Program Overview

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Urban Transport MSc

The Masters in Urban Transport offers a comprehensive academic approach to a career in one of the most salient and pressing issues in contemporary urban areas; how to provide safe, inclusive, environmentally friendly and efficient transport systems. The degree is designed to ensure that you become familiar with multiple approaches to planning and managing urban transport systems. It will provide you with the theory and methods as well as practical knowledge to be employed in governmental organisations and private sector consultancies.

Why this programme

• The programme will help you understand the broad range of stakeholders in city planning and urban transport systems and the connections to other vital sectors in cities such as energy, environment, housing, land use, economic development, and labour markets.
• By the end of the programme you will have a comprehensive understanding of the policies and planning processes to reduce congestion, air pollution, road fatalities and lack of access.
• The focus will be on multiple modes of urban transport roads, public transport, active transport, emerging shared and intermodal transport - and the use of information technology in transport, enabling you to design highly innovative urban transport solutions in both developed and emerging country contexts.
• The programme will provide you with the theory and methods, as well as practical knowledge to be employed in governmental organisations and private sector consultancies.
• You will gain skills increasingly required by transport professionals, and acquire specialist knowledge and methods to analyse cities and transport using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), statistical and visualisation approaches and other planning software and tools. Through optional courses, you can choose to develop your skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI) or in planning and placemaking.
• These skills will allow you to develop city and transport plans and policies, conduct environmental and other impact evaluation, and to undertake a wide variety of geographical and market analysis.
• You will benefit from the programmes strong connection with the Urban Big Data Centre (UBDC), which many academic staff on the MSc are involved with. The centre undertakes world-leading research on a variety of topics which are integral to cities, including transport, housing and employment.
• An optional field trip to London will provide you with an insight into the complex socio-economic dynamics of city building and design through visits to high profile real estate, planning and regeneration projects. You will have the opportunity to both meet and speak with senior industry professionals and policy-makers involved in the delivery of major urban developments. Past trips have included visits to The Shard, Olympic Park, Crossrail, Battersea Power Station.

Programme structure

You will take five core courses and two or three optional courses.

• Key courses on transport will be followed by lab sessions where practical lessons on the use of highly specialised software will be given in the form of either independent or group projects. This approach will help you to not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also to apply their knowledge to real world problems with actual data. Optional courses will provide you with the opportunity to pursue personal interests, enhancing particular skills or domain-specific knowledge such as urban analytics or spatial planning.
• A cross-disciplinary course approach will ensure you learn industry-specific skills in both transport planning and engineering and allows you to focus more heavily on either of the two strands of the programme.
• You will be expected submit essays and lab reports as part of the their course assessment and a dissertation at the end of the programme.

Core courses

• Fundamentals of Transport Studies
• Principles and Applications of GIS
• Quantitative Data Analysis (Semester 1)
• Statistical Methods for Transport Planning
• Understanding Transport Choices

Optional courses

• Advanced Topics for Urban Analytics
• Big Data, AI & Urban Analytics
• Digital Planning Systems and Tools
• Place Adaptation and Green Infrastructure
• Programming Tools for Urban Analytics
• Smart Cities and Infrastructure
• Sustainable Spatial Strategies Lab
• Sustainable Urban Futures (10)
• Understanding Transport Choices
• Urban Analytics Group Project

Dissertation

• MSc Dissertation Project (Urban Studies)

Career prospects

This programme equips graduates to enter a variety of professions. Practical knowledge and hands-on skills taught as part of the programme can be applied globally, giving you an advantage in the global and UK job market.

Career opportunities and pathways

Graduates have gone on to develop successful careers across both private and public sectors and beyond. This ranges from transport planning roles in the public sector to analyst roles within private sector organisations as well as roles in transport advocacy. Some graduates have also gone on to pursue careers in academia. Practical skill development forms a key part of learning so that you are poised to use data skills to enter data science in transport or other fields. You will also graduate with the ability to interpret their results in terms of urban policies and human behaviour.

Professional development

The programme offers frequent connection with industry for students. We have strong links with the Urban Big Data Centre (UBDC), a research centre and national data service based at the University of Glasgow. The UBDC promotes the use of big data and innovative research methods to improve social, economic and environmental well-being in cities. Most of the academic teaching staff on the programme are involved with the centre. You are encouraged to attend our community building events we organise for people using big data in transport which involve public, private and third-party sector practitioners. You also have the opportunity to take your learning into the field through an optional, self-funded study trip to London. Through the UK Turing Scheme, you can apply for a part-funded study trip to Aalto University, near Helsinki, Finland (spaces are limited and this is application-based).

