Master's Degree Programme in Transport and Urban Planning Programme description

The Master's Degree Program in Transport and Urban Planning (TUP) is a full-time course of study over two years with 120 ECTS that is given in English. The program represents a continuation and specialization in relation to the bachelor's degree program in Civil Engineering, under the technical planning course option. This program offers a practical and profession-oriented specialization, extending a bachelor’s in civil engineering in the study field of integrated urban and transport planning, geographical planning, technology or landscape architecture.

In line with expectations from the industry, the program is planned to be cross disciplinary from the start, with a unique focus also on IT, digital tools and skills commonly used and highly needed in the industry, especially tools and skills related to urban and transport analytics and planning, geographical information systems (GIS) and data science.

Society and authorities place increasing demands on environmentally friendly, innovative and sustainable design of mobility and urban solutions. Climate change in the form of increased temperatures, more precipitation and extreme weather exposes constructions, infrastructure and networks to greater and less predictable stressors. Industry and researchers highlight the need of candidates with expertise at master's degree level (engineers) in the fields of smart mobility and urban analytics who have knowledge in environmental issues relating to this field as well as updated skills on new technology.

This study program offers a combination of expert and interdisciplinary knowledge where the students will achieve a high level of proficiency in sustainable urban development as well as achieving strong digital skills and knowledge. Interdisciplinary studies involve the combination of two or more academic disciplines into one activity. The interdisciplinary nature of this program has two major aspects according to the academic professionals developing this program at the faculty. The first related to the knowledge developed in urban planning and design, urban transport and mobility, as well as ethics and sustainability in this field. The second being digital competence, new technologies and tools, like simulation tools AIMSUN or SUMO, or data analysis software Python, R or Weka, or geographical information systems such as ArcGIS or QGIS.

In-depth areas in this master program will be:

Space Syntax (20 ECTS) which will provide in-depth knowledge of how complex architectural and urban systems work, and how spaces can be planned, designed and manufactured to create a better society bringing together the fields of architecture and urbanism. Space Syntax is a theoretical and analytical framework, as well as a modeling tool to design and analyze the human-built environment. Students will investigate spatial morphology and its social implications by a practical, hands-on program of lectures, workshops and a project.

Urban Mobility (20 ECTS) which will provide in-depth knowledge in land use and transportation planning for smart and sustainable cities that meet the needs of all residents. Students will learn how to experiment and test hypotheses and think strategically about multi-modal transport systems, the movement of people and goods, and intelligent transport systems in urban areas. Students will grow their expertise joining a session of lectures, workshops and through work on projects.

The goal with this program is to educate and train candidates who are qualified to address the challenges of both professional life and scholarly enquiry within their specialization as well as being a productive member of interdisciplinary teams.

Graduates from this program will:

understand the role of their specialization in organizations and society

possess deep technical skills from their own specialization that can be applied in a variety of real-life scenarios

understand how their specialization is part of a wider fabric of skills necessary to solve tomorrow's challenges

have a professional and ethical attitude towards their role in the workplace

display creative thinking in real-life situations, leaning both on theoretical knowledge and on pragmatism

plan and execute their work in a structured and independent manner, be it as professionals or as researchers in their field

have expertise that is in high demand in both the private and public sector. The most relevant employers are advisory engineering firms, municipalities or other public agencies, private companies within transport and urban planning industry and research institutes

qualify students for further studies at the doctoral degree level.

More specifically, the graduates will:

Be able to identify needs in the smart society. This particularly means that the students are trained to plan for mobilities and accessibility to/from services, jobs and amenities that are more fluent in times when tele-commuting and online consumption has increased.

Be aware of and sensitive to, and responsive when planning and suggesting policy measures to handle vulnerabilities. Pandemics, 100-year-storms, and similar have proven to be more than fiction. Planning for a resilient society includes planning for alternative transport solutions, and prioritization of lines, roads, and services in case of emergency.

Be able to integrate sustainability in plans, execution, evaluation and circularity of societal development.

