Transport Planning Degree Apprenticeship

Course overview

This Degree Apprenticeship is for aspiring transport planners who are looking to learn on the job. Transport planners design and develop travel systems that work safely, sustainably and efficiently to cater to the needs of the public. The course is suitable for school leavers and learners on the Level 3 Transport Planning Technician apprenticeship.

Transport and distribution are of crucial importance to our economy and society. This has been brought sharper into focus with issues such as congestion and public transport being in the news frequently, as well as distribution of supplies during the current coronavirus pandemic.

Testimonial

"Doing an apprenticeship has helped me learn on the job and given me confidence in myself. I now have six years of industry experience and a first class degree, the opportunities are endless."

Pallavi Boppana

Degree apprentice graduate

Why choose Aston University?

Gold standard teaching

Aston University was awarded Triple Gold - the highest possible rating for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)

Degree with experience

Gain a full honours degree as well as 4 years’ relevant work experience and no tuition fees to pay

Our campus is based in the heart of the UK’s transport network

Gain the specialist knowledge required for a successful career in transport planning

Course description

Transport Planning Degree Apprenticeship BSc

You’ll gain your degree while working full time as an apprentice and launch your career in transport planning.

What will we provide
We will provide you with mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals, enhancing your practical knowledge.

By successfully completing this programme, we will award you with:
• a BSc in Transport Planning
• An apprenticeship certificate.

What will you provide
As an apprentice, you will be required to balance academic work, full-time employment, and on-the-job training. You will be expected to engage with teaching materials, online lectures, and in-person sessions. You will need to submit coursework and other assessments in a timely manner.

What skills will we teach
The Transport Planning Degree Apprenticeship at Aston University provides the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the transport planning industry. Essential skills include knowledge of transport methods, costs, and benefits, strong mathematical skills, design skills, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Pursuing a degree in transport planning or a related field, such as geography, civil engineering, economics, town planning, or environmental science, can be beneficial. Work experience through internships, summer placements, or a year in industry can also be helpful. A combination of academic education and practical experience is essential to develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the transport planning industry.

Career prospects
The Transport Planning Degree Apprenticeship provides a new route into the profession, combining academic education with practical experience. Apprentices gain the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the transport planning industry, designing, and developing travel systems that are safe, efficient, and sustainable. Career paths for transport planners include roles in local authorities, private companies, and consulting firms. Apprentices can progress to roles such as transport planner, transport analyst, transport consultant, and transport engineer. It is also possible to specialise in a particular area of transport planning, such as sustainable transport or traffic management. A postgraduate qualification in transport planning is also an option for career development.

How you will learn

Apprenticeships are structured differently to a traditional degree. You'll spend the majority of your time in the workplace doing a real full-time job as well as studying for your degree part-time.
Study time is structured to fit around your job. Your apprenticeship is designed in partnership with your employer, so you don't need to worry about your work and study commitments clashing. They work hand in hand.
Your learning will take place through regular on-campus sessions at Aston University which will be complemented by online learning. You’ll have access to our Virtual Learning Environment, Blackboard, for online learning including webinars and assessments.

What you will learn

You will be immersed in the economic, operational, societal, and environmental issues related to the transport profession as you study for your degree and learn on the job simultaneously.

Facilities

At Aston University, apprentices enjoy full access to all the facilities available to regular students. This inclusive approach ensures that apprentices can take advantage of the university's library, labs, study spaces, cafes and more. By providing equal access to these facilities, Aston University supports apprentices in their educational journey, enabling them to thrive in both academic and practical aspects of their chosen fields.

Course objectives

Produce graduates with the specific skills and knowledge relevant to employment in the Transport Planning sector.
Develop competency in the collection, evaluation, storage and use of information & data, relevant to transport planners.
Provide students with appropriately structured curricula, combining teaching in theoretical and knowledge-based principles with practical training and facilitate wide participation.

