Air Quality Solutions with Data Science MSc

Course overview

Please note: applications for this course open on the 1^st October 2024.

Up to 7 million people are estimated to die every year due to the harmful effects of air pollution. Degradation in air quality is now the leading environmental cause of premature mortality - exceeding deaths due to unsafe drinking water, malaria and HIV combined. Understanding the factors controlling the emission, processing and fate of air pollutants is vital to effectively mitigate these harmful effects and to assess the effectiveness of policy interventions.

Our solutions-driven Masters programme will cover a broad range of air quality-related topics, including emissions, monitoring, modelling, pollution exposure, health impacts and policy and economic appraisal. The programme will also explore the synergies of air quality with climate change. You'll be taught by academics who are experts in each of these topics and have contributed to the UK being a world leader in air policy design, delivery and evaluation.

This Masters gives you the chance to be hands-on, applying and designing interventions using state-of-the-art modelling tools and appraising the expected benefits. You’ll use conventional and research-led pollution-monitoring techniques and novel data analysis tools – all of which will support the substantial independent research project you’ll undertake in the final semester.

The course draws on the globally-renowned research from five Schools: the Institute for Transport Studies, the School of Earth and Environment, the School of Civil Engineering, the School of Chemical and Process Engineering and the School of Chemistry. This ensures you’re learning the latest innovations in the field, preparing you for a career in industry.

The valuable knowledge and skills you’ll acquire throughout your Masters could lead you to pursuing a career in consultancy, the public sector and regulatory bodies, non-governmental bodies, industry and further research.

Why study at Leeds:

• Our broad expertise across all facets of air quality-related research feeds into your course, shaping your learning with the latest thinking in crucial areas such as emissions control, atmospheric science, health impacts – and everything in between.
• Take a hands-on ‘systems approach’ to tackling critical issues in air quality, exploring solutions for both the UK and internationally.
• Engage with the Air Quality Living Lab initiative that brings high quality, personal air quality exposure and health monitoring together with novel data analysis and visualisation techniques.
• Advance your knowledge and skill set in developing solutions to air quality problems covering areas like indoor air quality, sustainability, air quality sources and principles of air quality.
• Become a competent data scientist and analyst through training across all taught modules in different aspects of computer modelling and data science.
• Experience expert theoretical and practical teaching delivered by a programme team made up of researchers and academics from the Institute for Transport Studies, the School of Earth and Environment, the School of Civil Engineering, the School of Chemical and Process Engineering and the School of Chemistry who all have extensive expertise across a variety of air quality areas.
• This course offers flexible study options where you can study full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 or 36 months.

Join our online taster course

This two-week course offers a great taste of studying 21st-century transportation challenges at a postgraduate level. 

View this video on Bilibili.

Course details

This Masters will equip you with the relevant knowledge to be able to provide solutions to air quality issues.

We recognise that data science is an imperative skill in the modern world, which is why a key element of the course will be equipping you with the skills to become skilled data analysts and data scientists. In all taught modules, you’ll benefit from training and demonstrate competence in different aspects of computer modelling and data science: from advanced data analysis and visualisation, through emerging data platforms and infrastructure to programming and experience using commercial software. Supplementary one-day courses in Python and ‘R’ coding environments will be provided, in addition to within module (assessed) skill development.

You’ll also be taught all the important fundamentals of air quality science, developing a thorough understanding of the strength of different sources of pollutants such as road transport, residential heating, industry and origins of contaminants indoor. Through theory and practicals, you’ll learn the mechanisms of air quality dispersion and atmospheric chemistry, from indoors, through urban streets to across cities, regions and at a global level.

With this knowledge and data analyst skills, you’ll be able to critically evaluate the impact of a wide range of air quality interventions, from Clean Air Zones in cities (also called Low Emission and Ultra-Low Emission Zones) and national emission regulations, to managing indoor sources of air pollutants and ventilation systems. You’ll then have the skills and expertise to not only assess the success of policies in terms of improved air quality and health benefits, but also when you graduate have the framework and knowledge to design and craft your own policies.

