About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: K4N912
- Applications: University
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Planning and Architecture
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: 12 months full time, 24 - 36 months part time
- Delivery: Full time, part time block release
- Study Abroad: No
- Programme leader: Dr Kiron Chatterjee
- Key fact: We are offering scholarships of up to £3000 to full-time home, EU and international applicants to this course. See the 'entry' tab for more details.
Introduction
Growth in mobility has played an important role in facilitating economic development and widening social opportunities. However, the benefits of increased mobility are unequally shared with some individuals and societies highly mobile, whilst others experience 'travel poverty'. Increasing motorised transport has also brought with it problems such as traffic congestion, road accidents, carbon emissions and sedentary lifestyles. Meanwhile, the information age is providing new means of connecting people to each other and to new opportunities without the need for mobility.
Why study Transport Planning at UWE?
- Focuses on how transport can serve rapidly changing societies
- Unique multidisplinary approach to transport planning
- Considers UK and international perspectives
- Taught by staff at the leading edge of research, policy and practice
- Students from a range of diverse academic backgrounds
- Bristol is one of the UK's most innovative cities for sustainable development and was the first to be designated a Cycling City in 2008
The course has been designed to reflect the changing context for transport planning. It considers the interactions between mobility, lifestyles and society within the context of technologal change. You will learn from psychology how to change travel behaviour, from economics how to assess the value-added of a transport proposal and from geography how to identify variations in access to job opportunities.
The course sits within the Department of Planning and Architecture, the largest of its kind in the UK. This means you will gain an appreciation of how tranport needs to be considered as part of a broader spatial planning and how it should be sensitive to the requirements of the built environment.
Your studies will be enriched through the close relationships which exist with the Department's internationally recognised Centre for Transport and Society where many of the course tutors do their research and consultancy work. The Centre conducts leading edge research in topics such as behavioural change, public attitudes, walking and cycling, urban rapid transit, traveller information and the role played by ICT.
Sharing experiences from all around the world
This course is very relevant no matter what country you are from. We have students from the Caribbean, North America, Europe, the Middle East, South and West Asia and West Africa. Whilst different issues are faced across the world depending on unique economic and social situations, there are common challenges and experiences that all can learn from. Our teaching, whilst looking at policy and practice in the UK, also provides case studies and examples from all over the globe. Additionally, we welcome students from a range of different academic backgrounds. This mixture of cultures and experiences provides for a lively learning environment for everyone.
Breaking news
Staff from the CTS participate in the travel to work challenge held as part of UWE's Sustainability Week. See news item for full story.
Student's view
Amy, Luke and Syed explain why they chose Transport Planning and what it was like to study in Bristol. A field visit is made to Lyon in France which Oliver talks about.
Structure
Content
You will learn the essential knowledge and skills needed by transport planners. Additionally, you will be encouraged to be open to new ideas and to critically examine established practices. You will study modules covering the following topics:
- Research for policy and practice
- Transport and society
- Transport economics and appraisal
- Travel demand analysis
- Transport policy and finance
- Changing travel behaviour
- Traffic management and the environment
You are also able to chose an additional topic from either:
- Strategic planning and policy making, or
- Movement in the urban environment
The dissertation provides you the opportunity to research a chosen topic, supported by an academic supervisor. Here are a few examples from recent years:
- Who wants to commute more and why? Exploring the positive utility of the commute
- The impacts of national policies and guidance on the Travelling to School initiative
- Exploring the usage of rickshaws and socio-economic impacts on their users in Dhaka, Bangladesh
The South West Branch of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport offers an annual prize of £300 to the student submitting the best transport planning dissertation.
See the programme specification for more information on content, learning outcomes, etc.
Teaching and learning
A variety of teaching methods are used. These include lectures, seminars, workshops, debates and discussion, team work, presentations and external visits. A visit normally takes place to Lyon, France, each year where you will have the opportunity to see how transport can be coordinated with wider development.
You will mainly be taught by Departmental staff who are also active in the Centre for Transport and Society. Some contribution is made from expertise more widely at UWE. Professional practitioners provide guest lectures that explore the latest developments in this field.
Transport planners are expected to be numerate and any transport planning course will involve some mathematical content. To help those who lack confidence in this area, we provide guidance and assistance to assist with mathematical content of the course.
Study time
The course is offered both full time and part time. Irrespective of the mode of study you chose, you will start your studies in September of each year. Full time students complete the course in one year, but can take longer to complete the dissertation if they wish. Part time students complete the course in two or three years.
Assessment
Assessment is through coursework, presentations and examination.
Special Features
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK). It is designed to meet all the academic requirements for becoming a full Member (MCILT).
It is also accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as a specialist planning programme.
This is an approved course for those wanting to gain the Transport Planning Professional Qualification, the equivalent qualification to chartered status in other professions.
Careers/further study
Transport planners are professionals charged with planning and managing transport systems to meet the needs of society. It is not a profession which is normally high in the public consciousness, except when things go wrong and people's journeys and lives are affected!
In recent years, the emphasis on transport planning has moved away from engineering and the provision of infrastructure, although there are professionals who focus their careers in this area. Instead, it has moved more towards the social sciences - the need for mobility and how these are best served in a sustainable way, the effects on society and how it can be influenced. It is this type of professional that our MSc Transport Planning aims to produce.
Transport planners are employed in the public, private and voluntary sectors and can be found all over the world.
Entry
Entry requirements
We normally require a first degree of 2:2 or above from any academic backround including arts, humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, engineering and technology.
We welcome those without a first degree but with other professional qualifications, or who have substantial relevant experience in the transport planning profession.
Fees
Information on fees, bursaries and scholarships for postgraduate students, including scholarships for international students and the 15% UWE Alumni Scholarship.
Each year we participate in two national competitions for bursaries to support individuals studying MSc Transport Planning:
In both 2010 and 2011, two of our students were awarded Rees Jeffreys Road Fund bursaries.
To be eligible, you must apply for and have been offered a place on MSc Transport Planning by June. The schemes are highly competitive. Successful candidates are typically from the UK with a first or upper second class honours degree.
Scholarships of up to £3000 available from the Centre for Transport and Society
For the second year running, the Centre for Transport and Society are offering scholarships of up to £3000 to applicants to this course, irrespective of the country you are coming from. More information.
How to apply
Please see the general information about applications.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011