MSc Transport Planning

Year 1

(Award available for year: Master of Science)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the programme students should have shown evidence of being able to:

- demonstrate an understanding of the main principles, techniques and issues in transport planning;
- understand the importance of transport planning in addressing social, economic and environmental issues;
- demonstrate the techniques of transport planning in addressing transport problems, taking into account the impacts upon accessibility, economic efficiency, the environment, equity, sustainability, development and the safety of transport systems;
- identify and understand the application of the most appropriate instruments of transport planning to specific transport problems and projects;
- specialise in selected aspects of the field, gaining deeper knowledge and advanced skills which can be applied in practice;
- demonstrate awareness of the advanced skills and their practical application in possible future employment in the transport sector or in further study or research;
- demonstrate competence in the identification, collection, management and analysis of a range of data related to transport and its interaction with the environment, society and the economy;
- work effectively in interdisciplinary teams on cases and problems relating to transport planning problems;
- design and conduct an independent research study on a topic related to transport.

Transferable (key) skills

The key skills that students will develop through the programme are highly relevant to a range of employment opportunities:

- being able to translate policy principles into practice;
- being able to understand the limitations and constraints of policies;
- being able to access up to date resources in an area and process them;
- to understand key data requirements and collection processes;
- to be able to communicate confidently through written work and in oral presentations;
- to recognise and become familiar with key modelling/computing advances which support environmental analysis.

Assessment

The learning outcomes for the programme have been designed in conjunction with the learning outcomes of the modules. Each module comprises a balance of assessment of understanding of core principles, critique of practice and demonstration of the ability to conduct key tasks. Importantly, the process of assessment takes a balanced approach to assessing both the learning outcomes and the achievement of the key skills portfolio outlined.

Learning context

The programme requires students to develop skills in the analysis of complex and unpredictable situations and to formulate and evaluate potential policy options. The programme provides a balance of instructed learning from academia and practice and opportunities for real learning and student-led debate and discussion.

Students will increasingly work towards autonomous learning such that their learning experiences can be taken out into the workplace.