Course Structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Air Quality Solutions with Data Science MSc Full Time in the course catalogue

Compulsory modules

Environmental Science and Sustainability for Transport – 15 credits

You'll learn the knowledge and skills required to understand the environmental constraints of cities and how to influence decision-making in transport towards environmentally and socially sustainable solutions. The module includes training in the UK toolkit for modelling vehicle emissions across transport networks in current and future years.

Principles of Air Quality Modelling: Local Dispersion – 15 credits

Drawing on elements of air pollution dispersion theory taught by the School of Earth and Environment and the School of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Leeds, you’ll focus on how transport emissions and pollution are modelled. The module will include training (delivered in partnership with the developer) in an internationally leading specialist air pollution dispersion modelling software.

Air Quality Drivers and Processes – 15 credits

You’ll explore non-transport sources of pollution, including secondary pollutants formed through atmospheric chemistry and appropriate mitigation and control strategies. Source apportionment techniques will be covered alongside training in accessing and analysing air pollution data from monitoring networks, as well as scenarios from regional air pollution models via bespoke data science tools.

Indoor Air Quality – 15 credits

This module will explore exposure to air pollution, both at individual and population levels and associated health impacts. This includes exposure to air pollution indoors, with training in using an indoor pollution model. Health impacts and awareness of health data, trends and data protection will be delivered by BiB. The learning will feed into training in the economic appraisal of air pollution and policies.

Air Quality Policy Design and Evaluation – 15 credits

We'll equip you with the skills necessary to analyse air pollution data, then design and evaluate the impact of air quality policies, including mitigation options for poor indoor air quality. Practical experience of open-source innovative data analysis tools is provided, including a new open-source package – AQEval – developed and published by Institute for Transport Studies to evaluate Air Quality policies.

Transport Integrated Project – 15 credits

This group project lets you develop industry experience of working within the transport sector, as part of a multidisciplinary team. You’ll work alongside students from our other Masters degrees, using your different specialisms to solve a real-world transport problem posed by Leeds City Council or another relevant organisation.

You’ll gain insights into how planning, economics, environmental science, modelling and engineering can work together to develop sustainable solutions to global challenges.

Throughout the project, you’ll be advised by subject experts and will be required to write both group and individual reports. You'll also present your work as a group.

Previous projects have included:

• Designing a new park and ride site
• Designing a new train station
• Redesigning Leeds’ City Square

Air Pollution Modelling at Regional Scales – 15 credits

Build on the skills gained in modelling air pollution at the city scale in semester 1, to understanding the theory and application of regional and continental scale air quality modelling. Hands-on taught sessions will be used to analyse output from regional simulations in India and China and investigate pollution processing and policy interventions.

Research Dissertation – 60 credits

This Research Dissertation is an independent research project that gives you the opportunity to develop and apply research and/or design skills in a specialist topic in the air quality field. Cross-campus supervision teams are encouraged to explore and develop interdisciplinary research topics.

Optional modules

You’ll choose one optional module offered by collaborating schools from across the University of Leeds.

Please note: The modules listed below are indicative of typical options.

Sustainable Spatial Planning and Analysis – 15 credits

Learn the key aspects of integrated transport and land-use planning which contribute to more sustainable outcomes. You'll develop your skills to access, analyse and display spatial data to facilitate advanced policy analysis informed by the theoretical underpinnings of sustainable land use and transport planning.

City Systems: Energy – 15 credits

This module gives you the tools to be able to diagnose and solve real world energy problems in contemporary cities. You'll learn how energy systems are a complex mix of engineering and technology, but also social practices, economic incentives, and political institutions.

Green Logistics – 15 credits

You'll gain the skills needed to work in planning, policymaking and consultancy roles in which you'll need up-to-date understanding of best practice in reducing the environmental problems associated with freight logistics and supply chain activities.

