Master's track Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions

Reconnecting cities with surrounding rural areas? Boosting green spaces for healthier environments and improved lifestyle? Looking for alternatives to the use of private cars that are competitive in terms of convenience and flexibility as well as cost? Planning and designing living environments for active mobility? If these are issues that keep you awake at night – and you would like to become part of the solution – then the Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions (SUMT) master’s program at the TU/e may well be what you’re looking for!

Transport represents almost a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and, together with heating, is the main cause of air pollution in cities. Road transport is by far the biggest emitter within the transport sector*. Advances in technology and emergence of the notion of a shared economy have now augmented the set of available transport mode options [shared bike, shared ride, Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and electric vehicles, amongst others].

These innovations in technology and business models, however, will not guarantee sustainable future city and/or transport scenarios unless administrated as such. It is beyond doubt that if the ambition for the future is to safeguard inclusive, sustainable access opportunities and resources, efficient multi-modal transport must be developed at the lowest financial and environmental cost – and with the highest resilience to disruptive events. Planning and design of the urban and rural areas must support these mobility systems. Getting that all right is a tough call.

SUMT: what’s the program all about?
The Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions master’s program requires a holistic approach in study, design, development and evaluation of sustainable, inclusive, resilient urban environments. You will learn practical skills and broad knowledge of theories and concepts in urban planning, transportation planning and sustainability transition. You will gain insight into the role of transport and citizens’ mobility in creating an inclusive, resilient and sustainable built environment. You will gain the skill to evaluate the short and long-term consequences of plans and policies. This set of knowledge paves the way towards planning a circular economy.

SUMT: what’s in it for me?
The program is taught in English and welcomes students with an array of backgrounds and experiences. The program is ideal for students with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Geoinformation Technology, Urban Planning, Geography, and/or Economics. Additional disciplines are welcome, provided students have a solid foundation in quantitative approaches to solving problems and verifiable experience in programming, calculus, linear algebra and mathematical statistics.

*Source: European Commission, 2019

Why would this program be a good fit for me, and what skills do I need?
You will gain technical knowledge with respect to the advances in the mobility sector, its potential for a healthy urban/rural environment, as well as regulatory policies and governance that can safeguard a sustainable future. In addition, the track trains students to be entrepreneurs of the future (by gaining 30 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation Systems (ECTS) of innovation and entrepreneurship courses in the curriculum. This is a feature distinguishing this track from many other transport-related master’s programs. In addition, you will have access to the European Union (EU) Network of Top Research Centers and Businesses as well as the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) Urban Mobility Alumni Job Portal.

Why should I follow this program at the TU/e and not elsewhere, what makes it unique?
The SUMT track is a double-degree and EIT Label Certificate program. You will spend one year each at two different universities, an entry university and an exit university. You can choose from six leading European universities in the field of urban mobility:

• Aalto University – Espoo, Finland
  • To see the course list, click here
• Eindhoven University of Technology – Eindhoven, Netherlands
  • To see the course list, click here
• KTH Royal Institute of Technology – Stockholm, Sweden
  • To see the course list, click here
• Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) – Barcelona, Spain
  • To see the course list, click here
• University of Tartu – Tartu, Estonia
  • To see the course list, click here
• University of Lisbon-Técnico.IST – Lisbon, Portugal
  • To see the course list, click here

Students who graduate will be awarded two master’s degrees, one from each of the universities where they carried out their studies. The students will also receive EIT label certificate upon their graduation.

Students will also attend a summer school in the months between Year 1 and Year 2. This summer school will be held in two European cities, and students will work on real-life city challenges.

EIT Urban Mobility offers a number of merit-based scholarships, for which there is no need to apply. To check the citeria on which students are ranked, visit the detailed information page on EIT Urban Mobility Master School’s website.

The ABP mastertrack Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions is part of the EIT Urban Mobility Master School, which trains students to follow holistic approach in study, design, development and evaluation of sustainable, inclusive, resilience urban environment.

Study objectives
Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions (SUMT) is a master track where students implement a holistic approach in facing different issues traditionally faced by architects and urban planners, civil and transport engineers, and political scientists. You will learn practical skills and broad knowledge of theories and concepts in urban planning, transport and sustainability. This includes gaining the ability to identify and assess short- and long-term future consequences of plans and decisions and having insights in the role of transport and mobility in creating an inclusive, resilient and sustainable built environment.

Eligibility
For the admission requirements please visit the EIT Urban Mobility website.

Please note that both universities (entry and exit) assess whether you are admissible to the SUMT track. If the partner university considers you  are not admissible, you may consider the Urban Systems and Real Estate master track at TU/e, which also offers you the opportunity to specialize in sustainable transportation.

Deadlines for application
The deadlines to apply for this special double degree master track of EIT Urban Mobility differs from the regular deadlines of TU/e.  Please visit the EIT Urban Mobility website to reach the application portal by using this link.

Please find below the deadlines for period 1.

Please find below the deadlines for period 2.

Language of instruction
The language of instruction of the program is English

Tuition fees
See the EIT Urban Mobility website

What can EIT Urban Mobility School offer you?

• You will specialize in an education path aiming at shaping the future of cities, an essential area of expertise sought-after by the industry.

• You will graduate with a double master’s degree from two different top European universities along with an EIT label certificate.

• The study path includes a pan-European Kick-Off event to meet and connect with all your fellow students, a two-week Summer School in two European cities, and a distinguished Graduation Ceremony. All charges included.

• EIT Urban Mobility offers generous merit-based scholarships co-funded by the European Union. You simply need to check the designated box in your application to be considered for it.

• You will gain access to EIT Urban Mobility’s innovation and entrepreneurship community and programmes.

• You will live a truly international education experience and create a valuable and extensive network culminating with the opportunity to join the growing EIT Urban Mobility Alumni network.

There will be scholarship available to support excellent students. A central committee decides about the eligibility of candidates for the scholarship.

Contact information
For more information go to the website EIT Urban Mobility Master School. If you have question about the admission criteria, tuition fee, scholarship or English proficiency, please e-mail EIT Masterschool. If your question concerns the curriculum and course structure, please contact Soora Rasouli.