module exploring one aspect of city life, such as human mobility or mental health, in real depth and detail. This provides a testbed for the analysis techniques learnt, enabling students to develop confidence and experience with handling urban data. In the summer term you will also engage in a substantive individual project – connected to our research interests – tackling one of a range of urban informatics topics. We will use a delivery method that will ensure you have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that you also experience elements of digital learning and assessment. The majority of learning for this degree takes place at the Strand Campus, with occasional sessions taking place at Waterloo Campus and Denmark Hill Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught, and the campus may vary depending on the optional modules you select. The Department of Informatics is based in Bush House, Strand Campus.

Base campuses

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Waterloo Campus

Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Denmark Hill Campus

Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Partners

CUSP London

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements

UK applicants

Standard requirements

A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree

If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).

Programme-Specific Requirements

An Upper Second Class degree in Computer Science (or related disciplines). An Upper Second in a quantitative subject containing a substantial statistical component will be also be considered, or Geography where this includes a geocomputation component.

A Lower Second class degree, or degree in a different quantitative discipline (e.g. Pure Maths, Physics, Mathematical Economics, Mathematical Psychology) may be permitted if the candidate has subsequent work experience in large-scale data analysis of at least 2 years duration.

Candidates without First or Upper Second Class degree in Mathematical Statistics or Computer Science but having relevant post- graduate experience may be interviewed to assess their level of competency.

International applicants

Equivalent International qualifications

Select a countrySelect a countryAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustralasiaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCook IslandsCosta RicaCote d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzechia (Czech Republic)Democratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFijiFinlandFranceGabonGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHome Fee Status StudentsHondurasHong Kong SARHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRepublic of the CongoRomaniaRussiaRwandaSamoaSan MarinoSão Tomé and PríncipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSt Kitts and NevisSt. HelenaSt. Kitts & NevisSt. LuciaSt. Vincent & the GrenadinesSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandThe GambiaTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTürkiyeTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamWalesYemenZambiaZimbabwe

English language requirements

English language band:

B

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Selection process

Applications must be made online using King’s Apply, the Admissions Portal.

A non-refundable application fee of £130 applies.

Due to the large volume of applications, this programme operates a partial “gathered-field” approach to decision making for applicants who meet our advertised academic entry requirements. This means that for some of these applicants, a decision may not be reached until after February and where possible, will be made by May. You will be informed via King’s Apply if your application has been assessed and being held as part of this process.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Personal Statement	Yes	A personal statement is required. You must answer the following two questions on the application form: Why are you applying for this specific programme, and how does it fit with your future plans? (max 250 words) How does your experience and education make you a suitable candidate for this programme? (max 250 words) What do you hope to contribute to the computer science community, and how do you envision making a positive impact during your time in this programme? (max 250 words)
Previous Academic Study	Yes	A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References	Yes	One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you.
Other	Optional	Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application

Teaching & structure

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures

Seminars

Group Tutorials

Flipped classroom approach

Independent Study

We often use lectures, seminars, and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the course. We use a flipped classroom approach that creates opportunities for active learning engagement and interaction with world-class experts.

You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work, e.g. 150 hours work for a 15-credit module. These hours cover every aspect of the module, including independent study. 

Assessment

• Coursework
• Written/Practical Examinations
• Presentations
• In-Class Tests
• Individual Project Dissertation

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include written and computer-based exams, coursework, oral presentations, in-class tests, and an individual project dissertation.

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Structure

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits. You will complete the course in one year, studying from September to September.

Required modules

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits. You will complete the course in one year, studying from September to September. You are required to take:

Urban Informatics Individual Project (60 Credits)

Spatial Data Analysis (15 credits)

Computer Programming for Data Scientists (15 credits)

Data Mining (15 credits)

Statistics for Data Analysis (15 credits)

Network Data Analysis (15 credits)

Introduction to Urban Analytics (15 credits)

Optional modules

In addition, you are also required to take 30 credits from a range of optional modules which may typically include:

Big Data in Urban Mental Health (15 credits)

Telling Stories with Data (15 credits)

Urban Informatics Placement (15 credits)

Agent & Multi-Agents Systems (15 credits)

Databases, Data Warehousing & Information Retrieval (15 credits)

Governing the Sustainable City (15 credits)

The Right to the City (15 credits)

GIS and Spatial Data Science (15 Credits)

Understanding Human Mobility (15 Credits)

Vulnerability, Development and Disasters (15 credits)

If you are a student who has previously studied in the Department of Informatics and have taken and passed any modules before (at level 6 or 7), you are not permitted to take these again. This is not permitted by the academic regulations.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Careers

Employability

The Careers Service run tailored sessions for Informatics students and a careers programme which includes skills sessions and visits from top employers.

The MSc in Urban Informatics equips you for future opportunities within business, government, NGOs and the third sector, where expertise in using analytics and data science to solve urban problems is increasingly essential.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £16,950 per year (2025/26)

International:

Full time: £37,800 per year (2025/26)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.

The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.

• If you receive an offer before January, payment is due within two months of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 1 January and 20 May, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 21 May and 15 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 16 July and 10 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer from 11 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Travel costs for travel around London, between campuses and for project placements
• Graduation costs

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

• Course essentials
• Entry requirements
• Teaching & structure
• Careers
• Fees & Funding

The first term provides foundation modules in core data science techniques, the theories underlying the study of cities, and ways to communicate analyses so as to affect policy-making. The second term focuses on data analysis for cities, providing insight into both spatial and network analysis as well as providing more depth on data mining techniques. In term two you will also take a specialised module exploring one aspect of city life, such as human mobility or mental health, in real depth and detail. This provides a testbed for the analysis techniques learnt, enabling students to develop confidence and experience with handling urban data. In the summer term you will also engage in a substantive individual project – connected to our research interests – tackling one of a range of urban informatics topics. We will use a delivery method that will ensure you have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that you also experience elements of digital learning and assessment. The majority of learning for this degree takes place at the Strand Campus, with occasional sessions taking place at Waterloo Campus and Denmark Hill Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught, and the campus may vary depending on the optional modules you select. The Department of Informatics is based in Bush House, Strand Campus.

