Master of Science in Engineering (Transportation and Logistics)

Efficient transportation and logistics are crucial to modern society. Engineers have always been involved in the establishment of new infrastructure systems, but as the technologies and society have evolved, the problems have changed and grown more complex. The same goes for the means at our disposal for resolving those problems. Whereas in the past more technically-oriented planning and management projects were undertaken by more technically-oriented engineers – such as bridge engineers who conducted their own traffic forecasting or mechanical engineers who also took on production management, resolving company logistical problems and organizing the supply chain to and from the company - a number of independent professional disciplines and specialist fields have now emerged within transportation and logistics.

The engineering science approach to transportation and logistics employs applied mathematical models and IT-based solutions for optimizing transportation and logistical problems. This degree program thus operates with a model-based approach to transportation and logistics.

This degree program aims to train engineers to give them specialist, technical knowledge of traffic, transportation and logistics combined with methodologies for software technology, data analysis and statistics, operations research, geoinformatics, economics disciplines along with planning and management skills to qualify them to undertake projects in the main fields of transportation and logistics.

The focus of the program may be applied science. Many graduates write their theses in collaboration with private enterprises or public authorities. But the focus may also be geared towards methodologies and research, and many graduates of this degree program go on to become industry-sponsored researchers or PhD students, or they perform developmental functions in the transportation and logistics sector.

This program offers a natural progression for graduates of BSc Mathematics and Technology, BSc Software Technology or BSc Civil Engineering. In addition, BSc Mathematics or BSc Mathematics and Economics graduates can enroll for the Transportation and Logistics Program to obtain the Danish title of cand.scient.techn. (Master of Science and Technology).

This degree program is associated with a wide network of contacts among both private enterprises and public authorities with which projects can be undertaken in the course of the program. The program also has links with international universities, enabling students to study abroad. DTU enjoys especially close links with TU Delft (Netherlands), ETH (Zurich, Switzerland), EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland), LTH (Lund, Sweden), KTH (Stockholm, Sweden), Molde (Norway), University of Montreal (Canada), University of Auckland (New Zealand) and University of Washington (Seattle, USA). The contacts on the degree program will coordinate postings to relevant international universities. Agreements have already been made with a number of specific institutions (for more details please refer to the descriptions of the individual recommended programs of study).

Career Opportunities
On completion of the degree program, engineers obtain a range of appointments within the transportation and logistics sector such as with:  

• Product manufacturers and distributors (transportation and logistics departments)
• Transport companies (forwarding agents, public transport operators, bus/coach companies, rail companies, airlines, carriers and shipping companies)
• Transport infrastructure owners (public authorities, seaports, airports, private enterprises)
• Public authorities (central and local governments, the EU, public transport companies)
• Methodology development and software technology (consulting and IT firms, universities, specialist appointments with other employers)  

Job opportunities are described in more detail under the individual recommended program of study.

The degree program was established through a multidisciplinary collaboration between different institutes and research groups at DTU, chiefly at:  

• DTU Transport: covers disciplines such as traffic technology and traffic planning, traffic and transport modeling, transportation and logistics
• DTU Management Engineering: covers disciplines involving operations research, manufacturing engineering management, economics and business logistics
• DTU Informatics: covers disciplines involving IT, data analysis and statistics and geoinformatics

Disciplines
The degree program comprises a number of subjects within these disciplines:  

• Methods and Models
• Traffic and Transport
• Supply Chains and Business Logistics  

Each individual program of study spans these disciplines and their subjects and the Master Thesis will typically be confined to the contact’s own field of specialization.

Methods and Models
Subjects within the discipline of methods and models constitute a methodological platform for the degree program in transportation and logistics. This degree program, however, does not comprise recommended programs of study in methods and models since more logically under the program "Mathematical Modeling and Computation". The individual areas of expertise, lodged with DTU Informatics and DTU Management Engineering are:

• Computer Science
• Data Analysis and Statistics
• Operations Research

Traffic and Transport
The subjects under traffic, transport, logistics and urban planning are all applied subjects, but with varying emphasis on planning, methods and models. Programs of study focused on traffic and transport are normally geared towards an MSc thesis at DTU Transport. However, the program is organized jointly with DTU Informatics and DTU Management Engineering. In addition, subjects in urban planning and road building may be relevant for study programs in traffic planning and traffic technology. The individual areas of expertise within this discipline are:  

• Traffic Planning and Traffic Technology
• Traffic and Transport
• Logistics and Transportation  

Supply Chains and Business Logistics
The subjects under supply chains and Business Logistics are all applied subjects. They span a wide array of disciplines relevant for incorporation and integration in planning and implementation of technological changes. Within individual study programs, students can combine the subjects that best support the technological area concerned. The subjects lead to a Master Thesis at DTU Management Engineering as well as supporting programs of study at DTU Transport. The individual areas of expertise within this discipline are:  

• Supply Chains
• Business Logistics  

Programs of Study
The degree program consists of four programs of study, each of which is assigned a contact person and often additional academic supervisors:  

1. Transport and Business Logistics
2. Traffic Planning and Traffic Technology
3. Traffic and Transport Modeling 
4. Railway Technology 

Before commencing their final MSc Thesis, students are expected to have completed a program of study or have had their studies approved by their director of studies as being academically commensurate with the discipline of the Master Thesis. In addition, a completed B.Eng. in Traffic and Transport gives direct access to the degree program.

