PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
MSc Transport and Business Management
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MSc
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
-
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
From 2003 onwards
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London and Imperial College London
Teaching institution:
University College London and Imperial College London
Faculty:
Engineering Sciences
Parent Department:
Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
(if applicable)
Method of study:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/cts/teaching
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/civilengineering/prospectivestudents/postg
raduatetaughtadmissions/msctransport
The programme can be taken either full-time or part-time
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Normally first class honours degree in an appropriate subject
Length of the programme:
One calendar year full-time, or either two or three calendar years
part-time
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
Level 7
Not applicable
(see Guidance notes)
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
Board of Examiners:
Students must take 135 credits of taught course units, of which 75
come from compulsory elements. These are assessed through a
combination of written examinations (40%) and coursework (20%).
The individual dissertation is worth 45 credits (40% of assessment)
and has a guide length of 10,000 words.
Name of Board of Examiners:
MSc Transport
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
ICE/CIHT/CILT
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit: July 2016
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
The programme aims to:

Provide a systematic understanding of the causes and motivations of personal travel and good
movement and of the means by which movement takes place and how this relates to business
management;

Provide a thorough grounding in techniques for analysing transport problems and developing and
implementing policies and measures for resolving such problems, particularly in the context of
business management;

Develop appreciation of the importance and methods of evaluating transport projects, plans and policies,
taking into account the political, social, environmental, commercial and financial issues involved
particularly in the context of business management;

Foster the acquisition and implementation of broad design, research and analytical skills related to
transport and business management;

Attract highly motivated students irrespective or race, gender, background and physical disability, from
the UK and overseas;

Develop new areas of teaching in response to the advance of scholarship and the needs of the community
including vocational training;

Produce graduates equipped for employment in transport, in the private sector, the public sector
and nongovernmental organisations in the UK and overseas.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
1. A selection of the major topics in the
field of transport studies and business
management, their recognition and
underlying fundamental principles;
2. Research techniques including
information retrieval, experimental
design and statistics, modelling and
safety;
3. The essential facts, concepts,
principles and theories relevant to the
student’s chosen area of research;
4. Management and communication
skills, including problem definition,
project design, decision processes,
teamwork, written and oral reports,
scientific publications.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of knowledge and understanding is through a
combination of lectures, seminars, computer-based work,
and coursework.
Throughout the students are encouraged to undertake
independent reading both to supplement and consolidate
what is being taught and to broaden their individual
knowledge and understanding of the subject.
Assessment:
Assessment of the knowledge base is through a
combination of unseen written examinations and
assessed coursework as well as an individual literature
review, presentation and dissertation focussing on the
student’s individual special study project.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
1. Analyse and solve problems using a
multidisciplinary approach, applying
professional judgements to balance
costs, benefits, safety and social and
environmental impact;
2. Integrate
and critically evaluate
information;
3. Formulate,
develop and apply
appropriate solutions;
4. Plan, conduct and write up a
programme of individual research.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching
and learning methods outlined above
Assessment:
Assessment is through coursework, unseen written
examinations, conceptual design projects, and a
research dissertation.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
1. Plan and execute safely a series of
experiments or computations;
2. Use laboratory methods or computerbased tools to generate data;
3. Analyse results, determine their
strength and validity, and make
recommendations;
4. Prepare technical and design
reports;
5. Give technical presentations;
6. Use the scientific literature
effectively.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Practical skills are developed through the teaching and
learning programme outlined above. Practical
experimental or computational skills are developed
through project work and coursework, and through
interaction with other students and the project
supervisor.
The preparation of technical and design reports and
giving technical presentations are taught and
developed through workshops and feedback on written
reports and presentations. Use of the scientific literature
is developed through lectures, coursework reports and
the individual supervised research project.
Assessment:
Practical skills are assessed where appropriate through the
project reports and presentation.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
1. Communicate effectively through
oral
presentations,
computer
processing and presentations, and
written reports;
2. Apply knowledge and modelling
skills;
3. Management skills: decision
processes, objective criteria,
problem definition, project
design and evaluation needs;
4. Integrate and evaluate information
from a variety of sources;
5. Transfer techniques and solutions from
one discipline to another;
6. Use Information and
Communications Technology;
7. Manage resources and time;
8. Learn independently with openmindedness and critical enquiry;
9. Learn effectively for the
purpose of continuing
professional development.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Transferable skills are developed through the teaching and
learning programme outlined above.
Skill 1 is taught through workshops and feedback on
reports and oral presentations.
Skill 2 is taught through lectures and practical work and
developed, as appropriate, during individual research
project.
Skills 3 to 5 are developed through project work.
Skill 6 is developed through workshops, computer-based
exercises, projects and other coursework activities and
individual learning.
Skill 7 is developed throughout the course within a
framework of staged coursework deadlines and the
examination system.
Although not explicitly taught, skills 8 and 9 are
encouraged and developed throughout the course, which is
structured and delivered in such a way as to promote
this.
Assessment:
Skill 1 is assessed through written examinations, course
work and the oral presentation.
Skill 2 is assessed through coursework, written
examinations and project work.
Skills 3 to 5 are assessed in project work
The other skills are not assessed formally.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if they take full
advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit can be found in the course handbook.
The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually by UCL and may be checked by
the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Professor Benjamin Heydecker
Name(s):
Date of Production:
2003
Date of Review:
December 2015
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
December 2015
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
December 2015