Be equipped with tools and methods for planning and implementing integrative urban landscapes. With specific focus on planning for equal opportunities in urban areas where new technologies for participation in and communication with citizens may be used to different extent due to language barriers, age, trust, etc

After completing the education, the student will be especially suitable for:

Employments in urban, regional and transport planning departments in municipalities and public organizations

Jobs in firms and agencies developing stakeholder strategies, meta-data description and tech-mediation between smart-city developers and users

Consultancy firms developing strategies for smart city developments

Creation and analysis of geo-coded data, including statistical analyses

Research and evaluation work

Students who complete the master's degree program will be awarded the degree of Master of Science (MSc) in Transport and Urban Planning.

The master’s degree program is aimed at candidates who want a solid professional and academic supplement to their education in Transport and Urban Planning, and that holds a three-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent in one of these fields: Architecture, Demography, Economic history, Economics, Engineering, Geography, Geoinformatics, Geology, Human geography,Informatics, Landscape Architecture, Political science, Psychology, Physical geography, Sociology, Statistics, Tourism science & Urban planning.

Please refer to the Regulations relating to Admission to Studies at OsloMet, https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2015-12-15-1681, which is our basis for these admission requirements.

To apply for this programme you must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in one of these fields:

• Architecture
• Demography
• Economic history
• Economics
• Engineering
• Geography
• Geoinformatics
• Geology
• Human geography
• Informatics
• Landscape Architecture
• Political science
• Psychology
• Physical geography
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Tourism science
• Urban planning

You also need

• an average grade of at least C (according to the ECTS grading scale) on your bachelor's degree
• proof of your English proficiency

More about admission to master's programmes.

Proof of your English proficiency https://www.oslomet.no/en/study/admission/english-proficiencyrequirements-masters

It is recommended to have programming skills.

Applicant groups and ranking

In line with Section 15 Quotas, paragraph 3 of the Regulations concerning Admission to Higher Education regarding master’s degree programs taught in English, this master program will reserve a minimum of 30% of the places to Norwegian applicants. https://student.oslomet.no/en/regulations-admission-studies-oslomet

On completion of the master’s degree program in Transport and Urban Planning, candidates are expected to have the following learning outcome defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

The candidate has advanced knowledge

• of theory and tools for modelling and design across the areas of smart city transportation, logistics and urban areas
• of methods and regulations used in the design and policy of urban areas and urban mobility
• to evaluate climate and environmental effects on urban areas and mobility infrastructures and apply this knowledge in solving new urban and mobility challenges
• to analyze issues related to mobility and urbanization based on the historical and current development of the discipline and take into account new technology and society’s need for more sustainable design of mobility and urban environment

Skills:The candidate is able to

• analyze space in terms of built environment, transportation, topography and climate sensitivity based on relevant data
• use relevant computer software and information and communication technology (ICT) tools in the analysis, optimization, prediction, design and visualization of mobility and urban structures
• carry out an independent, delimited research or development project under supervision and in accordance with applicable research ethical standards
• utilize earlier research and information for own innovation and development
• work independently and in cross-disciplinary teams to solve complex, practical and theoretical problems related to city transportation, logistics and urban planning

General competence:

The candidate is able to:

• identify reliable data sources, find relevant data and ensure its quality
• analyze academic, research and professional issues and make ethically sound recommendations of smart mobility and urban solutions, including their impact on humans and the environment
• apply his/her knowledge and skills to analyze and design solutions on cross-disciplinary and complex issues
• communicate the results of independent and project work, both in writing and orally, to authorities, professionals and general public
• contribute to development and innovation within smart city transportation, logistics and urban planning

The program is a full-time program over two years that consists of a lecture-based component with a scope of 90 credits and an independent project, the master’s thesis, with a scope of 30 credits. The master’s degree program will prepare students to meet society’s need for up-todate, forward-looking expertise in sustainable and smart urban analytics and transport planning. In this master program, the students will achieve knowledge in both the fields of Transport- and Urban Planning.

