PhD

Transportation Planning and Engineering

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Foreign:$ 69.2 k / Year(s) Deadline: Dec 15, 2025
26 place StudyQA ranking:5520 Duration:

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Individuals interested in the highest calling for the pursuit of knowledge in the science of transportation systems should consider the PhD program in Transportation Planning and Engineering. In addition to the specialties offered by the MS program , the PhD program pairs the students with world experts in apprenticeships to solving real problems facing society with innovative advances in the state of the art. The students become graduate student researchers within the Center for Urban Intelligent Transportation Systems in the Tandon School of Engineering, where they get to work closely with researchers from other disciplines to conduct basic and applied research funded by the National Science Foundation, U.S. DOT, and other agencies.

Graduates of this program have successfully pursued careers in academia and technical leadership positions in government and industry around the world. Having a PhD from this program opens opportunities to work with agencies or nonprofit organizations like the World Bank, the U.S. Department of Transportation, or RAND Corp; or with top technology firms like IBM, Google, Amazon, or Ford.

Several faculty members pursue research funded by various agencies and companies, and in many cases may be able to provide full funding support to interested students. Please consult the faculty members below based on their areas of interest.

To earn a PhD in Transportation Planning and Engineering at the School of Engineering, the following requirements must be met:

  • 51 credits of graduate work (not including the PhD dissertation) in relevant major and minor areas of study beyond the bachelor’s degree, with an average grade of B or better (cumulative average of 3.0 or better on a 0-4 scale).
  • Completion and successful defense of a 24-credit dissertation related to the major area of study. Dissertations must consist of original research that meaningfully advances the state-of-art in the subject area of the research and should result in the publication of at least 1 paper in a strictly peer-reviewed technical journal related to the subject. A grade of B or better must be achieved for the dissertation.
  • Completion of 2 minor areas of study, each consisting of between 9 and 12 credits of graduate work. At least 1 minor area must be outside the transportation area.
  • Residency requirements for the PhD in Transportation Planning and Engineering include the 24-credit dissertation, plus a minimum of 9 credits of applicable graduate course work taken at the School of Engineering.

In meeting the 51-credit course requirement, you must satisfy all requirements for the major and minor areas selected or their equivalent. In satisfying these basic PhD requirements, you must also meet 1 of 2 conditions:

  • 39 credits of approved graduate coursework, not including individual guided studies (readings, projects, theses, etc.) beyond the bachelor’s degree, with an average grade of B or better (cumulative average of 3.0 or better on a 0-4 scale).
  • 21 credits of related graduate coursework beyond the master’s degree, with an average grade of B or better (cumulative average of 3.0 or better on a 0-4 scale).

Satisfying condition 2 requires that the department accept your MS degree in totowithout regard to its specific content. This requires a recommendation from the department’s Graduate Committee and the approval of the department head.

Requirements

  • Admission to this program requires an MS in Transportation Planning and Engineering or equivalent. Applicants from related backgrounds are encouraged to apply or to contact the faculty members to discuss their interests, whether they are in industrial engineering, operations research, electrical engineering, computer science, applied mathematics, statistics, or economics.
  • Application (online only)
  • Application Fee of $75 (payable by major credit card only)
  • Statement of Purpose / Personal Statement
  • Résumé / Curriculum Vitae
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
  • One official transcript from each institution attended or attending 
  • GRE / GMAT 
  • English Language Proficiency Testing 
  • International students who will require a J-1 or F-1 visa to study at NYU will need to apply for a new I-20 or transfer by submitting financial documentation after admission. Do not submit financial documents (including bank statements and affidavits of support) with your application. Instructions for applying for a new I-20 or transfer will follow your letter of admission (if applicable).

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

  • ✔️ Flexible study schedule
  • ✔️ Experienced teachers
  • ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

  • Merit Scholarships
  • Global Education
  • International Student Loans
  • Federal Work-Study and Student Employment
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