System Dynamics: Modelling Policy – 15 credits

This module develops your understanding of the structure and dynamics of complex systems in transport. You'll learn how to apply causal loop techniques enabling you to communicate ideas and model structures effectively.

Transport Investment Appraisal – 15 credits

Starting from the principles of cost-benefit analysis and financial appraisal, the module covers the key methods and techniques of transport investment appraisal. You'll study examples and case studies from road, rail and active modes of transport.

Environmental Economics and Policy – 15 credits

Explore the micro-economic approach to environmental issues, which states that environmental problems are market failures leading to a loss of social welfare, and environmental policies are interventions that seek to restore optimal allocation of resources.

Transport Data Science – 15 credits

Build the skills to conduct data science projects, answer transport questions, and use cutting-edge data science techniques on real-world datasets. You'll learn about data science tools and their application to transport issues, with a focus on geocomputation, visualisation and modelling

Fieldwork

At the Institute for Transport Studies, we want you to graduate with hands-on, real-world skills you can take into your career. For Air Quality Solutions students, there will also be fieldwork activities in modules, such as visits to air quality monitoring sites and the chance to join and actively contribute to initiatives such as the Air Quality Living Lab.

Fieldwork gives you the chance to build those professional skills and put theory into practice – experiencing transport systems in action and meeting transport professionals who are actively working in the field.

Industrial placements

This programme gives you the opportunity to undertake a paid placement – either over four or twelve months. Our close industry links give you the platform to apply to a number of major organisations such as Network Rail and AECOM. Please note: placement opportunities are limited and therefore the application is highly competitive. Placements are not guaranteed.

Part-time study options

This course is also available to study part-time, over 24 or 36 months. Please get in touch with our admissions team to discuss part-time study options.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Air Quality Solutions with Data Science MSc Part Time in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

You'll learn through a blend of face-to-face lectures, tutorials, computing practicals and workshops, fieldwork and research seminars, leading to the development of knowledge and skills for your own independent research project. Knowledge and skill development will take place within taught modules, but also a series of research seminars, training and field visits will run alongside the assessed modules.

The majority of learning within taught modules is delivered by introducing and explaining underlying theories, discussing their application in practice and debating strengths and weaknesses of different concepts and approaches. This teaching is then followed by structured computing practicals, supporting students applying and testing their knowledge and understanding using real data and case studies.

The computing and data-science training within taught modules and the programme of supplementary skill development are coordinated through the course, so you can progress from being confident undertaking basic quantitative analyses at the start of the course, to demonstrating competence in computer modelling and data science: from advanced data analysis and visualisation, through understanding and using emerging data platforms and infrastructure, to programming and experience using commercial software.

Active research environment

At Leeds, our broad expertise spans across all facets of air quality-related research – from emissions control to atmospheric science to health impacts – and everything in between. This means that we are uniquely placed to offer an industry-relevant and forward-thinking applied and solutions-focused Masters degree in air quality solutions.

The Institute for Transport Studies was established as the UK’s first multidisciplinary transport department, and we continue to lead the field with our research. Our reputation allows us to invest in world-class facilities and a variety of specialist software tools including SATURN, DRACULA, and specialist open-source analysis packages such as OpenPave for pavement design and AQEval for tracking trends and detecting changes in air quality levels, and licensed software such as ARCADY, LINSIG for junction design. We also have a driving simulator, too.

Specialist facilities

The course connects to the Air Quality Living Lab initiative that brings high quality, personal air quality exposure and health monitoring together with novel data analysis and visualisation techniques. You'll be encouraged to engage with and be part of the initiative's activities throughout your course.

You'll have access to a fleet of 'low cost' portable, personal air quality monitor, backed-up by a cloud-based data architecture. This will give the students on the programme the research platform to explore individually, and as a group, a wide range of air quality issues and research questions. This could also give you the opportunity to engage in your own citizen science and community action projects, too.

Programme team

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessment is equally varied and can include coursework essays, case-study reports, group assignments, posters, presentations and exams.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a relevant numerate subject such as (but not limited to) engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry or economics.