Fees & funding

MSc

Home & RUK

• Full-time fee: Ł11,367
• Part-time fee: Ł1,263 per 20 credits

International & EU

• Full-time fee: Ł26,460

Fee status

• Fee status guidance

Deposits

International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of Ł2,000 when an offer is made.

Deposits: terms & conditions

The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% administration fee will be deducted unless otherwise stated.

• Deposits WILL be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
  1. Where the University is unable to offer you a place on the programme as specified on the offer. A full refund will be issued in this case.
  2. Death of a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
  3. SERIOUS ill health of the applicant or a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
  4. Applicant does not meet conditions of offer. This may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the students applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide at least two language tests which were taken after the date the deposit was paid).
  5. Visa / ATAS refusal: we will only consider a refund if the visa / ATAS refusal was based on matters outside of the applicants control.
  6. If a refund request is received within 14 days of the deposit being received a full refund will be issued under the Consumer Protection Regulations.
• Deposits WILL NOT be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:
  1. An applicant decides not to attend the University for any reason not outlined above.
  2. Personal financial constraints / unsuccessful scholarship application.
  3. Applicant has decided to defer in this situation the University will retain the deposit and hold it against the applicants account to secure their place for the following year of entry. You may defer twice. After the second deferral standard conditions will apply.
  4. There is still time to meet the English language test requirement before the final upload date. Please see section a) 4.
  5. Visa / ATAS was applied for too late. Please see section a) 5.
  6. Any documents used for admission are proven to be fraudulent. We work in partnership with Qualification Check to check academic qualifications. English language qualifications are verified with the provider.
  7. The refund request is received more than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email.

Additional fees

• Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): Ł370
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: Ł350
• Registration/exam only fee: Ł170