Modules and learning outcomes

Stage 1 modules

Module title	Credits
Introduction to transport	15
Study and research skills	15
Transport and engineering economics	15
Mathematics for transport planners	30
Law and the regulatory environment	15
Modelling and optimisation	15
Application of transport models	15
Total	120

Stage 1 outcomes

Demonstrate understanding of transport governance structures in the UK, the key factors that affect them, and the implications for delivery of transport projects.
Explain the relationships that exist between transport and land-use; transport and economic activity; climate change; and the integration of transport with other policy goals.
Be able to undertake independent academic research and have the skills required to use the University IT, literature search systems and standard computer packages.
Have the ability to undertake basic qualitative and quantitative research, suitable for university study and have the ability to communicate the findings of research as a written report.
Demonstrate command of the mathematical concepts, principles and techniques necessary for transport planning processes and applications such as modelling and data management.
Identify the key legislation and regulations relating to the design and delivery of transport projects and explain the principles underlying contracts and the bidding and procurement process, and the subsequent financing.
Effectively communicate the legislative and regulatory factors that must be considered when planning and delivering transport projects.
Demonstrate an understanding of the general principles of modelling and optimisation.
Build mathematical models and simulations, relevant to transport planning, applying common, relevant tools and carry out and interpret simple optimisation.
Demonstrate the ability to develop applications of transport models. Be able to implement models in order to solve transport planning problems.
Be able to demonstrate skills relevant to employment such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, presentation and negotiation & persuasion, as they apply to specific transport industry sectors.

Stage 2 modules

Module title	Credits
Managing engineering projects	15
Sustainable transport planning	15
Managing data in transport projects	15
Impact assessment	30
Understanding people	15
Advanced transport modelling	15
Transport infrastructure engineering	15
Total	120

Stage 2 outcomes

Effectively plan an engineering project for timing, cost & resources; and demonstrate an awareness of the different types of project risk, how these can be monitoring and controlled.
Demonstrate an appreciation of the difficulties of solving the practical difficulties that may arise in relation to projects and to have gained experience in searching for solutions to such difficulties.
Define and explain the implications for planners of environmental protection and long-term sustainability of the transport system.
Identify and quantify the transport -related sources of environmental harm and display knowledge and understanding of the implications for sustainability of different planning approaches, and be able to apply appropriate transport, environmental, environmental impact, and development planning laws.
Source, evaluate, organise, and synthesise transport data and statistics from a variety of sources and explain the different types of data, and identify the appropriate type of data for different uses.
Determine the appropriate primary data collection, analysis, evaluation and monitoring methods for individual projects, and understand the limitations of such data and correctly interpret the results of data collection exercises, to draw appropriate and reliable conclusions.
Articulate how to use the relevant legislation relating to inform whether a project or development scheme needs to be subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment process or not.
Relate relevant procedures for assessing broader impacts of transport projects and discuss the results and the implications for project delivery and inform decision makers and explain the content and critically review the Environmental Statement for case studies.
Evaluate the impact of transport related projects/ schemes or mobility development actions in terms of their effects on the environment, economy and society.
Discuss theories of travel behaviour and apply them to specific contexts and identify different approaches to behaviour change, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each for different types of behaviour change target, and recommending suitable approaches for different scenario.
Explain the different ways in which engineering solutions to transport problems can be specified, and the implications of different approaches for the long term viability of the infrastructure.
Propose suitable engineering approaches for particular contexts, and critically assess the advantages and disadvantages of their suggested approach and evaluate the sustainability and cost implications of different infrastructure engineering approaches.

Stage 3 modules

Module title	Credits
Designing transport solutions	15
Empathy and human factors in transport	15
Developing leadership	15
Transport design project	15
Synoptic project	60
Total	120

Stage 3 outcomes

Apply relevant transport planning, environmental and safety regulations and planning laws in the context of transport scheme design and accurately cost schemes, and explain the trade-offs made in the design process, and their implications for construction, maintenance and user costs.
Specify the data requirements and targets against which the effectiveness and impact of a proposed transport scheme can be measured, including in respect of effects on the economy, and other factors such as land-use, accessibility, safety, security, and land use.
Determine the needs of diverse stakeholders in order to identify and solve accessibility, mobility and usability issues in the transport context and source and interpret qualitative and quantitative data on human factors aspects of transport design.
Explain the relationships that exist between users, vehicles, and infrastructure, and incorporate that understanding into transport scheme design.
Analyse, critique and apply techniques for interpreting the effect on different categories of user of different design approaches.
Apply appropriate concepts, tools and skills to effectively make the case for and manage organisational change, and employ the knowledge and practical skills which work most effectively in organisations when leading, influencing, delegating, coaching and resolving conflict within a supply chain environment.
Demonstrate high performance leadership behaviours to drive a high-performance culture and to influence internal and external stakeholders across the supply chain.
Define, develop, and specify the terms of reference for a major piece of independent research, justifying and implementing an appropriate methodology, independently carrying out the research in a professional and academic manner, documenting and discussing findings in a rigorously researched project report.
Collect, analyse, and interpret data from a variety of sources, and use it appropriately to develop a solution to a transport planning challenge in accordance with appropriate quality assurance, strategy, policy, legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring that the design, development, and operation of the transport solution is safe and sustainable.
Provide consideration of the resources required to implement transport policies and solutions, including people and financial controls.
Identify, assess, and evaluate issues and challenges, providing appropriate recommendations and complete the requirements for the end point assessment plan for the transport planner integrated Degree Apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You will need to apply for a Degree Apprenticeship role or already be employed in a job in England with responsibilities aligned with the degree content. Please see the how to apply section below for more information.

