Joely Hill MSc Transport Planning, 2015
Transport Planner at DHA
The MSc in Transport Planning was extremely varied and gave me a real insight and understanding into what happens in the wider world of transport planning. You get a perspective from all angles and employers, from private developers to Local Authorities to Highways England and the Department for Transport.
I chose the University of Southampton because it was recommended to me by a colleague who studied the same course a couple of years previously. I am so glad I listened to him as the MSc in Transport Planning was extremely varied and gave me a real insight and understanding into what happens in the wider world of transport planning. You get a perspective from all angles and employers, from private developers to Local Authorities to Highways England and the Department for Transport. The course also gave me the opportunity to undertake a research project in an area I was particularly interested in. All of the lecturers were really approachable and were always willing to help if there was a particular topic I needed some extra help on.
I entered the industry six months before embarking on the MSc so I was already a Graduate Transport Planner when I started the course. A year into the course (which I studied 2 years part-time) I was unexpectedly promoted to Transport Planner; demonstrating my commitment to studying alongside working definitely contributed towards my promotion.
My ambition when I graduated was to move closer to home and work for DHA, a Kent-based planning consultancy, as they had a really good reputation and really good career opportunities, both of which I was really attracted to. Following completion of my MSc, I achieved this and I am now a Transport Planner at DHA, based on Maidstone. I wouldn’t have been offered the position if I didn’t have the MSc as it’s a qualification they require for Transport Planners. I know that this is the case for a lot of other Transport Planning jobs out there too.
As a Transport Planner at DHA, I have the benefit of working in a small team so I get great exposure to a wide variety of transport planning projects. I am currently working on the development of a new leisure centre in south London and as part of that I get to attend project management meetings on my own, liaise directly with the clients, speak directly with the Local Highways Authority and input into design elements of the building such as the car and cycle parking. I can’t wait to visit the building once it’s been built!
My longer term ambition is to manage a team of Transport Planners and to deliver successful Transport Planning projects across the UK. I am currently working towards becoming a Chartered Transport Planner and have recently embarked on working towards the TPP (Transport Planning Professional) qualification to further enhance my career. This demonstrates further commitment to my professional development and will provide future recognition as a professional Transport Planner. My MSc has helped immensely with this process, as it has meant that I have been able to skip a stage of the application process because the MSc course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT).
I have recently been selected to present my MSc dissertation research project at the Transport Practitioners Meeting in Nottingham in June 2016 so I will be able to share my findings with some key people within the industry at this two-day conference. I would love my research applied within the field and would love to see it make a real difference to travel behaviour in the near future.
The aspect of my studies I am most proud of is the fact that I lived in Oxford and commuted the 60 mile distance to Southampton each week to undertake the course. Furthermore, I still found the time to write my essays and study for my exams as well as continue to meet my deadlines at work, (which I was still doing 4 days a week). Completing the course with Merit is something I am extremely proud of and I know that the MSc is an achievment that nobody can ever take away from me!
Southampton is a great university city. The campus has everything you need within walking distance and the city centre, which has great shopping and nightlife, is not that far away either. The new Boldrewood campus is amazing for engineering students; it really is a great place to study. I met some great friends on the course too. Half of the class were also studying part-time like me so we all helped each other get through the challenging times.
My advice to new students at Southampton is to make the most of every opportunity – if there are external speakers or seminars make sure you go to them as you never know if the presenter might be a key contact for you in the future! There might be tough moments at times but never stop thinking about the end goal; it will be 100% worth it.
I would definitely recommend getting an MSc in the transport planning industry as it really makes you stand out. An MSc doesn’t just prove that you have general knowledge about the industry; employers see that you are committed to learning, dedicated and can apply yourself, which are key skills in the workplace.