Transportation Economics (MSc)

You are particularly qualified for the Master's programme in Transportation Economics if you have acquired at least 60 credit points (ECTS) from the fields of business administration, economics and quantitative methods (mathematics, statistics, econometrics, operations research, Programming, data analytics). From each of the following subject areas

•     Business Administration,
•     Economics and
•     Quantitative Methods

you must have acquired at least 15 non-overlapping credit points as well as 15 non-overlapping credit points in any combination from the subject areas of Business Administration, Economics and Quantitative Methods. If you provide evidence of more than 30 non-overlapping credit points in quantitative methods, the required credit points can be reduced to the same extent for business administration by up to 10 credit points and for economics by up to 5 credit points.

The admission committee checks the evidence of particular aptitude on the basis of the documents enclosed with the application. The basic prerequisite for admission to the Master's programme in Transportation Economics is that you fulfil the admission requirements according to § 2 of the aptitude assessment regulations (english version: here). The documents to be submitted are described in detail in § 4. Please inform yourself. In addition, the signed "Form for the aptitude assessment" must be submitted with the other documents.

The design of mobility, transport and logistics systems is one of the main societal challenges. It determines participation in social and economic activities, the environmental impact of transport, and the economy’s and society’s spatial structure. In addition, means of transport, infrastructures, the organisation and financing of mobility services face fundamental changes due to the platform economy, internet trade, the shift towards renewable energy, the development of autonomous vehicles, and the availability of large and heterogeneous amounts of data. This implies a range of transport economics issues at both the operational and societal levels.

Our Master’s programme in Transportation Economics provides you with scientific methods and tools for understanding, processing and solving imminent transport-related issues.

© Crispin-Iven Mokry

Focus on transport and economics

The Master's programme has a clear focus on transport and economics. It teaches you internationally recognised methods in the field of analysis and assessment, data collection and evaluation, as well as programming and modelling concerning all modes of transport. Current developments and future perspectives are considered comprehensively and specifically, and are, in addition, discussed in depth in the respective specialisations. Especially in the seminar courses, participants' interests are taken into account.

Get competence in methods

The study programme allows you to acquire extensive methodological knowledge. This opens up a wide range of occupations for you, which may well go beyond the transport sector. This applies in particular to activities that require extensive quantitative knowledge, e.g. in the area of data analysis.

English language study programme

The English language's presence throughout the Master's programme prepares you perfectly for the national and international job market. You will acquire knowledge of foreign languages, especially English, and you will be able to write professional texts and give presentations. The international focus of the study programme, the English language's presence, and the co-operation in student groups will enable you to work in an intercultural environment.
The English-language study programme offers easy access to studying at TU Dresden, especially for prospective students from abroad.

Vocational internship to gain practical experience

Many students are interested in a vocational internship to gain practical experience, apply their knowledge and prepare for career entry. However, a vocational internship often conflicts with the curriculum because the time needed for it is not available, and it does not count as credit points. We believe, however, that it is essential that our students can gain work experience. Therefore, you can choose a vocational internship as a module in the degree programme. This allows you to gain professional practice experience during your studies without extending the duration of your studies.

Five specialisations are offered in the degree programme, of which you choose two. In these specializations, you will gain expertise in transportation economics.

These are the five specialisations:

• Computational Logistics: Contents are analytical methods for solving problems and supporting decisions in transport and logistics companies, and managing transport systems and services.
• Transport Policy: Contents are economic and econometric methods for the analysis of a variety of transport policy issues (e.g. emissions, congestion, noise, and safety) and the design and assessment of adequate transport policy measures.
• Spatial and Environmental Economics: Contents are economic and econometric methods for analysing the spatial, economic and environmental impact of mobility in cities and regions as well as the evaluation and design of relevant policy interventions to improve the spatial allocation and reduce negative environmental impacts of transport.
• Statistics: Contents are methods of multivariate statistics. The theoretical basics as well as the application of the methods to transport and economic data are covered.
• Data Analytics in Transportation: Covered are methods of data analytics and their application. These methods are relevant for preparing and analysing surveys and experiments and studying structured and unstructured data (Big Data) in the transport sector.

You can deepen and expand your knowledge of transport economics by choosing supplementary courses. You can not only choose transport economics modules, but also certain economics and transport engineering courses. In addition, you can acquire skills in foreign languages or integrate a vocational internship into your studies. Therefore, the Master's programme provides a high level of flexibility. You can include your ideas, wishes and interests in your studies.

The programme includes a mobility window in the 3rd semester. This opportunity you can use to study abroad or for a vocational internship. You can transfer up to 30 ECTS from modules completed at a university abroad.

The demand for well-trained transport economists is high in many countries and among (inter-)nationally companies and organisations. Therefore, multicultural competence, intercultural cooperation and English language skills are increasingly important. Given the growing relevance of data, it is necessary to extend the knowledge in economics and business administration by data analytics skills and interdisciplinary key qualifications.

As a graduate of the Master's programme in Transportation Economics, you have broad expertise in transportation and economics, extensive knowledge of scientific methods and high competence in abstraction and transfer. This qualifies you, after gaining a certain level of professional practice, to cope successfully with diverse and complex tasks in a management role in the fields of mobility, transport, logistics and data analysis in companies, national and international organisations, public administrations, associations, politics and political consulting, as well as research and teaching institutions. Due to your distinctive methodological knowledge, you are able to react quickly to challenges and changes in the work environment.

In addition, the degree programme creates the basis for further academic qualification, for example a dissertation in the field of economics.

The continuous training of English language skills rcompletes the acquisition of competencies during your studies. There is no doubt about your interdisciplinary capabilities considering the programme's contents and the connection to economics and traffic engineering.

As a graduate of the Master's programme in Transportation Economics, you are perfectly prepared for the work-related challenges of the future.