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Transport and City Planning MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This MSc brings a cross-disciplinary focus to transport and urban planning which is unique, aiming to critically examine the current challenges of transitioning to sustainable travel behaviours and sustainable cities in the UK and internationally. The programme draws on the latest thinking and debates in transport, urban planning and major infrastructure project development.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2024/25)
£17,300
£8,650
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2024/25)
£34,400
£17,200
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 academic year
2 academic years
5 academic years
Programme starts
September 2024
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 28 Jun 2024
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 16 Oct 2023 – 30 Aug 2024
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 programme 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 programme 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 aim of the Transport and City Planning MSc (TCP) is to enable students to work effectively as transport and urban planning practitioners, moving beyond the disciplinary silos usually found in academia and practice. A key feature of the MSc is its integrative design across transport and urban planning disciplines - it sees transport as part of the planning of the sustainable city. It draws on a range of different theories and perspectives, with modules linked by common principles.

Who this course is for

This programme is likely to appeal to candidates wishing to work across disciplines and at the strategic levels. Candidates may come from backgrounds in transport planning, engineering, urban planning or geography. The programme is suited to graduates wishing to enter either the transport planning or urban planning professions, in the UK and abroad, and in the public and private sectors or civil society.

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

What this course will give you

The Bartlett at UCL is the UK's largest multidisciplinary Faculty of the Built Environment, bringing together scientific and professional specialisms required to research, understand, design, construct and operate the buildings and urban environments of the future. UCL is ranked #1 in the UK for Construction, Surveying and Planning according to The Guardian Good University Guide 2024.

There is a strong focus on transport and city planning in research activities at The Bartlett. Current activities include: e-learning course on Sustainable Urban Mobility (GIZ), VIBAT (Visioning and Backcasting for Transport) (DfT, TfL), SINTROPHER (innovative public transport options in peripheral regions), SYNAPTIC (the seamless travel journey) (both EU), and the OMEGA centre (the planning and delivery of major infrastructure projects). We work with various project funders such as Transport for London, UK Department for Transport, European Union, Asian Development Bank and European Investment Bank.

The MSc has Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) accreditation as a ‘specialist’ four-year programme. Candidates can also apply to become members of the Transport Planning Society (TPS), Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), or related organisations, on subscription.

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

The foundation of your career

This programme will equip students with the skills needed to work effectively as transport and planning practitioners in urban contexts in the public or third sector, for example in consultancy, central government, Transport for London (TfL), Greater London Authority (GLA), metropolitan authorities, local authorities, international investment banks, civil society and lobby groups. Potential employers also include international consultancies; such as Arup, AECOM and Atkins.

Employability

100% of graduates from this programme are in work and/or further study six months after graduating (The Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey 2016/17).

The programme is attractive to candidates who wish to work across disciplines, and at the strategic policy development levels, with urban planning, geography, transport planning or engineering graduates, or wider specialists, who see their future work in transport planning as part of the design of sustainable cities. Graduate students from The Bartlett School of Planning have been very successful in gaining subsequent employment. At present there is a growing demand for our postgraduates from a wide range of both private and public employers, within the transport planning or urban planning professions, or the nexus of strategy development and implementation.

Networking

The Bartlett School of Planning and UCL’s dedicated Careers Network are here to assist you in exploring your career options, gaining valuable skills and experience, and guiding you through the job application process. You will be given the opportunity to participate in various events and training tailored to your industry, such as alumni and industry insight panels, career taster sessions, masterclasses, careers fairs and more.

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.

Teaching and learning

The School of Planning advocates for engaged and interactive learning. Alongside lectures, seminars and tutorials we include field trips, group project work, presentations and individual assessments. We also have significant input from industry experts and external contributors. These diverse approaches to teaching and learning are developed to enhance your experience on the Transport and City Planning MSc.

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, project work, and site visits. Assessment is through examinations, essays, group/individual projects and presentation, and a dissertation.

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. In term 3 students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.

Outside of lectures full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

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

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four compulsory modules, one/two optionals module, elective module(s) and a dissertation.

The MSc programme includes three key themes: transport planning, urban planning, and major infrastructure planning. Each includes two modules. Two further elective modules are chosen from the Bartlett or wider at UCL. A dissertation completes the programme.

As a part-time student you will typically take your taught modules over a period of two years (four teaching terms), and will complete your dissertation in term three at the end of your second year.

Modular/flexible students can take their taught modules during term time and after completing these will move to their dissertation research. The modular/flexible approach can be completed in 2 - 5 years.

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 programme includes a residential field trip during which themes relevant to the course are explored in different place contexts. This is an opportunity to consider built environment issues in real world settings and network as a course community. The cost of travel and accommodation for the field trip are covered by UCL although students will need to cover visas, meals and other personal expenses

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: School of Planning

Whether your ambition is to design better buildings, plan better cities, build sustainable communities or help meet the challenge of climate change, The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment could be a big step towards it. Join this session to learn about the master's courses offered by our School of Planning.

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Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2024/25) £17,300 £8,650
Tuition fees (2024/25) £34,400 £17,200

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme 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

The purchase of books may constitute an additional cost, but there is no requirement to purchase any book as part of the programme. Optional modules may incur additional expenses.

The cost of travel and accommodation for the field trip are covered by UCL although students will need to cover visas (if necessary), meals and other personal expenses.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs.

Funding your studies

Centenary Scholarships are available to MSc Transport and City Planning students through the Bartlett School of Planning.

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 UK Master's scholarship and Sub-Saharan Africa Master's scholarship pages for more information on eligibility criteria, selection process and FAQs.

UCL offers a range of financial awards aimed at assisting both prospective and current students with their studies.

Any additional funding available from The Bartlett School of Planning and the Built Environment Faculty Office are advertised on the respective websites. One or two TCP students per annum can apply for a Rees Jeffreys Road Fund scholarship, based on academic merit - contact the course director for details.

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: 3 April 2024
Value: Fees, stipend and other allowances (Duration of programme)
Criteria Based on financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Bartlett Promise UK Master's Scholarship

Deadline: 31 May 2024
Value: Tuition fees plus £15,364 maintenance/yr (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 programme of £90 for online applications and £115 for paper 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 programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

International students who require a Tier 4 visa are strongly advised to submit their application before June.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (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: 2024-2025

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Bartlett School of Planning
Bartlett School of Planning

bsp.pgt@ucl.ac.uk

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.