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Transport and City Planning MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The Transport and City Planning MSc blends cross-disciplinary insights on transport and urban planning. You engage with global debates and innovative strategies, addressing the transition to sustainable urban mobility, seeking to understand how transport can support the sustainable city. Engaging with sustainable mobility trends, theories and international case studies, you develop a comprehensive skill set preparing for a dynamic career in transport and urban planning.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£19,300
£9,650
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£39,200
£19,600
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 academic year
2 academic years
5 academic years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree or other qualification of equivalent standard in Urban Planning, Geography, Engineering, Transport Planning, or related disciplines; and/or related work experience.

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

This course is suitable for international students on a Student visa – study must be full-time, face-to-face, starting September.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The Transport and City Planning MSc equips you to excel as a transport and urban planning professional, breaking traditional disciplinary boundaries. You draw from a range of different theories and perspectives from transport and urban planning disciplines to explore transport as an integrated part of the planning of sustainable cities globally. The course explores the theory underpinning transport and city planning along with the complexities of balancing environmental, social, and economic objectives. It covers a wide range of topics from the context and rationale for transport, the psychological and sociological dimensions to mobilities, and infrastructure and project planning procedures and implementation.

During your degree you:

  • Explore transport planning from the perspective of social sciences, critically examining current approaches to explore the impacts and find new possibilities for sustainable urban mobility.
  • Delve into transport-related issues around the world, using case studies to analyse trends, strategies, and consider how policy can promote sustainable travel patterns.
  • Understand key debates on the tensions and synergies between the environmental, social, economic and institutional dimensions of sustainability in cities.
  • Learn about the impact of transport on well-being and quality of life, analysing travel behaviours, attitudes to travel and connections to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, social exclusion, health, travel behaviour, and residential location.
  • Explore sustainable transport issues first hand on a residential field trip, such as cycling, public transport and traffic demand management in the Netherlands and Germany.
  • Build your studies around your future ambitions by choosing between taking a transport-focused route with specialist modules in Sustainability and Major Infrastructure Investments and Transport Consultancy Study or a planning-focused route with a Sustainable Urban Development masterplanning project module.
  • Explore your own interests, choosing elective modules to specialise in: Transport Analytics, Spatial Planning, Urban Design, Community Participation, Urban Railway Planning, Geographical Information Systems, Transport Equity, Cities and Climate Change, or wider.

Who this course is for

This degree is for graduates looking to start or continue a career in transport or urban planning in public or private sectors both in the UK and internationally. Applicants come from backgrounds in transport planning, engineering, urban planning, geography, transport planning, engineering, politics, sociology, psychology, or wider. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a working professional, we offer part-time and flexible study options that let you balance work and study.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

A research-led world-class education 
You learn from academic experts at The Bartlett School of Planning, including Course Director Professor Robin Hickman, who are creating impactful transport research working with organisations such as Transport for London, UK Department for Transport, European Union, Asian Development Bank and European Investment Bank. Our faculty, The Bartlett, is ranked #1 for Built Environment studies in the world (QS World University Rankings 2025). The Bartlett is also where the UK’s most ‘World Leading’ and ‘Internationally Excellent’ built environment research is undertaken (REF 2021).

Study in London, a progressive transport hub 
London is home to many new major transport infrastructure and planning projects aimed at improving accessibility and promoting sustainable urban mobility options. As a backdrop to your studies these are fascinating examples of transport planning, infrastructure and policy in action. London is ranked the best city for students in the UK and Europe, and holds third place worldwide (QS Best Student Cities 2026).

Build your career in transport and planning

Whether you aim to start a career in transport planning or enhance your professional expertise, the Transport and City Planning MSc provides you with the essential skills and knowledge to succeed. The degree is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), making you eligible to apply for membership and further validating the professional skills gained from your studies to employers. You can also work towards your Transport Planning Professional (TPP) accreditation, following a working portfolio.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

98.2% of graduates from Transport and City Planning MSc were in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-23).

While most graduates are employed in planning and transport-related consultancy or in local government and central government, our graduates also work in:

  • Transport, planning, urban regeneration and environmental consultancies and agencies
  • City, regional and local authorities
  • International funding institutions (including the European Investment Bank and Asian Development Bank)
  • Third sector and lobby groups
  • Teaching and research

Employers of our graduates include Aecom, Atkins, Arup, Citymapper, Jacobs, Alan Baxter, Momentum, Mott Macdonald, Transport for London, UK Department for Transport, Transport for Greater Manchester, Sustrans, various London borough authorities, international city authorities and research organisations.

Alumni experience

"The Transport and City Planning MSc is a fabulous course for someone wanting an intellectual challenge, and complements a variety of careers relating to transport planning and urban development. Theory and real-life applications are blended together in lectures and project work to give students a critical understanding of transport planning, urban planning and major projects. The course taught me how to critically understand and assess the current and future transport and urban requirements for cities around the world, giving me skills to envision, plan, and deliver strategy, policy, and major projects for cities. What I learned in this MSc has been invaluable in progressing my career working in both public sector and consultancy roles, and I have been able to work on some of Europe’s largest transport and regeneration projects as a result."

Imogen Thompson, studied Transport and City Planning MSc 2014-15.

Employability

You will gain many transferable skills required to build your career in planning and the built environment. These include:

  • A critical understanding of transport and city planning
  • Qualitative and quantitative research skills
  • Project management, data analytics and report writing

Support is available from UCL Careers and our careers specialist in The Bartlett School of Planning to explore your options, build valuable skills, showcase your practical experience, and navigate the job application process. This includes various events and training tailored to the industry, such as alumni and industry insight panels, career taster sessions, masterclasses, careers fairs and more.

Learn more about careers support for planning students at UCL ►

Networking

Throughout the academic year The Bartlett School of Planning hosts a vibrant schedule of public events and workshops giving you a wealth of opportunities to network. The Transport and City Planning MSc seminar series includes alumni events with consultancy and local authority practitioner speakers and networking time.

Accreditation

If you hold an RTPI accredited undergraduate degree, then successfully completing the Transport & City Planning MSc (as either a full MSc or a PG Diploma) will make you eligible for membership of the RTPI.

Learn more about urban planning degree accreditation ►

Teaching and learning

During your degree you engage in interactive learning. Alongside lectures, seminars and tutorials we include field trips, group project work, presentations and individual assessments. We also have significant input from practitioner experts and external contributors. These diverse approaches to teaching and learning are developed to enhance your experience on the Transport and City Planning MSc.

You are assessed through a mix of examinations, essays, group/individual projects and presentation, and a dissertation.

Full-time students study the equivalent of a full-time job. In Terms 1 and 2 full-time students can typically expect between 8 and 15 contact hours per teaching week through lectures, workshops and tutorials. Outside of lectures, they use their remaining time (approximately 22-29 hours) for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments. In Term 3 students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.

The Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) consists of six compulsory modules (90 credits) and two optional modules (30 credits), taken over nine months if full-time study. .

Modules

The course consists of four compulsory core modules, two optional modules, two elective module(s) and a dissertation. Students undertake modules, usually each of 15 credits, to the value of 180 credits.

The MSc explores two key themes:

  • Transport planning – theory, concepts, emerging themes, analytics and case studies
  • Urban planning – theory, concepts, emerging themes and masterplanning  

The taught modules are delivered in Term 1 and term 2 of each year.

Term 1 (October–December)

Term 2 (January–March)

And either

or

Term 3 and summer (April–May, June-September)

Two elective modules are taken from the catalogue of elective modules, available from The Bartlett School of Planning, Development Planning Unit, Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, and wider. Students also take the dissertation module (60 credits) either in the year in which they complete the final taught modules or the year after they have completed all taught modules, as long as this is not more than five consecutive years after they first enrolled.

