MSc Transport and City Planning

A groundbreaking and critical perspective on transport planning, with an urban and international focus.

About the course

The aim of the MSc in Transport and City Planning is to equip students to work effectively as transport and planning practitioners in urban contexts - transport is seen as supporting the development of sustainable cities.

It has close links and shared modules with two other Bartlett School of Planning courses: the MSc in Sustainable Urbanism and MSc in Infrastructure Planning, Appraisal and Development.

The programme has an integrative design, providing perspectives from core disciplines without being rooted in any one. Students are encouraged to anchor their studies in a core discipline:

• Urban Transport Planning: examines the role and nature of transport planning in the delivery of sustainable cities internationally. It covers everything from the context and rationale for transport to infrastructure and the psychological and sociological dimensions to mobilities.
• Sustainable Cities: introduces some of the key sustainability debates and literature. It considers the tensions and synergies between environmental, social and economic objectives and the theory underpinning city planning.

You examine transport and well-being and take a transport route (transport consultancy study and sustainability and major infrastructure investments) or planning route (sustainable urban development project).

You’ll also take two elective modules from within UCL. These could cover:

• different key perspectives and analytical approaches in transport planning
• urban planning
• advanced spatial analysis
• international development

One of these modules can be chosen from wider disciplines throughout UCL. This provides an excellent interdisciplinary grounding and allows you to develop a stronger emphasis in a particular field.

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Why choose the Bartlett?

We offer:

• a programme that draws on UCL's position as a leading research-led university
• an opportunity to acquire a broad range of skills and knowledge, while setting foot on the path towards specialisation
• a principle- and theory-driven programme giving both conceptual understanding and the skills needed to tackle practical problems

Who should apply?

Candidates who wish to work across disciplines at strategic levels, and also those who wish to specialise in particular areas:

• transport planning or engineering graduates or specialists interested in the design of sustainable cities
• planning or geography graduates wishing to specialise in transport planning, who want broad knowledge in transport, planning and the delivery of the sustainable city
• graduates wishing to enter the transport planning or urban planning professions

More information

• For key information, including how to apply, visit the UCL Graduate Prospectus
• Browse the sections below for more detailed course information

Structure

The diagram below shows the structure of the one-year full-time MSc programme. If the programme is taken flexibly over two to five years, students would normally complete the modules marked T1 before moving on to the modules marked T2.

Further details of these modules can be found in the UCL Module Catalogue.

Students will be required to produce a 10,000 word (60 credit) dissertation on a topic of their choice. Their choice of supervisors will feasibly extend across the Faculty and potentially CTS, but most likely be from the BSP. 

The MSc in Transport and City Planning comprises 120 credits of taught modules, including two elective modules and a group project, and a dissertation carrying 60 credits. Students are required to take and pass 180 credits for the MSc (and 120 credits for the related postgraduate diploma).

Delivery in 2021-22

For the 2021-22 academic year, as per UCL’s announced plans, it is our intention to deliver this programme through ‘blended’ delivery, incorporating some elements face-to-face and some elements online. This will allow us to respond to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, for example in case we need to have social distancing in place on the UCL Campus. Given the nature of the programmes we deliver at the Bartlett School of Planning, we do expect the delivery and achievement of core learning outcomes on this degree course to require students to attend in person teaching activity in London. Elements delivered in person are not planned to be replicated online and applicants should not expect to be able to complete the programme remotely.

Field trip

We are hoping to run a field trip as part of the programme in 2021-22, however this may be subject to restriction due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, for example we might be able to offer a UK field trip more readily than one to elsewhere in Europe. Offer holders / enrolled students will be kept updated on our plans.

The field trip would usually take place over a week. Students would visit selected best practice case study developments in Europe will enable students to explore the way that different contexts – including cultural, political and institutional – frame transport and city planning. This event would be informed by talks from key experts.

Content

Further details of these modules can be found on UCL's Module Catalogue.

Compulsory Modules

BPLN0060 Transport Planning and the City (15 credits)

BPLN0061 International Case Studies in Transport and City Planning (15 credits)

BPLN0058 Sustainable Urban Development: Key Themes (15 credits)

Either

BPLN0106 Sustainable Urban Development: Project (30 credits) To be taken as part of the Planning route of studdy

Or

BPLN0029 Sustainability and Major Infrastructure Investsments (15 credits): To be taken as part of the Transport route of study

And

BPLN0105 Transport Consultancy (15 credits): To be taken as part of the Transport route of study

Dissertation Modules

BPLN0039 Dissertation (60 credits)

Elective Modules

Beyond these core studies, students take two more modules as electives from across the Faculty and wider within UCL. These would include selected module(s) in transport planning from the CTS, planning from the BSP; advanced spatial analysis from CASA; or international development from the DPU. A free-ranging elective would also allow choice of one module from wider disciplines throughout UCL.

Staff

Programme Director

Dr Robin Hickman
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Staff teaching on the programme currently

Dr Jonas De Vos
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Dr Jo Williams
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Dr Catalina Turcu
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Dr Stephen Marshall
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Dr Iqbal Hamiduddin
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Careers and employability

Graduate students from the Bartlett School of Planning have been very successful in gaining subsequent employment. There is growing demand for our Masters' graduates from a wide range of both public and private employers. While the main source of employment remains in planning and transport-related consultancy, and in local government and central government, graduates are also employed in the following areas:

• transport, planning, urban regeneration and environmental agencies
• international funding institutions (European investment Bank, Asian Development Bank)
• third sector and lobby groups
• public and private utility companies
• teaching and research

Still can't find what you're looking for? Get in touch with Programme Director Dr Robin Hickman, Admissions Tutor Dr Jonas De Vos or Programme Administrator Alkesh Patel.