The courses are organized in a systematic way. The transport courses provided in the first semester will provide students strategic and technological knowledge of the state-of-the-art transport system and the challenges it is facing. Moreover, basic research skills will also be provided to help students to handle more methodological courses in the second semester. During the second semester, the widely applied analytic and modeling method will be provided to students with the focus on human activity and needs. Their knowledge will be expanded from the transport system to the whole city. Students will have in-depth skills and concepts of urban analytics and regional science. In the second year, students will select their expertise and conduct a master thesis based on everything they learned in the first year.

Transport planning concerns the evolution of transportation networks and transport planning strategies. The study program focuses on providing the students with more detailed knowledge of the history, trends, problems, and opportunities in land use and transportation. The program incorporates substantive knowledge in transport demand and travel behavior, land use and transportation policy and planning, street design and urban space, and implications for a sustainable urban future. The study program also aims to provide updated skills on new technology in this field as well as knowledge in innovations in equitable and sustainable urban mobility.

Urban planning is analyzing and understanding the evolution and challenges of urban development, as well as urban and land use planning. The study program focuses on providing the students with solid, theoretical knowledge and applied skills in urban systems, management of urban design and human factors in sustainable cities. Climate change and increased focus on resource use and environmental impacts thereby entail a greater focus on the choice of urban design. The study program focuses on providing the students with more detailed knowledge of town-friendly planning and green policy. The study program also aims to provide updated skills on new technology in this field as well as knowledge in innovative and sustainable urban planning.

In the third semester, students have the option to choose in-depth knowledge in either smart mobility or in urban analytics. Students who choose to specialize in smart mobility will take the Urban Mobility elective, and students who choose to specialize in urban analytics will take the Space Syntax elective. The elective courses give students necessary knowledge in these areas, and experience applying the skills and methods learned in the first and second semester to specific problems in Transport and Urban planning. After completing the elective, students will then complete a master’s thesis in the fourth semester. The master’s thesis will then give the students further practice in applying their knowledge and skills to relevant issues through more comprehensive project work.

The study program focuses on teaching students how to use advanced computer programs and simulation tools to solve complex problems relating to sustainable urban and transportation problems, so the development of digital skills is an important integrated part of all the courses. This also helps make the program cross-disciplinary, including elements of computer science, analytic disciplines (like modeling, simulation), artificial intelligence, machine learning etc., because that is what the industry needs today

The study program also aims to qualify candidates with the competence to participate in research work in the field. The two courses Research Methods and Research Ethics (5 ECTS) and Advanced Research Methods (5 ECTS) underpins the master’s thesis and provides an introduction to qualitative and quantitative research methods, ethics, and academic writing and dissemination of results

The master’s thesis is an independent, supervised research or development project in the core areas and represents further specialisation in either transport or urban planning.

The structure of the programe:

The master’s degree program consists of eight compulsory courses, two elective courses in addition to a master’s thesis. The course portfolio is composed so that the compulsory courses ensure academic and professional breadth, at the same time as the students are given an opportunity for in-depth study and specialisation through elective courses and the master’s thesis.

The choice of elective courses for the third semester (Transport and Urban Planning) is made at the end of the second semester. The whole fourth semester is dedicated to the master’s thesis. It is natural that the master’s thesis builds on the project work that forms part of the specialization topic in the third semester. The topic of the thesis can either be linked to a client’s issue or to relevant research projects in the department.

In order for students to be able to present the master’s thesis, all courses from the first year of the study program must be passed.

Students are encouraged to contact relevant enterprises in the region for the purpose of gaining practical training and experience in the fields through a summer job or similar, and to establish cooperation on project assignments.

The work and teaching methods in the program includes group work, cross disciplinary projects, lectures, exercise sessions including digital labs, presentations, field work and discussions. The students will be involved in peer feedback which will be part of the learning process. The scheduled study activities shall be motivating and inspiring for the students and induce nonorganized academic work. The work methods are intended to stimulate cooperation, individual activity, reflection and fresh thinking. Contact with business and industry through external lecturers and projects in addition to ordinary tuition is intended to give the students a relevant and motivational approach throughout the study program.