Academic Requirements, MSc Eng 
To qualify for admission to the MSc program in Transportation and Logistics, students are required to have completed a BSc in either

• Software Technology,
• Civil Engineering,
• Mathematics and Technology or
• Mechanical Engineering

In addition, B Engs in Traffic and Transportation are directly admitted to the MSc program.

Students holding a B Eng may be eligible for enrollment on this MSc program. Individual assessment will be made as to whether applicants meet the academic requirements and the requirements for 10 points for scientific disciplines. The individual assessment will typically comprise a personal interview with the director of studies, who decides the study plan for the prospective student so that he/she can commence studies as soon as possible. The requirement that students have completed 10 points is specified below, and it can be fulfilled either by completing specific courses at DTU or by having completed courses in connection with a research based program which in content and level is equivalent to the courses mentioned:

We recommend that students take the following courses as part of their BSc Eng/B Eng, or that they check the prerequisites for the individual courses in the course of study chosen in the Study Handbook:

Tuition in programming equivalent to e.g. courses 02115, 02312, 02318 as well as courses equivalent to:

Prospective students holding a BSc Eng or B Eng from other academic institutions may qualify for admission if the components of their qualifications are equivalent to those described above.

Those holding a BSc Mathematics or BSc Mathematics and Economics are also eligible. Students admitted to this degree program are recommended to contact the director of studies for advice on course selection.

Students with a bachelor degree who seek admission to MSc programs at DTU must demonstrate proficiency in English (B-level for students from Nordic countries, IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test for international students).

Program Provisions, MSc Eng
In order to obtain the MSc degree in Transportation and Logistics the student must fulfil the following requirements: 

• Have passed General Competence Courses adding up to at least 30 points
• Have passed Technological Specialization Courses adding up to at least 30 points
• Have performed a Master Thesis of at least 30 points within the field of the general program
• Have passed a sufficient number of Elective Courses to bring the total number of points of the entire study up to 120.

Curriculum
The degree program is composed of 4 course blocks: General Degree Competencies (30 ECTS credit points), Technological Specialization (30 ECTS credit points), Elective Courses and Master Thesis (total of 60 ECTS credit points).

The degree program spans activities at 3 departments at DTU, which also offers other degree programs. Whether or not a Master Thesis falls within the intentions for the particular degree program is dependent on the approval of the director of studies. Students are recommended to seek prior approval of their Master Thesis as being within the parameters of the degree program.

General Competence Courses
The General Competence Courses ensure that you gain an understanding of the core elements within the degree program and that you learn to combine technology applications and technological development with economics, management and organization. In addition, you will learn to use your technological expertise in a professional context. You will also learn to describe and indicate solutions to open-ended problems and to work as part of a team where the focus is on interpersonal skills and communication. General Degree Competencies are acquired through courses in the program's specialized disciplines.

The following course is mandatory:

The remaining points (up till 30 points) must be achieved among the following courses:

Technological Specialization Courses
Your technological specialization ensures that you acquire the latest technological expertise within your field. Combined with your Master Thesis and the opportunity to take specialist courses, you will acquire comprehensive academic and practical expertise in your field at a high international level. You are required to select a minimum of 30 ECTS credit points within this course block:

Elective Courses
Students may select up to 30 points worth of Elective Courses from among the advanced MSc courses. Electives combined with the Master Thesis must total 60 points.

DTU recommends that students study one semester at a foreign university if they have not been on an international exchange before. Relevant for this study programme are the following places/courses:

Master Thesis
The Master Thesis must fall within the subject areas of the degree program. The MSc may be of a scope equivalent to either 30 or 35 ECTS. The Master Thesis combined with the Elective Courses must total 60 points. If one of the 4 recommended study lines is followed, the chair of study will help finding a thesis subject and advisor if this help is required.

Program Coordinator
Kim Bang Salling, Associate Professor 
DTU Transport 
DTU Building 115, Ground Floor, Room 008
DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
Phone: (+45) 4525 1548
E-mail: kbs@transport.dtu.dk
Web: www.transport.dtu.dk

Transport and Business Logistics, Contact: 
Allan Larsen, Associate Professor, DTU Transport, ala@transport.dtu.dk
Field: Logistics and Transportation

Jesper Larsen, Associate Professor, DTU Management Engineering, jesla@man.dtu.dk
Field: Operations Research

Traffic Planning and Traffic Engineering, Contact: 
Steen Leleur, Professor, DTU Transport, sl@transport.dtu.dk
Field: Traffic and Transport

Traffic and Transport Modeling, Contact: 
Otto Anker Nielsen, Professor, DTU Transport, oan@transport.dtu.dk
Field: Traffic and Transport Modeling, GIS, Public Transport

Railway Technology, Contact: 
Alex Landex, Assistant Professor, DTU Transport, al@transport.dtu.dk
Field: Railway, Public Transport