Transport Economics MSc

Program Overview

The Transport Economics MSc at the University of Leeds equips graduates with analytical skills to pursue careers in transport delivery and policymaking. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students gain insights into economics, planning, and modeling to design sustainable solutions for global challenges. Graduates benefit from industry experience, mentorship opportunities, and a globally-renowned research program.

Program Outline

Transport Economics MSc | University of Leeds

Degree Overview:

This MSc program is designed for ambitious numerate graduates or practitioners in the field, equipping them with analytical skills for a rewarding career in transport delivery and policymaking at national, regional, and local levels.

Objectives:

• Develop economic skills to promote economic growth within a regulatory framework that minimizes damaging health and environmental impacts while incentivizing the best use of resources.
• Gain insights into how economics, planning, environmental science, modeling, and engineering can work together to design sustainable solutions to global challenges.
• Acquire the most up-to-date and relevant information in transport economics through impactful and topical research delivered by leading researchers with an international reputation.
• Build industry experience through interactions with potential employers, graduate schemes, and work placements.
• Be fully equipped to pursue careers in the transport sector with topical knowledge, specialist skills, and practical experience.

Outline:

Semester 1:

• Shaping Future Transport Systems: This module introduces the key principles and topics in transport economics, including the multiple disciplines within the transport sector.
• Welfare Economics and Cost-Benefit Analysis: This module focuses on the application of welfare economics and cost-benefit analysis to transport projects.
• Economics of Regulation: This module explores the role of economic regulation in the transport sector.
• Economic Appraisal and Economic Performance: This module examines the methods used to appraise transport projects and assess their economic performance.

Semester 2:

• Transport Integrated Project: This module provides students with real-world experience of working on a multi-disciplinary team project, collaborating with students from other degree specialisms to solve a real-world transport problem posed by Leeds City Council.
• Optional Modules: Students can choose from a range of optional modules, including:
• Green Logistics:
This module explores the environmental impacts of logistics and the development of sustainable logistics solutions.
• Public Transport Planning and Management: This module examines the planning and management of public transport systems.
• System Dynamics: Modelling Policy: This module introduces students to system dynamics modeling and its application to policy analysis.
• Choice Modelling and Stated Preference Survey Design: This module covers the theory and practice of choice modeling and stated preference surveys.
• Transport in Development: This module explores the role of transport in economic development.

Dissertation:

• Students apply their specialist knowledge and advanced research skills to a project chosen from a wide range of topics.
• Some topics are suggested and supported by industry, providing students with the opportunity to address real-world problems and gain experience of working with industry.
• Students are supported by a supervisor throughout the dissertation process.

Assessment:

• Assessment methods include coursework essays, case-study reports, group assignments, posters, presentations, and exams.

Teaching:

• Postgraduate study involves a range of teaching methods, supported by independent learning.
• Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, workshops, computer exercises, practical sessions, directed reading, reflective journals, student-led discussions, fieldwork, and tutorials.
• Students are supported by a personal tutor who they can meet regularly to discuss study or career questions.
• Students can apply to the Institute for Transport Studies mentorship program, where they are assigned an alumni mentor who currently works in the industry.
• The program team is made up of researchers and academics from the Institute for Transport Studies who have extensive expertise across a variety of transport disciplines.
• Students are taught by expert academics, industry professionals with years of experience, and trained postgraduate researchers.

Careers:

• The program opens up a range of opportunities to pursue a rewarding career in the transport industry.
• Graduates work across the private and public sectors, including transport consultancies, government, academia, regulatory bodies, transport operators, logistics companies, not-for-profit organizations, and international agencies.
• Many graduates work abroad for UK companies with overseas offices, international organizations, or national governments.
• The University of Leeds is in the top 5 most targeted universities in the UK by graduate recruiters.
• The University's Careers Service provides a wide range of resources to help students prepare for their next steps after graduation.
• The Institute for Transport Studies has close working relationships with a number of organizations, and many employers visit the Institute each year to interview students for graduate schemes and other vacancies.
• The Institute has a dedicated Employability Officer who provides quality advice, guidance, and information to help students choose a career path.
• The Institute runs a full range of employability and networking events, including careers fairs and industry talks.
• The Institute embeds training in key transferable skills valued by employers, such as research and data analysis, in all its programs.
• Students have access to a dedicated careers portal where they can book appointments with the careers team, get information on careers, and see job vacancies and upcoming events.

Other:

• The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).
• The Institute for Transport Studies was established as the UK's first multidisciplinary transport department and continues to lead the field with its research.
• The Institute offers a four-month placement scheme at the end of the Masters course, providing students with the opportunity to gain industry experience with companies such as Network Rail and AECOM.
• The Institute offers a two-week online taster course that provides a taste of studying 21st-century transportation challenges at a postgraduate level.
• The Institute collaborates closely with transport consultancies to ensure that the skills delivered by the programs are in demand from employers.
• The Institute has a globally-renowned research program that feeds directly into the course, shaping students' learning with the latest thinking in transport economics.

UK fees:

£12,500 (Total)

International fees:

£30,750 (Total)