Funding opportunities

• Nankai University: The University of Glasgow offer a 22% tuition fee discount for Nankai Urban Management undergraduate exchange students coming back to study a PGT degree in Urban Studies.
• ScottishPower Master Scholarship: ScottishPower will provide scholarships for the academic year for postgraduate studies at universities in the United Kingdom in the following areas of knowledge: Electrical / Mechanical / Civil / Electronic Engineering, Environmental Sciences / Climate Change / Sustainability, Offshore / Geosciences / Oceanography / Meteorology / Wind Power Engineering / Physics / Fluid Mechanics, Data / Cyber / Cyber Security / Telecoms / Business Analytics / Cloud Computing.
• Banco de Mexico: The Mexican National Bank (Banco de Mexico) provides special loans for students who wish to undertake a programme of postgraduate study. The University of Glasgow in partnership with Bank of Mexico FIDERH is offering a fee discount to holders of a Bank of Mexico FIDERH loan.
• The Snowdon Trust Masters Scholarship: The Snowdon Trust Masters Scholarship is accelerating exceptional Disabled Students through masters programmes into leadership positions to create change.
• CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) / FUNED Agreement: CONACYT offers a non-refundable scholarship, a monthly stipend and medical insurance of an approximate total of $20,000 USD (in the case of the UK, no medical insurance grant is given since students are already covered by the National Health System) The University of Glasgow offer a 30% discount to all successful CONACyT scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.
• ANID (la Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo): The University of Glasgow offers a 25% discount to all successful ANID scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.
• University of Glasgow African Excellence Award: The University of Glasgow African Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across Africa in their journey to become Future World Changers.
• University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award: The University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award aims to support high achieving students from across the Caribbean in their journey to become Future World Changers.
• World Changers Glasgow Scholarship: The University of Glasgow is proud to announce the World Changers Glasgow Scholarship for September entry to acknowledge incredible applicants from India, Singapore, Nigeria, Thailand, Pakistan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Israel, Jordan, Palestinian Territories, Syria, Yemen, Chile, Brazil, Lebanon, Colombia and Mexico.
• Glasgow Excellence Award (UK): The University of Glasgow has a total of 40 Glasgow Excellence Scholarships available to UK students entering any of the Universitys Colleges.
• Postgraduate Access Scholarship: The University of Glasgow is pleased to be offering Postgraduate Access Scholarships to support Home students who could face financial difficulties in taking up their place to study at the University.
• World Changers Glasgow Scholarship PGT (EU): The University of Glasgow continues to be committed to ensuring a strong relationship with our existing and future EU students, and supporting EU talent to make their home at the University of Glasgow.
• Global Leadership Scholarship: The University of Glasgow has several Global Leadership Scholarships available to International fee students starting a postgraduate taught Masters programme in any discipline for Academic Session.
• GREAT Scholarships: In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, University of Glasgow is offering scholarships to students in Greece, Spain, Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh applying for postgraduate courses in any subject (excluding MBA and MSc Research courses).
• The Humanitarian Scholarship: We are delighted to announce the launch of the University of Glasgow Humanitarian Scholarship, created to support Displaced and Conflict-Affected (DACA) applicants applying for Postgraduate Taught (PGT) programmes.
• Chevening Scholarship: Please note that the Chevening Scholarships are now closed for application for the academic year.
• Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans: Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans are EU-guaranteed loans with favourable pay-back terms.
• Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU): Eligible full-time and part-time students, undertaking an eligible postgraduate course, can apply for a tuition fee loan up to a maximum of Ł7,000 towards their course.
• Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students: If you are a Welsh student looking to study a postgraduate programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a Welsh University.
• Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL): If youre an English student looking to study a taught Masters programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan.
• Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia: The University of Glasgow offer discounts to all successful Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia (Colfuturo) scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.
• Commonwealth Scholarship Schemes: Commonwealth Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are offered to citizens from low and middle income Commonwealth countries.
• India Excellence Award: The India Excellence Award aims to support exceptional students from the country in their journey to become Future World Changers.
• Postgraduate Student Loan (NI): If you are a Northern Irish student looking to study a taught Masters programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a University in Northern Ireland.
• DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Masters grant: The University of Glasgow will offer a full tuition waiver to those students that successfully apply and are nominated by DAAD to the University.
• Sanctuary Scholarships: The University of Glasgow Sanctuary Scholarship has been created to support applicants with Refugee or Asylum Seeker status who are currently living in the UK and hold an offer to study with us in the academic year.
• Alumni Discount: To recognise our returning University of Glasgow graduates, we are pleased to offer a 20% tuition fee discount to eligible self-funded alumni starting a Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Masters or Postgraduate Research (PGR) programme in the academic year.
• The Clan Gregor Society Prize: The Glasgow Highland Society is offering multiple grants of up to Ł500 for new and continuing students of Glasgow university who fit the eligibility requirements of the scholarship.
• Travel Bursary for Forced Migrants: The University of Glasgow is offering travel bursaries to assist with public transport travel costs, to support undergraduate and postgraduate students are currently asylum seekers and who could face financial difficulties in taking up their place to study at the University for entry.
• The Dima Alhaj Scholarship: The Dima Alhaj Scholarship was set up in memory of a University of Glasgow alumna.

Entry requirements

2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in Urban/City/Regional Planning, Geography, Social Policy, Economics or Civil Engineering. We may sometimes accept degrees at 2.2 Hons or non-UK equivalent. Work experience and strong references may be considered. All applicants are required to complete and submit a question-based personal statement explaining why you want to undertake this programme at Glasgow.

English language requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training): 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
• TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome): 90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
• Pearsons PTE Academic: 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
• Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): 176 overall with no subtest less than 169
• Oxford English Test: 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
• LanguageCert Academic/ Academic Online: 70 overall with no subtest less than 65
• Password Skills Plus: 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
• Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II: Two subtests at 96 or higher, and two subtests at 80 or higher
• Kaplan Test of English: Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher
• University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses: Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

• Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
• Undergraduate 2+2 and 3+1 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

• A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
• A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
• Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
• One reference letter on headed paper
• Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
• Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
• A copy of the photo page of your passport

Application deadlines

International & EU applicants

Due to demand for degree places on this programme, the University has an application process with application rounds which recognises that different geographical areas complete and submit their applications at different times of the year. This process aims to ensure fairness and equity to applicants from all geographic regions.

• Round 1 application dates: 1 October to 5 November
• Round 2 application dates: 6 November to 17 December
• Round 3 application dates: 18 December to 4 February
• Round 4 application dates: 5 February to 25 March
• Round 5 application dates: 26 March to 13 May
• Round 6 application dates: 14 May to 8 July

Home applicants

• 21 August