As a part-time student you will typically take your taught modules over a period of two years (over four teaching terms). The taught modules are delivered in Term 1 and Term 2 of each year. Part-time students can take their modules in any order, but are advised to start with Transport Planning and the City and Sustainable Urban Development: Key Themes. You will complete your dissertation in Term 3 at the end of your second year.

Term 1 (October–December)

Term 2 (January–March)

And either

or

Term 3 and summer (April–May, June-September)

Two elective modules are taken from the catalogue of elective modules, available from The Bartlett School of Planning, Development Planning Unit, Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, and wider.

Modular/flexible students can take their taught modules during term time and after completing this will move to their dissertation research. The modular/flexible approach can be completed in two to five years.

The course consists of four compulsory modules, two optional modules, elective module(s) and a dissertation. Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

Core modules  

Optional ‘transport’ route  

Optional ‘planning’ route  

Two elective modules are taken from the catalogue of elective modules, available from The Bartlett School of Planning, Development Planning Unit, Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, and wider. Students also take the dissertation module (60 credits) either in the year in which they complete the final taught modules or the year after they have completed all taught modules, as long as this is not more than five consecutive years after they first enrolled.

Compulsory modules







Optional modules





Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Students can either take the Transport Route or Planning Route. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Transport and City Planning. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Transport and City Planning.

Fieldwork

The degree includes an introductory field trip around transport and planning projects in London and a four-day residential field trip during which transport, planning, infrastructure and sustainability themes are explored in different place contexts. This is an opportunity to consider challenges in real world settings and network as a course community.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Where you'll study

Two students looking at an exhibition of student work

The Bartlett School of Planning is one of the leading research-led planning schools within Europe. We offer a hands-on learning environment, guided by urban planning experts and practitioners. Our degrees empower students to unleash their creativity and shape the future of future of cities.

Find out more

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All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Bartlett Promise UK Scholarship

Join our virtual event to explore our postgraduate courses, hear from academic staff and current students, and learn about the application process, scholarships, and career support. A live Q&A will give you the chance to get your questions answered. Take the next step toward shaping a more sustainable built environment with us.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £19,300 £9,650
Tuition fees (2026/27) £39,200 £19,600

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 deposit will be charged.

There is no fee deposit required for PG Dip and PG Cert applicants.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

This course includes one field trip. Travel and accommodation (including breakfast) for the trip will be covered by UCL, however students will need to cover the costs for visas, other daily meals and any other personal expenses. The exact costs will depend on the location and prevailing exchange rates; however, it is estimated that students would need to budget between £200 and £300.

During the course we will also attend site visits across London. Students will need to pay for their own transport to sites. Based on visits last year you should expect to budget up to £60 across the year to access sites by public transport.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

The Rees Jeffreys Road Fund scholarship and Brian Large scholarship are available for Transport and City Planning MSc students. Details are available on request and applications are made via the course director (Professor Robin Hickman).

In our faculty, The Bartlett Promise Scholarship aims to enable students from backgrounds underrepresented in the built environment to pursue master's studies. Please see the Master's scholarship and Sub-Saharan Africa Master's scholarship pages for more information on eligibility criteria, selection process and FAQs.

We have given an overview of other funding options you may be eligible for on The Bartlett School of Planning and The Bartlett websites.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Bartlett Promise Sub-Saharan Africa Masters Scholarship

Deadline: 29 March 2026
Value: Fees, stipend and other allowances (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: Overseas

Bartlett Promise UK Master's Scholarship

Deadline: 31 May 2026
Value: Full tuition fees and an annual stipend of £17,096 for a 12 month master's or £15,864 for a 9 month (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: UK

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study Transport and City Planning at graduate level
  • Why you want to study Transport and City Planning at UCL
  • What particularly attracts you to this course
  • How your academic and professional background meets the demands of this course
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree – why and where do you wish to work in transport and city planning

To support you in the application process we’ve written a guide on writing your personal statement for a planning degree.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Bartlett School of Planning
Bartlett School of Planning

bartlett.pg-bsp@ucl.ac.uk

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