Transport Masters Student Numbers Decline as Cuts Bite

For the first time since TPS started monitoring the number of transport Masters students at 11 universities nearly ten years ago, the total number of students has declined.

The biggest fall is in the number of UK students studying part time, with a 28% decrease, but this hides a much bigger – two thirds fall in the number of those starting their studies this year, as the total includes those in their second and third years.

Although UK student numbers fell by 25%, there has been an increase in non-UK students (mainly from other EU countries) giving an overall net decrease of 11%.

Martin Richards, the TPS Director of Skills said “given the staff reductions both consultants and local authorities are having to make in response to this year’s public expenditure reductions, since most of part time UK students are funded by their employer, a big fall is not surprising.  Indeed, the fact that about 50 part time students started a transport Masters course this year shows that some employers are continuing to invest in the future.  That is the good news, but worryingly, with the expected impacts of reductions in funding support for university education on study fees, it seems most unlikely that employer support will ever climb back to the level achieved over the last few years.  Coupled with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council decision of 2009 to cease support for vocational Masters courses, the overall impact on UK transport Masters student numbers is likely to be severe.”

The Transport Planning Society is very  concerned that with the decrease in UK student numbers coupled with the cutbacks in government funding, some universities will seek to increase the number of international students on their Masters courses, from whom they can obtain higher fees, and that to attract these, the UK specific content of courses will be reduced.  Such a move would be make the Masters courses less relevant to the needs of UK employers, exacerbating the decline in UK student numbers.  Yet, with study at Masters level the only higher education option for those planning or developing a career as a transport professional, maintaining relevant and affordable Masters courses is essential to ensuring the UK has the professional skills needed to deliver efficient and sustainable transport policies, systems and services.

The annual TPS census of transport Masters students covers Cardiff, Edinburgh Napier (including the West Midlands course), Imperial College London/UCL, Leeds, Loughborough, Newcastle, Oxford Brookes, Salford, Southampton, UWE and Westminster.

For more information, contact

Martin Richards
TPS Director – Skills
T: 01306 v711885
M: 07785 928 719
E: martinrichards1@aol.com

8 November 2010