The transport of people and goods provides a serious challenge to society. Developments in transport shape the world we live in and significantly influence the economic and social well-being of communities. Problems of traffic congestion, accidents, social separation and deteriorating environmental conditions must all be addressed. There is thus a need for transport specialists to plan, design, construct and maintain the world's transport systems. National and local government and the private sector require specialists who can contribute to the development of new transport strategies: our MSc programme is designed to help meet this need. It provides the specialist knowledge required by graduates with civil engineering, social science and other backgrounds going into the field of transport planning and engineering, as well as enhancing the professional capabilities of those already practising in the industry.
The programme is provided by Edinburgh Napier University and delivered by lecturers from the University and by highly respected local practitioners at senior management level from independent transport consultancy businesses and Birmingham City Council. Local staff have extensive practical and legislative experience gained in working for local authorities, national government and on consultancy projects. The course materials are provided by Edinburgh Napier University together with a range of recent transport applications by local specialist transport consultancies that substantially build upon the academic content. The degree is awarded by Edinburgh Napier.
Edinburgh Napier University offers the ideal environment in which to provide this specialist postgraduate training, where the university and local lecturers have experience of relevant MSc teaching as well as extensive backgrounds in research, consultancy and industrial practice. Students who join the programme will benefit from tuition from experienced practitioners who are active in transportation planning and engineering in international and public sector companies and County Councils. Edinburgh Napier is host to the Transport Research Institute,which is an multi-discipline research institute focusing on current transport issues and wider policies Key TRI members possess national, and sometimes world-leading, reputations in a number of fields that cross virtually all areas of academic expertise including engineering, modelling, computing, economics, psychology, sociology and geography. Our experience in applying these disciplinary skills to the transport arena has been gained in a diverse variety of contexts, with projects covering applications in all modal and intermodal situations within the UK and elsewhere.
This part-time day-release course provides the best range of opportunities that are otherwise unavailable to normal distance learning students. There are regular face-to-face contact with tutors, review and revision of past examination papers and the opportunity to network with colleagues in the industry. These aspects both contribute significantly to reducing the amount of time that a student is away from the office and maximises the support to students as the need arises.
Lectures take place at the Birmingham and Midland Institute situated in the heart of Birmingham city centre in Margaret Street, and only a few minutes' walk from the main rail connections into New Street, Snow Hill and Moor Street stations. The library facilities at Aston University are available for student use, the library being within a few minutes' walk of Birmingham City Centre; Birmingham has good public transport services to all parts of the Midlands and beyond. Examinations are also held in the city centre.
The Award
All Edinburgh Napier University postgraduate modules are at Masters level and successful applicants enrol as MSc students. Those who do not wish to complete a research dissertation, however, may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma on successful completion of eight taught modules. Credit is accumulated as follows:
- 4 taught modules (2 x 10 credit modules plus 2 x 20 credit modules) = 60 credits = Postgraduate Certificate
- 8 taught modules (4 x 10 credit modules plus 4 x 20 credit modules) = 120 credits = Postgraduate Diploma
- 8 taught modules + dissertation (60 credits) = 180 credits = MSc