Peter Moth MSc Transportation Planning and Engineering (2004/05)
Principal Transport Planner, Transport for London
Hi, I'm Peter Moth and I studied MSc Transportation Planning and Engineering (2004/05) within Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton.
Having spoken to the course coordinator, Professor Nick Hounsell, I was quickly convinced that the course was for me, blending a combination of analytical study, engineering and policy.
Why did you decide to study the MSc Transportation Planning and Engineering at Southampton?
Having completed a largely theoretical BSc in Mathematics, I decided to focus on an MSc that had direct practical applications and would lead directly into a career. Having spoken to the course coordinator, Professor Nick Hounsell, I was quickly convinced that the course was for me, blending a combination of analytical study, engineering and policy.
What did you enjoy about the course?
Having an analytical background, I quickly became interested in transport modelling, transport economics and statistics. I also enjoyed writing essays and researching government policy. The mixture of people attending the course and the variety of backgrounds made it a fascinating experience. A combination of recent post-graduates, practitioners, foreign students and mature students gave the course a 'melting pot' feel, and we mixed as a group remarkably well. Given the mixture of backgrounds, there was always someone to bounce ideas off, or discuss a technical matter with. This made the course very accessible and, as a result, I felt I performed better. A lot of social activities were organised, culminating in an England vs Rest of the World cricket match in the summer break on Southampton Common - including staff!
How has the course helped your career?
It got me my first job as a graduate at Mott MacDonald. I had an interview with the regional director and he simply said 'when can you start?' when I told him about my experiences on the course. We were fortunate, in 2005, to have so many job opportunities. The transport economics module gave me a useful introduction to transport appraisal, which I used extensively in my first role. A lot of the policy elements of the course have come in useful during my time at Transport for London. The dissertation helped me to write technical reports as well to design questionnaires and collect survey data. The MSc was also instrumental in my successful application for the Transport Planning Professional (TPP) qualification. An essential criterion is a transport related MSc from an accredited university, such as the University of Southampton.
Tell us about your current job
My current role is as a Principal Transport Planner at Transport for London, within the strategic planning unit. My role focuses on the High Speed 2 rail project, and its interfaces within London. I am currently leading TfL's involvement in creating a mega-interchange at Old Oak Common.
What advice would you give a graduate just starting the course?
Ask questions. Be interested. Make sure to go along to ALL the site visits and activities. Apply early for graduate roles. And challenge the staff to an end of year game of cricket!