To work as an expert researcher in urban or mobility design and planning requires a high level of expertise in the use of advanced computer programs and simulation tools (ICT tools) for problem-solving. Computer exercises and tasks that require the use of advanced ICT tools are therefore one of the main work methods used in the study program.

Research and teaching are also integrated throughout the study program. The teaching is to be constantly updated to encompass new knowledge, and research articles are part of the syllabus. Furthermore, the students will participate in research-related discussions and be included in ongoing research and development through projects that are part of the study program.

Project-based learning relating to urban and mobility design and planning tasks is used to give the students practice in work on complex issues. The study program will prepare the students for work methods used in the industry, through group work and project assignments in cooperation with partner companies in the industry. The projects are intended to develop the students’ ability to formulate and analyze research questions using scientific methods. Projects are normally carried out in groups, and the students will also thereby develop their ability to listen to others, exchange knowledge and discuss solutions in cooperation with others. Project work shall culminate in reports written on the basis of a template for scholarly articles/reports.

The master's thesis shall take the form of independent, supervised research or development work in one of the key subject areas of the study program.

The master's thesis must follow at least one scientific approach, and the result must contain elements of new knowledge or new methods. Each student or group of students will be assigned an internal supervisor who will ensure that the project complies with research ethics principles and help students to formulate the research question and ensure quality in the collection and analysis of data. The master's thesis shall be a written report based on research principles and methods.

Both the language of instruction and the course literature are in English, making the study program well-suited for international students and student mobility. The study program is structured so that it is possible for the students to take one semester abroad, in the third or fourth semester. These will also be the semesters for exchange students from abroad to join the master program at OsloMet for one semester.

Internationalization in this master program is four-fold by taking an approach from different angles. This master’s program educates and prepare students for an international competitive job market with (1) language of instruction in English to equip the future graduates to work in practice and academia world-wide with (2) international state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of mobility with digital skills and urban analytical techniques and tools, (3) using comparative Norwegian and international case studies in courses and (4) the program is taught by national and international trained instructors including English native speakers and academics who have long-standing experience in lecturing in English.

With student mobility, students have the opportunity to gain experience abroad at a foreign academic institution which will offer complementary courses being very relevant for the students at the master program in Transport and Urban Planning, and the courses OsloMet will offer on the master program in Transport and Urban Planning will be of interest to students attending these selected universities.

OsloMet is part of the Erasmus program for student exchange and has entered into several Erasmus+ agreements with relevant universities and university colleges.

Students can gain approval and recognition of up to 30 credits on application.

OsloMet has a dedicated web page with supplementary information about student exchanges: https://www.oslomet.no/en/study/exchange-students

Requirements:

An average grade C or better in previously completed courses. An exchange agreement with the desired university or college must be in place before the student can apply. Acceptance from a receiving institution to an exchange-stay with the necessary academic relevance.

Application deadline: One semester prior to the planned stay.

Required coursework means compulsory assignments or activities that must be approved within a given deadline in order for students to be able to get the course validated. The coursework requirements in this study program are linked to written assignments and compulsory attendance to some labs. The coursework requirements are described in more detail in the individual course descriptions.

Coursework requirements are set in order to promote the student’s progress and development and to ensure his/her participation in necessary elements of the program. Required coursework can also be set to ensure that students achieve a learning outcome that cannot be tested in another way.

Required coursework is assessed as approved or not approved. In the event of delays in study progress, previously approved coursework remains valid for two years, provided that the course has not changed.

Valid absence documented by e.g., a medical certificate does not exempt students from meeting the coursework requirements. Students who fail to meet the coursework requirements within the deadline due to illness or for other documented valid reasons should as far as possible be given a new chance. If another attempt at meeting a coursework requirement is not possible because of the nature of the subject/course, the student must be prepared to meet the coursework requirements on the next possible occasion. This must be agreed with the person responsible for the course on a case-by-case basis. This may result in delayed progress in the program.

