Overview
Apply NowThe future sustainability of the transport sector in Africa is hinged on being able to deliver a group of forward thinking, confident and competent earlycareer professionals for the transport sector in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
To do this, the young professionals need to first be equipped with the requisite technical skills in the planning, assessment, design, operations and maintenance of transport systems that will enable them to tackle the everincreasing complex transport problems on the continent and steer the sector in the right direction going into the future.
Aims and Objectives
The overall aim of the programme is to provide a multidisciplinary approach to transport planning and engineering training that leverages advanced knowledge and skills in relevant disciplines to enable students apply a systems approach in the planning, analysis and development of transport infrastructure and operations for all modes of transport.
The programme also seeks to provide students with the needed foundation in transport infrastructure design, drainage, optimization, operations research, statistical modelling, transport simulation and modeling as well as transport asset management. Specifically, the MSc programme will provide students with:
- An understanding of the transport system as a whole as well as its various modes and evolution.
- An understanding of the principles that underpin transport demand, landuse and policy;
- The ability to critically analyse, evaluate and interpret qualitative and quantitative data related to the transport system for different modes.
- The ability to apply knowledge in transport for simulation and modeling and supply management;
- Knowledge in the selection and design of appropriate transport infrastructure systems, logistics networks, their integration and optimization;
- Knowledge of spatial analysis and modelling as a toll for system integration and assessment.
- Knowledge in safety and sustainability issues and their management;
- Skills needed to work in groups (work with other professionals) in the field of transport systems planning, design and operation.
- Ability to research, analyse, and synthesize solutions of contemporary transport-related issues with a multi-disciplinary dimension.
The minimum requirements for entry into the programme shall be in accordance with the requirements specified and stated on the KNUST web site or printed handbook as well as in the Statute and Regulations for masters’ degrees of KNUST. Candidates must possess any of the following:
- A minimum of Second Class (Upper Division) degree or its equivalent in a relevant Engineering, Management, or Planning discipline, or a recognised equivalent qualification from a reputable University and good mathematical skills.
- A minimum of Second Class (Upper Division) degree or its equivalent in Sciences (Mathematics, Statistics, Physics), Geography, Planning, Architecture, Building Technology and Construction Management, Development Studies and any field of specialization relevant to the programme from a recognized University;
- Candidates with BTech with, at least, a two-year work experience in relevant disciplines may be admitted after passing an interview. Applicants whose qualification may not align with directly any the above will have their transcripts assessed by the selection committee and if found to be acceptable invited to attend an interview. In addition, applicants may be asked to meet additional requirements such as submission of a statement of purpose and/or a written essay to evaluate their language skills. Moreover, applicants whose first language is not English may be required to take an English Language course prior to embarking on the programme.
Core courses
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Year 1, Session 1 - All Specializations |
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S/N |
Course Code |
Course Title |
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1 |
CETS 531 |
Applied Statistics and Modelling tools |
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2 |
CETS 533 |
GIS for Transport |
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3 |
CETS 535 |
Optimization and Simulation Techniques for Transport |
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4 |
CETS 537 |
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) |
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5 |
CETS 539 |
Transport Economics and Finance |
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Year 1, Session 2- Infrastructure and Engineering |
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Course Code |
Course Title |
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1 |
CETS 547 |
Transport Infrastructure Design and Drainage |
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2 |
CETS 534 |
Transport Safety and Sustainability |
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3 |
CETS 536 |
Transport Statistics and Research Methods |
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4 |
CETS 545 |
Pavement Engineering and Materials |
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5 |
CETS 540 |
Transport Demand Modelling |
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Year 1, Session 2- Urban Transport and Operations |
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Course Code |
Course Title |
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1 |
CETS 534 |
Transport Safety and Sustainability |
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2 |
CETS 536 |
Transport Statistics and Research Methods |
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3 |
CETS 542 |
Urban Mobility, Urbanization and Planning |
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4 |
CETS 544 |
Transport Project Management |
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5 |
CETS 548 |
Urban Public Transport Design and Operations |
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Year 1, Session 3 – All Specializations |
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1 |
CETS 567 |
Industrial Internship |
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Year 2, Sessions 1&2 – All Specializations |
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2 |
CETS 569 |
Thesis/Project Work |
Elective courses
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Session 1 – All Specializations (Choose 1) |
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S/N |
Course Code |
Course Name |
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1 |
CETS 541 |
Traffic Flow Modelling |
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2 |
CETS 543 |
Transport and Society |
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3 |
CETS 549 |
Transport Logistics Engineering and Management |
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4 |
CETS 556 |
Rural Transport Infrastructure and Services |
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Session 2 – All Specializations (Choose 1) |
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1 |
CETS 548 |
Urban Public Transport Design and Operations |
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2 |
CETS 550 |
Transport Asset Management |
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3 |
CETS 557 |
Advanced Spatial Data Analysis for Transport |
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4 |
CETS 554 |
Transport Project Procurement and Law |
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5 |
CETS 552 |
Data Science for Transport |
Research component
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S/N |
Course Code |
Course Title |
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1 |
CETS 569 |
Thesis/Project Work |
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2 |
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Graduate Seminar |
Practical training, industrial attachment, internship, etc.