Base campuses

Strand Campus

Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the Strand Campus houses King's College London's arts and sciences faculties.

Waterloo Campus

Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Denmark Hill Campus

Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Partners

CUSP London

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

UK applicants

Standard requirements

A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree

If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).

Programme-Specific Requirements

An Upper Second Class degree in Computer Science (or related disciplines). An Upper Second in a quantitative subject containing a substantial statistical component will be also be considered, or Geography where this includes a geocomputation component.

A Lower Second class degree, or degree in a different quantitative discipline (e.g. Pure Maths, Physics, Mathematical Economics, Mathematical Psychology) may be permitted if the candidate has subsequent work experience in large-scale data analysis of at least 2 years duration.

Candidates without First or Upper Second Class degree in Mathematical Statistics or Computer Science but having relevant post- graduate experience may be interviewed to assess their level of competency.

International applicants

Equivalent International qualifications

Select a countrySelect a countryAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustralasiaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCook IslandsCosta RicaCote d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzechia (Czech Republic)Democratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEast TimorEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFijiFinlandFranceGabonGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGrenadaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHome Fee Status StudentsHondurasHong Kong SARHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacauMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinePanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRepublic of the CongoRomaniaRussiaRwandaSamoaSan MarinoSão Tomé and PríncipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSt Kitts and NevisSt. HelenaSt. Kitts & NevisSt. LuciaSt. Vincent & the GrenadinesSudanSurinameSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandThe GambiaTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTürkiyeTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamWalesYemenZambiaZimbabwe

English language requirements

English language band:

B

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

For information on our English language requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.

Selection process

Applications must be made online using King’s Apply, the Admissions Portal.

A non-refundable application fee of £130 applies.

Due to the large volume of applications, this programme operates a partial “gathered-field” approach to decision making for applicants who meet our advertised academic entry requirements. This means that for some of these applicants, a decision may not be reached until after February and where possible, will be made by May. You will be informed via King’s Apply if your application has been assessed and being held as part of this process.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Personal Statement	Yes	A personal statement is required. You must answer the following two questions on the application form: Why are you applying for this specific programme, and how does it fit with your future plans? (max 250 words) How does your experience and education make you a suitable candidate for this programme? (max 250 words) What do you hope to contribute to the computer science community, and how do you envision making a positive impact during your time in this programme? (max 250 words)
Previous Academic Study	Yes	A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References	Yes	One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago. In some cases, we may request an additional reference from you.
Other	Optional	Applicants may wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of their application

Teaching methods - what to expect

Lectures

Seminars

Group Tutorials

Flipped classroom approach

Independent Study

We often use lectures, seminars, and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the course. We use a flipped classroom approach that creates opportunities for active learning engagement and interaction with world-class experts.

You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work, e.g. 150 hours work for a 15-credit module. These hours cover every aspect of the module, including independent study. 

Assessment

• Coursework
• Written/Practical Examinations
• Presentations
• In-Class Tests
• Individual Project Dissertation

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written/practical examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include written and computer-based exams, coursework, oral presentations, in-class tests, and an individual project dissertation.

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Structure

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits. You will complete the course in one year, studying from September to September.

Required modules

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits. You will complete the course in one year, studying from September to September. You are required to take:

Urban Informatics Individual Project (60 Credits)

Spatial Data Analysis (15 credits)

Computer Programming for Data Scientists (15 credits)

Data Mining (15 credits)

Statistics for Data Analysis (15 credits)

Network Data Analysis (15 credits)

Introduction to Urban Analytics (15 credits)

Optional modules

In addition, you are also required to take 30 credits from a range of optional modules which may typically include:

Big Data in Urban Mental Health (15 credits)

Telling Stories with Data (15 credits)

Urban Informatics Placement (15 credits)

Agent & Multi-Agents Systems (15 credits)

Databases, Data Warehousing & Information Retrieval (15 credits)

Governing the Sustainable City (15 credits)

The Right to the City (15 credits)

GIS and Spatial Data Science (15 Credits)

Understanding Human Mobility (15 Credits)

Vulnerability, Development and Disasters (15 credits)

If you are a student who has previously studied in the Department of Informatics and have taken and passed any modules before (at level 6 or 7), you are not permitted to take these again. This is not permitted by the academic regulations.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

The Careers Service run tailored sessions for Informatics students and a careers programme which includes skills sessions and visits from top employers.

The MSc in Urban Informatics equips you for future opportunities within business, government, NGOs and the third sector, where expertise in using analytics and data science to solve urban problems is increasingly essential.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £16,950 per year (2025/26)

International:

Full time: £37,800 per year (2025/26)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. Deposit payments are credited towards the total tuition fee payment.

The Home deposit is £500. The International deposit is £2000.

• If you receive an offer before January, payment is due within two months of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 1 January and 20 May, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 21 May and 15 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer between 16 July and 10 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
• If you receive an offer from 11 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current undergraduate King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary this academic year, you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Society membership fees
• Stationery
• Travel costs for travel around London, between campuses and for project placements
• Graduation costs

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.

Application closing date guidance

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