Smart Cities Master degree Online - ZIGURAT Institute of Tecnology
Tech Management

Master's in Global Smart City Management

SCHOOL OF TECH MANAGEMENT
Language
English
Duration
1 academic year
Starts in
May 2025
Credits
60 ECTS
Methodology
Live Online
Double degree
Institut de Formació Contínua-IL3
ZIGURAT Institute of Technology
RESHAPE CITIES & TRANSFORM LIVES

Redefine urban living with our Smart Cities Master

New urban models must be conceived that pay more attention to the needs of citizens and the planet.

Our smart cities master trains professionals from a wide range of backgrounds to become practitioners with the ability to bring inter-disciplinary coherence to city projects, informed by strategic frameworks that integrate smart and sustainable approaches.

With this programme you will learn the strategic and managerial skills required to plan and develop smart, inclusive and resilient urban environments. It equips you with the technical understanding, analytical skills, and strategic management competencies to develop successful multi-stakeholder urban initiatives in accordance with international best practices such as those expressed in the United Nations New Urban Agenda. Throughout the course you will develop a practical project, putting your newfound knowledge and skills into action.

Join the growing community of smart city professionals with this smart cities master. With the increasing demand for experts in this field, you will have a wealth of career opportunities available to you. So why wait? Take your first step towards a brighter future and apply today!

Academic content

60 ECTS

Block 1

Strategic Perspectives, Business Opportunities and Citizen Engagement

Module 1. Introductory lectures.

Module 2. Financing and funding the smart city

Module 3. Citizens, data and decision-making

Block 2

New Technologies and Tools

Module 4. Connectivity and networks

Module 5. Efficient, secure and rights-friendly digital management

Module 6. Emerging Technologies

Block 3

Sustainability, Resilience and Urban Challenges

Module 7. Built environment and Mobility

Module 8. Sustainability and the Circular Economy

Module 9. Resilience and external stresses

FMP

Final Master Project

This project should describe the development of a Smart City project, considering the challenges this intervention seeks to address, the stakeholders involved, the intended outcomes, the methodologies used to research and design the intervention, as well as its potential costs, financing avenues, and realisation strategies. 


SCC PARTNERSHIP

Professional Memberships with Smart Cities Council

All students enroled in the Master's will receive a complimentary Smart Cities Council Professional Membership.

With a global network of over 400,000 people,SCC is the world’s largest and longest running Social Impact Organisation, and Professional Members enjoy a suite of professional benefits.

From networking and mentoring through task force, podcast, webinar and global events participation, public speaking, sharing research, finding partners and funding, SCC Professionals bolster their skills, experience, and networks, significantly enhancing their profiles as future experts in the smart cities sector.

Faculty board


Academic Director

Chris Dymond

Instigador en Unfolding Ltd

Karol Argasiński

Fundador y CEO de BIMfaktoria. PointCab Master Added Value Reseller. Miembro de buildingSMART Polska

Guillermo Corral Comeras

Urban Design Lead en MCORM Architecture and Urban Design

Daniela Idrovo Alvarado

Project Director at 360smartminds

Becki Clark

Consultora en Frazer-Nash Consultancy

Khaled Daher

Director General de Instalaciones Ferroviarias en CAF

Albert Mubako

Cofundador y consultor jefe de SAP Retail and Mobility Solutions

Eduardo Martínez Gil

Responsable de Smart Cities en NTT Data

Eduard Alvarez-Palau

Profesor titular de Economía y Empresa en la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya


This Master literally changed my life: thanks to this programme I had a job offer and new amazing networking opportunities that opened up for me
Smart cities should focus on people not tech, and this programme truly understands this.
This programme improved my knowledge, way of thinking, and design of smart solutions and smart mobility initiatives. It gave me the skills to connect the reduction of carbon and implementation of green energy solutions with the current demands of different stakeholders
THIS PROGRAMME COMBINES TWO FACTORS THAT WILL GUARANTEE A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL: THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA AND APPLICABLE TECHNOLOGICALRESOURCES.

The ZIGURAT methodology

Digital, transformative education, based on real people and real projects.

Active & Social Learning

Training based on participation and collaboration

Studying at ZIGURAT means expanding your professional network and having the unique opportunity to participate in selective working groups, decided on through the expertise of our professors: leaders in technological innovation and construction.

Lifelong Support

A holistic view of the professional profile

From the initial orientation to post-Master's advice, we guide you to have a critical and 360º vision of your future as an expert in the sector.