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S/N |
Course Code |
Course Title |
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1 |
CE 567 |
Industrial Internship |
This will comprise of a minimum of four-week long supervised internship at a recognised transport institution to be undertaken before the commencement of the research phase of the programme and is a requirement for graduation. Students will be required to submit a report upon completion and receive a certificate of participation.
The MPhil Transport systems is a taught programme and is comprised of ten (10) mandatory courses and two (2) elective courses making a total of 12 courses.
The programme is designed to be completed in 24 calendar months in four sessions of six months each including four to six weeks of internship.
In the first session, participants will first be given foundation knowledge in methodological tools in transport such as applied statistics and modelling tools, operations research and optimisation techniques, and geographical information systems in transport.
Courses in the second session will be focused more on respective specializations. In the third session, students will be required to take the industrial internship for a minimum period of four weeks and submit report prior to commencing work on their research works.
Students will also be required to write thesis on a transport related subject matter. Many of the lecture-based courses include case study project sessions and presentations led by industry experts.
The successful graduates from the programme shall be awarded Master of Philosophy in Transport systems in a selected Specialization.
Specializations:
There are two specializations
MPhil Transport Systems - Infrastructure and Engineering: This will be for students who have undergraduate degree in any of the following:
- Civil Engineering
- Geological Engineering
- Geomatic Engineering
- Any other engineering discipline related to transport.
MPhil Transport Systems - Urban Transport and Operations: This will be for students who have undergraduate degree in any of the following:
- Any engineering discipline related to transport
- Planning
- Geography
- Any discipline related to transport
The MPhil Transport systems programme is designed to equip students with the skills required to pursue a successful career in various sectors of the transport industry. Graduates from this programme can strengthen their career in an existing company or have a career change in the transport industry. Graduates from the programme may take up high paid employment in a variety of positions in a wide range of careers/organisations worldwide such as:
- Public sector organisations
- Road transport sub sector
- Railway sector
- Private organisations in transport services
- Private consultancies
- Non-governmental organisations
- Development partners
- Metropolitan and Municipal assemblies
- Urban public transport organization
- Financial institutions
- Academic and research institutions
Mode of Assessment
Students pursuing the Master of Philosophy Transport Systems will be assessed through:
- preparatory assignments
- post course week assignments
- group project works
- seminar presentations
- written exercises
- written examinations
- thesis
An examination will be conducted for each taught course in a module. The mode of weighting for continuous assessment and final examination depends on the content of the courses as defined in the course description. In the case of the non-taught courses, assessment shall be by continuous assessment and course presentations.
The pass mark for both and non-taught courses, shall be 50%. Any student who fails a course shall re-sit it until a pass mark of 50% or more is attained. Individual course assignments will be assessed by Course Instructors. Group Projects will be assessed through written reports and oral presentations before a panel. The MPhil thesis shall be assessed by External and Internal Examiners together with an oral examination.
The following details the weight for different assessment components.
Continuous Assessment:
Continuous assessment will take 50% of the overall assessment and comprises preparatory assignments (15%), group work (10%), and a post course week individual assignment (25%). Some modules may also offer graded take home assignments and a mid-semester examination.
Examination:
This will form 50% of the overall assessment and will be written under formal examination conditions immediately after the course week.
Graduation Requirements
A candidate shall be deemed to have qualified for the award of the MPhil Transport Systems degree when he/she has:
- Passed all required courses and obtained a minimum of 36 credit hours,
- Achieved a minimum cumulative weighted average of 60%,
- Proof submission a manuscript to a Scopus journal,
- Completed a research work leading to an examinable thesis,
- Satisfied all other requirements of the Department, College and University.
- Submitted and successfully defended a thesis.
Additionally, candidates shall qualify for the appropriate specialization of the programme by completing the elective options required.
Facilities, Laboratory & Equipment
The program has very excellent classroom and laboratory facilities. Each student has access to computer facilities connected to the internet. A new storey facility for soils and material testing and Asphalt concrete pavement testing and research is under construction. Some of the equipment available for the course include the following;
- Asphalt Testing Equipment
- Soil Testing Equipment
- Traffic counts and measurement Equipment
- Software for Transport Planning and traffic modelling