Entry requirements are set by the hiring business and not Aston University so they vary between organisations. Apprentices are selected based on their applications, an interview and an assessment process which is tailored to your apprenticeship position.

Indicative entry requirements are given below, but please note that each employer may set their own criteria.

Three A Levels (or equivalent) – Maths, Geography or Economics would be advantageous

Candidates who do not have three A Levels at CCC may be considered on a case by case basis with aptitude and experience taken into consideration.

At least Grade 4 or C GCSE English and Grade 5 or C GCSE Maths.

*Please note:
Employers may specify their own entry criteria that can exceed this.

You will also need to meet the government's eligibility criteria:

Have been a UK/EU/EAA resident for the past three years or more prior to starting the course
Have left full time education when the apprenticeship you are applying for is due to start
Be aged at least 16 years old to meet government funding criteria.

If you are already employed in this industry, you should discuss with your manager if your organisation is working in partnership with Aston University. If they are, you will make an application through your employer.
If your employer is not yet an Aston partner, they can get in touch with our Apprenticeships Team to find out more information about working with

Course fees

You will not have to pay tuition fees as a degree apprentice as the costs are met by the UK government and your employer*. In addition to your fees being paid, you will also earn a salary while you study, so there is no need to apply for Student Finance.
The funding band for this degree apprenticeship is £23,000. This is the full cost of your apprenticeship which will be paid for using your employer's apprenticeship levy.

*Employers may require students to pay the fees for resits.

Assessment

Overview of how students are assessed, more detailed explanations of assessment with hyperlink if required.By successfully completing this programme, you'll be awarded a BSc in Transport Planning. You will also achieve an apprenticeship certificate that is graded at pass, merit or distinction. You are assessed throughout your apprenticeship through coursework, exams, presentations and a final project.

Your apprenticeship also includes an End Point Assessment, which consists of a review of your final project, followed by an interview with representatives from Aston University, your employer, and an independent assessor. After the interview, based both on your performance and complete portfolio, the assessors consider what grade you should be awarded for your apprenticeship – fail, pass, merit or distinction.

Career prospects

The Transport Planning Degree Apprenticeship provides a new route into the profession, combining academic education with practical experience. Apprentices gain the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the transport planning industry, designing, and developing travel systems that are safe, efficient, and sustainable. Career paths for transport planners include roles in local authorities, private companies, and consulting firms. Apprentices can progress to roles such as transport planner, transport analyst, transport consultant, and transport engineer. It is also possible to specialise in a particular area of transport planning, such as sustainable transport or traffic management. A postgraduate qualification in transport planning is also an option for career development

Frequently asked questions

Why study a Transport Planning Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship at Aston University?

Aston University has great links with industry and experienced teaching staff will help you to develop the specialist professional skills alongside your practical work experience in order for you to excel your career.

Why Aston University for an apprenticeship?

Aston University has been ranked 13th in a Top 50 list of the UK’s best apprenticeship training providers (RateMyApprenticeship Awards, 2022). We also have a history of providing our students with skills that help them to excel in their chosen careers, as well as really value our network of employer links which inform and shape our courses and teaching.

Why partner with Aston University for a Degree Apprenticeship?

At Aston University we work really closely with our employer network, not only to ensure courses fit around the roles that apprentices have, but also to ensure the skills and knowledge they develop fit the needs of their organisation and add value to their business.

Aston University has been ranked 13th in a Top 50 list of the UK’s best apprenticeship training providers (RateMyApprenticeship Awards, 2022-2023). We also have a history of providing our students with skills that help them to excel in their chosen careers, as well as maintain good working relationships with employers.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please email apprenticeships@aston.ac.uk. Be sure to include your name, your employer, and the programme you are inquiring about.