Online Experience

Interactive and flexible digital experiences

Through live sessions with industry leaders and high-quality materials on global case studies, our learning approach adapts well to the hybrid pace of today's professionals.

Learning Tools

Training Partners

In Collaboration with

Admission process

THE CANDIDATES WILL BE SELECTED FOR THEIR PROJECTION AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE.
1
Application for admission
Send us your application, your CV and a short presentation.
2
Personal interview
Our admissions team will arrange an interview with you.
3
Submission of documentation
Send us the necessary documentation to assess your application.
4
Admissions Committee
Our committee will evaluate your application.
5
Admission decision
If you meet the requirements, you will get your place.
6
Enrolment
Follow the enrolment steps indicated by the advisor.

Admission Request

If you wish to start the admission process, click here Admission Process.

ZIGURAT also offers financial aid plans, which 2,000 students have benefited from since we were founded. If you would like to find out more about these plans, you can do so by clicking on the link Institutional Grants.

Applications are open until the end of the available places and financial endowment of each program.

FAQ
What is a Smart City?

A smart city is an urban area that uses technology to improve the quality of life for its citizens. This can include things like improving public transportation, increasing the efficiency of city services, reducing crime, encouraging citizen participation, and managing waste properly. Given the growth of population in cities and the urgency of tackling the climate crisis, smart city managers are key players in constructing the cities we need.

Will we go over Smart City planning on this master?

Yes. This programme covers all the phases of a smart city project: evaluation, strategy and implementation. That is, you will understand the endeavor of building smart cities holistically and within specific cultural contexts.

What kind of Job opportunities are out there after the programme?

Enrolling in this smart cities master can open up several job opportunities in the fields of: urban planning; urban technology and digital solutions; project management; services & operations; enterprises & startups; and smart city consulting. There are many positions with excellent income potential:

Urban Planning and Place-making: Understand smart city options related to urban planning and identify how the integration of multiple information and communication technologies can give rise to possibilities for development and design. 
Urban Technology and Digital Solutions: Leverage new technologies and digital solutions to streamline processes, change business models and secure better outcomes for city residents.
Project Management:  Understand the needs and priorities of all the agents involved - citizens, city halls, service companies, utility suppliers, technology companies, universities - and propose plans of action to ensure all desired project outcomes are achieved. 
Services & Operations: Explore a data-driven and tech-empowered approach to optimisingoptimizing city services, such as waste and water management, public safety, energy, mobility, etc. OptimiseOptimize the potential of the smart solutions and manage the interaction between the application and its users. 
Enterprises & Startups: Recognize the real needs of the citizens and city hall in the urban environment and develop products and services that meet the challenges of this new era. 
Smart City Consulting: Help different stakeholders and interested parties in defining, strategic planning and launching their smart city projects. The comprehensive vision acquired in the program allows you to connect their needs, enable them to think more critically about what they are doing, and help them succeed. 
Chief Citizen Experience Officer (CCXO): The experience of the citizen must be a priority in the conception and creation of Smart Cities. The role of the Chief Citizen Experience Officer has  emerged to ensure that all the resources of aSmart City are accessible and fit the needs and values of the people who live in it.  

What kind of skills will I learn in this Smart Cities Master?

This Smart City Master gives you the tools and mindset to develop 360 skills:

Sustainability: Circular Economy, Waste Management, Urban Environment, Energy Transition, Water Management, Smart Farming.

Smart Economy: Intelligent systems, Digitalization of services, Low carbon economy, Project Financing, Innovation Ecosystems.

Urban Mobility: Road Accessibility, ICT Connectivity, GIS, Smart districts, Autonomous vehicles, Active Travel, Mobility-as-a-Service.

Smart Living: Social innovation, Urban Agenda, Digital Inclusion , Inclusive cities, Health and Wellbeing, Privacy-aware Security, Interactive Cities.

Emerging Technologies: Internet of Things, Blockchain, 5G Connectivity, Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence.

Smart Governance: Digital Administration, Transparency, Citizen Participation, Strategic Planning, Digital Identity, Data Smart Cities.

Master's Degree in Lifelong Learning accredited by the Institut de Formació Contínua (IL3) of the Universitat de Barcelona, ranked as the best university in Spain by:
ZIGURAT Institute of Technology ZIGURAT Institute of Technology ZIGURAT Institute of Technology ZIGURAT Institute of Technology