If a work requirement is assessed «not approved», students have maximum two chances to retake the work requirement. A work requirement that three times is assessed «not approved», will result in loss of the right to get this course validated.

Provisions governing assessment and grading are laid down in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet. Please refer to https://student.oslomet.no./

The forms of assessment used shall promote learning and document that the students’ competence is adequate in relation to the applicable learning outcome. Assessment methods vary between courses. They include written reports (individual and group reports), oral presentations, portfolio assessments and oral examinations. There will be no written school exam on this master program as the pedagogical approach is to have assessments similar to evaluation methods used when working in a company. The forms of assessment and grade scale are described in more detail in the individual course descriptions. In connection with the final assessment in the course, a grade scale with grades from A to E for pass (A being the highest) and F for fail is used.

A portfolio assessment provides an overall assessment awarding one grade for the whole portfolio. Each student's work will be assessed together as a portfolio with one individual grade at the end of the semester, but all parts that make up the portfolio must be assessed as 'pass' in order for the student to pass the course. The overall assessment can be appealed. Students may only appeal against the determination of the examination grade awarded for the whole portfolio. Any information on weighting of grades must be considered as supplementary information in connection with the final grade.

The tuition takes place in English, and assignments will also be in English. Students may, by agreement with the person responsible for the course, submit assignments in Norwegian. The assignment given in the elective course (specialization course) in the third semester and the master's thesis should be in English.

If the examination in a course consists of more than one part, all parts of the examination must be passed in order to pass the course.

Normally each course has one or two internal examiners to assess students' work. On a regularly basis one or some of the courses will be chosen to include an external examiner, thus the students' work will be assessed by one external and one internal examiner.

Oral exams shall be assessed by two examiners, as this form of assessment cannot be appealed.

The master’s thesis will be assessed by an external and an internal examiner. In addition to submitting a written report, students must also give an oral presentation of the thesis to the external examiner and supervisor(s). The examiners will set the grade for the master’s thesis after the oral presentation and questioning. Students can appeal against the grade awarded for the written thesis in accordance with Section 5-3 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges. If the grade is changed as a result of re-assessment, the student must take the oral exam again. The oral exam grade cannot be appealed

The master’s degree program is profession-oriented, which means that students are to a significant extent assessed on the basis of their ability to solve problems, and on whether their presentations of solutions meet technical, academic and ethical requirements. Project assignments with reports and presentations are therefore one of the dominant assessment forms used in the study program. Guildeline for master's theses at the Faculty can be found here: Retningslinjer for masteroppgaver ved Fakultet for teknologi, kunst og design - Student - minside (oslomet.no)

Students have the right to demand an explanation for and to appeal against a grade awarded and/or formal errors in connection with exams in accordance with Section 5-3 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges.

After completing the program, students will be awarded a diploma showing all their final grades (final assessments) in the courses that form the basis for the degree. The title of the master’s thesis will also be included on the diploma.

Quality assurance

The purpose of OsloMet's quality assurance system is to strengthen students' learning outcomes and development by raising the quality at all levels. Cooperation with the students, and their participation in the quality assurance work, is decisive to the overall learning outcome. Among the overall goals for the quality assurance system is to ensure:

• that the educational activities, including practical training and the learning and study environment, maintain a high level of quality
• that the study programs are relevant for the professional fields
• that the quality development continues to improve

For the students, this entails, among other things, student evaluations in the form of:

course evaluations

annual student surveys for all of OsloMet

More information about the quality assurance system is available here: https://student.oslomet.no/en/acts-regulation#etablering-studium-evaluering-kvalitetssystem

Program supervisor scheme

The program supervisor scheme is part of the quality assurance of each individual study program. A program supervisor is not an examiner, but someone who supervises the quality of the study program. All study program at OsloMet shall be subject to supervision by a program supervisor, but there are different ways of practicing the scheme. Reference is made to the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet: https://student.oslomet.no/en/retningslinjer-sensorer