Urban Leadership and Entrepreneurship - Ph.D.

Program Overview

Ph.D. in Urban Leadership and Entrepreneurship 

• Urban Education 
• Urban Entrepreneurship
• Urban Governance And Policy
• Urban Sustainability And Resilience

The program is interdisciplinary, committed to the scholar practitioner model of knowledge creation and accepts qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and with almost any master's degree. As one of UDC's two doctoral programs, our current Ph.D. students and candidates include educators, dieticians, medical doctors, public health specialists, urban planners, transportation specialists and more.

As a Ph.D. ULAE student, you will have the opportunity to determine what field you want to focus on and what knowledge you want to contribute. Starting as early as the application process, we encourage you to let us know what problems you want to solve and to what scholarly or practitioner field you want to contribute. The program is offered in collaboration with Fielding Graduate University which is well known for its human development and leadership programs.

At UDC, we hope that our program provides you the chance to pursue your goals for your community and the world at large. Our advisors in the ULAE program will help you turn your interests into valuable research projects, providing you with the expertise and support needed to achieve success while also drawing on tier experience and record and successful scholar practitioners.

Note: The ULAE program is structured into two years of coursework and a cumulative dissertation. To fulfill the dissertation requirement, you must be the lead author or sole author of two published articles in reputable peer-reviewed journals. 

Dissertation Guidelines

Admission Requirements

The ULAE program follows a semester schedule and typically starts in mid-August of each year. To be considered for admission, you must submit your application by April 15 of the same year you intend to begin your course of study. 

The Ph.D. program in Urban Leadership and Entrepreneurship is currently not open to international applicants.

To qualify, you must meet the following criteria and submit the materials listed below:

• Bachelor's degree and master's degree (in any field)
• Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0

Required Documents and Materials

• Application
• Official transcript(s) from all previous institutions
• Current Resume/CV
• Two letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose explaining your reason for interest in the program
• Critical thinking writing sample (500-word minimum) addressing the following:
  • "What do you see as the most critical urban issue today?"
  • "Why do you consider it a critical issue?"
  • "What suggestions (if any) do you have to address it?"
• Pay the non-refundable $38 WebAdMIT application fee. UDC $50 application fee is waived.
• Standardized test scores are NOT required for admission into the program. However, you may include them as part of your admission materials.

If you have a Master of Science degree from a higher learning institution outside of the United States, you must also submit the following documents in addition to those listed above:

• NACES course-by-course evaluation of transcripts
• TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores
• Aside from the TOEFL/IELTS scores, standardized test scores are not required for admission into the program. You may include these scores as part of your admission submission.

How to Apply

Apply to UDC as a Graduate Degree Applicant if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You are seeking a graduate degree.
• You have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited post-secondary institution.

Apply Now for Fall 2026

Visit our Application Center for detailed instructions and resources.

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