Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

To provide an opportunity for both experienced personnel, and students who have recently obtained a first degree in the relevant fields, to study Transport Policy and Business Management or Sustainable Transport and Travel Planning. The viewpoints taken in the course will allow graduates to play a significant role in subsequent employment.

By the end of the programmes students will have:

• a critical awareness of relevant research findings in order to identify and foster best practice and

Students on the Transport Policy and Business Management Programme will have:

• developed knowledge of the issues, theories and methods appropriate to the  transport industry from a  planning and business management perspective and
• specialised knowledge in particular areas and/or aspects of the transport industry and an appreciation of the implications for best practice

Students on the Sustainable Transport and Travel Planning Programme will have:

• developed knowledge of the issues, theories and methods appropriate to the  transport sector from a travel planning perspective and
• specialised knowledge in particular areas and/or aspects of sustainable transport and of the travel planning process and an appreciation of the implications for best practice.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

The benchmark standards which have been devised for transport programmes have been based on relevant accreditation requirements of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the professional body with chartered status, the Self-Assessment Document produced for the QAA's External Subject Review of Transport Studies programmes (November 2000), the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and the University's current Learning and Teaching Strategy.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of these programmes, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of and competence in:

• Research methods applicable to Transport subjects
• The evolution and influence of policy measures on the transport environment
• The strategic and management issues pertinent to the transport sector

Additionally for students studying Transport Policy and Business Management

• The context of and the techniques utilised in transport planning
• Economic theory and appraisal techniques relevant to transport

Additionally for students studying Sustainable Transport and Travel Planning:

• Travel behaviour and travel planning
• Appraisal techniques utilised in transport
• Marketing techniques to influence travel behaviour.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• collect, express and arrange the requirements of a task or project, in any of the disciplines relevant to the programme.
• recognise, and apply, the specialist knowledge that needs to be exploited to determine solutions to problems.
• demonstrate the quantitative and qualitative assessment skills that permit study of the emergent properties of any development strategy.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply fundamental knowledge, through teaching or research.
• Study the implications of decisions that contribute to understanding how viewpoints can be narrowed or widened to determine acceptable levels of performance, in cases where there are complex relationships between the outcomes desired, or regarded as necessary.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Quantify items for trade-off
• Communicate (orally and written)
• Take responsibility for time-management
• Contribute to team-working
• Provide leadership
• Maintain documentation and perform configuration control duties.

4. Programme structure

4.1 Modules available prior to the 2012-13 academic year: 

C = compulsory, X = not available on this programme 

4.2 Modules available 2012-13 onwards: 

Modules with codes in brackets or asterisked indicate that these are replacement modules for those in previous regulations and may not be repeated. 

Specified modules may be substituted by approved credit transfers from other programmes or institutions. 

Candidates will take taught modules with a total weighting of 120 credits selected from both 2.1.and 2.2 as appropriate, and be enrolled on the Transport Research Project module (60 credits). 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification