Transport Engineering, Planning and Management MSc

Overview

You’ll learn from academics involved in world-leading research, tackling transport challenges with global impact. You’ll also benefit from access to specialist facilities and a research-led learning environment.

Our Master's programme is for both practising professionals and graduates in:

• civil engineering
• transport engineering
• any other engineering disciplines
• operation research
• geography and spatial planning
• economics and social science
• environmental sciences

During the course, you'll:

• develop skills required for a successful career in transport
• learn about the principles of transport planning and travel demand forecasting
• learn about the latest techniques and research in mobility planning
• put learning into practice in your own research project
• establish a responsible attitude towards the needs of society, the environment and transport safety considerations
• benefit from our strong industrial engagement through guest lectures, site visits and study tours

You’ll graduate with the knowledge and practical experience needed for a wide range of careers across the transport sector.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation review and recognition of professional qualifications in Europe

Professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by professional bodies to ensure they meet the latest industry practices and regulatory standards. This keeps your degree rigorous, relevant, and highly valued by employers, providing a clear pathway into your chosen career.

If you are studying an accredited degree and considering a career in Europe after graduation, it is important to stay informed about international standards. The best resource for current information is the UK Government's guidance on recognition of UK professional qualifications in EU member states.

This official resource provides essential details on:

• whether your profession is regulated in another country.
• the specific steps you need to take to practice abroad.
• which organisations you should contact to begin the process.

What you'll learn

You’ll develop the practical, technical, and professional skills needed to understand and improve modern transport systems.

Through research-led teaching and real-world projects, you’ll learn how transport systems are planned, managed, and operated.

You’ll build core skills in:

• information processing
• numeracy
• data collection and analysis
• problem solving
• computer literacy
• teamwork
• communication and presentation
• planning and organisation

These skills will prepare you for a successful career in the transport engineering sector. You will learn to analyse transport challenges and develop practical solutions for real-world projects.

Modules

The module information on our course pages is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Transport Engineering, Planning and Management MSc modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
MSc Project and Dissertation	60
Air Pollution	10
Modelling and Analysis of Travel and Transport Behaviour	10
Connected, Automated & Intelligent Transport Systems	10
Transport Research Methods	10
Technologies for Future Mobility	10
Mobility Data Collection, Research Methods, Modelling & Evaluation	10
Transport Policy and Planning	10
Human Systems Engineering for Transport	10
Project Management and Digital Engineering	20
Design, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Science and Engineering	20

Individual modules can be taken as Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

We have a multidisciplinary approach to teaching. You'll engage with fellow students across all key civil engineering disciplines. This offers a rich and diverse learning experience.

Our teaching covers a broad range of subjects and typically consists of:

• lectures
• seminars
• practical sessions including:
• transport-related software training
• presentations
• debates
• group work including:
• varied coursework assignments
• surveys
• research activity
• reports
• video production

You'll be taught directly by industry. You'll gain the key technical skills required in the sector allowing you to put theory into practice.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Aural examination
• Case study
• Computer assessment
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral presentation
• Practical lab report
• Portfolio
• Problem-solving exercises
• Report
• Written examination
• Written exercise

Student support

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• academic staff
• academic advisers and research supervisors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives
• peers

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff, who will be your academic adviser throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

 

Our staff

Professor Margaret Carol Bell CBE

Science City Professor of Transport and the Environment

Areas of expertise:

• traffic and environment monitoring
• traffic modelling management
• traffic control

Roger Bird

Senior Lecturer in Highway Engineering

Areas of expertise:

• highway geometry, design standards, safety and consistency
• cycle behaviour and infrastructure design
• road pavement materials, construction and environmental LCA
• traffic management at highway incidents

Professor Phil Blythe

Professor of Transport

Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Transport (DfT)

Areas of expertise:

• Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
• electromobility
• connected and autonomous vehicles
• Smart Cities, Big Data and Internet of Things

Dr. Duo Li

Senior Lecturer Transport Engineering

Areas of expertise:

• Urban mobility data computing
• Motorway traffic flow control and management
• Digital twins for smart transport
• Resilience and sustainability in transport systems
• Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric (CASE) transport modelling and operations
• Data-centric approaches in transportation

Dr David Golightly

Lecturer in Human Systems Integration

Areas of expertise:

• human factors
• user centred design
• user experience
• safety
• rail

Simon Edwards

Senior Researcher in Inclusive Mobility

Areas of expertise:

• Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
• Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV)
• alternative fuels
• inclusive mobility (i.e. for disabled and older people)
• funding applications, project management
• trail design and evaluation
• stakeholder engagement

Dr Shuo Li

Senior Research Associate of Intelligent Transport Systems

Sheen Cabaneros

Lecturer in Air Pollution

 

Your development

Throughout this degree you'll:

• gain an understanding of transport policy and systems being used and developed in other countries
• increase your key knowledge of ITS systems and their:
• function
• application
• benefits
• identify models to simulate individual choices and forecast how individuals make decisions
• develop advanced methodological skills related to transport demand modelling and forecasting using key software
• become aware of the legislation and procedures affecting the approval of transport schemes
• hone your ability to collect the relevant data for:
• understanding
• modelling
• planning consumer behaviour
• develop transport research methods that will allow you to undertake a project and dissertation in transport engineering

Depending on your chosen stream and modules, you'll enhance your career prospects by gaining key skills in:

• project and planning
• business enterprise
• future technologies
• behavioural analyses

Pre-Master’s and English Language courses

Need an alternative route to study this course? Our International Study Centre offers Pre-Master’s degrees and English language courses to prepare you for study. 

Explore these courses

 

Your future

Graduate destinations

This vocationally focused programme prepares you for careers across civil and transport engineering worldwide.

Recent graduate destinations include:

• AECOM
• Arup
• Cundall
• Jacobs
• Milestone
• PTV
• Systra

This course also provides a route into PhD level study.

Industrial links

We have strong industrial links. Our degree programmes are shaped by industry and government policy. You'll typically benefit from this engagement through:

• industry guest lectures
• study tours
• site visits
• projects
• Careers Service support

Our Careers Service

Our expert Careers Service is here to help you take the next steps in your professional life. We will support you while you’re studying with us and for up to three years after you graduate.

You will have access to expert one-to-one advice and guidance through our campus careers centre and online, along with digital resources, workshops, networking opportunities, and careers and recruitment events.

We’ve been awarded 5 QS Stars for Student Employability (2025). Many of our degrees are shaped by strong links with national and international businesses. We are committed to helping you access real-world experience opportunities and develop key skills through paid work placements and internships.

Visit our Careers Service website

Facilities

Based within Newcastle’s integrated School of Engineering, you’ll have access to specialist labs, equipment and workshops used across all engineering disciplines, including:

• Heavy Structures Lab
• Geotechnical and Materials Labs
• Novak Hydraulic Lab
• Makerspace for prototyping and innovation
• High-performance computing systems
• Analytical facilities
• Bio-labs
• National Green Infrastructure Facility
• Urban Observatory

These facilities support practical, hands-on learning and help you develop real-world engineering skills.

Fees, Funding and Scholarships

Tuition fees for 2027 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

Search for funding and scholarships

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

How to apply

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Visit our events calendar for the latest events