Applicants with any of the following will be considered on a case-by-case basis:

• A bachelor degree with a 2:2 (hons), or equivalent where applicants can demonstrate relevant work experience or aptitude in a relevant specialist field.
• Professional qualifications and relevant experience.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component.

How to apply

Application deadlines

Please note: applications for this course open on the 1^st October 2024.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

30 June 2025 – International applicants

12 September 2025 – UK applicants

If you're still unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

Institute for Transport Studies
School of Earth and Environment
School of Civil Engineering
School of Chemical and Process Engineering
School of Chemistry

Contact us

Institute for Transport Studies Postgraduate Admissions Team

Email: courses@its.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £13,000 (Total)

International: £30,500 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Career opportunities

Our aim is to equip you with the knowledge to provide solutions across a range of air pollution challenges and environments.

The rapid pace at which air pollution issues have moved up the national and international agenda will likely see increased demand for graduates with the specialist skills needed to implement air pollution mitigation strategies, design effective policies and consider air pollution aspects of economic and industrial activities and new developments. The ‘solutions’ focus of this course aligns with consultancy business, local and regional authorities and central governments.

As such, the skills and knowledge you’ll gain on this course will give you the platform to pursue a career in:

• Consultancy
• Public Sector
• Regulatory Bodies
• Industry
• Cities
• Further research

Plus, the University of Leeds is in the top 5 most targeted universities in the UK by graduate recruiters, according to High Fliers’ The Graduate Market in 2024 report.

Careers support

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one — that’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers. The University’s Careers Service is one of the largest in the country, providing a wide range of resources to ensure you are prepared to take your next steps after graduation and get you where you want to be.

• Links with industry – we have close working relationships with a number of organisations and many employers visit the Institute for Transport Studies each year to interview our students for graduate schemes and other vacancies. We also regularly circulate specific job vacancies to students. Organisations include ARUP, Mott MacDonald, AECOM, Capita, Transport for London, Pell Frischmann, Leigh Fisher, JMP, Amey, among many others. Read more about graduate employability at the Institute for Transport Studies.
• Dedicated Employability Officer — gain quality advice, guidance and information to help you choose a career path. From CV and cover letter writing to supporting you with job applications, our School’s dedicated Employability Officer is on hand to help maximise your capabilities through a process of personal development and career planning.
• Employability and networking events — we run a full range of events, including careers fairs and industry talks in specialist areas and across broader industries, with employers who are actively recruiting for roles, giving you the opportunity to network and engage with industry representatives. 
• Employability skills training – to support your transition to the workplace, we embed training in a range of key transferable skills valued by employers such as research and data analysis in all our programmes.
• MyCareer system — on your course and after you graduate you’ll have access to a dedicated careers portal where you can book appointments with our team, get information on careers and see job vacancies and upcoming events.
• Opportunities at Leeds — there are plenty of exciting opportunities offered by our Leeds University Union, including volunteering and over 300 clubs and societies to get involved in.

Find out more at the careers website.

Study abroad and work placements

This degree does not offer the option to study abroad.

Work placements

You’ll have the opportunity to gain three to four months industry experience in the UK with Air Quality teams, companies and authorities at the end of your Masters course.

It’s important to note, work placements are not guaranteed. The job market is competitive – and there may be competition for the placement you want. You’ll have to apply the same way you would for any job post, with your CV and, if successful, attend an interview with the organisation. After the competitive application process, paid placements are offered from September to December at the end of your studies.

Our Careers Service will help you every step of the way. They run a number of placement sessions to discuss opportunities and support you with CV writing and interview preparations. Plus, they’ll be there to answer any questions you may have and offer guidance throughout the process, too.

Benefits of a work placement year:

• Build industry contacts within your chosen field
• Our close industry links mean you’ll be in direct contact with potential employers
• Advance your experience and skills by putting the course teachings into practice
• Gain invaluable insight into working as a professional in this industry
• Improve your employability

The scheme is open to all Masters students, including those on a student visa, within the Institute for Transport Studies.