MSc Railway Systems Engineering and Integration

Our program in Railway Systems Engineering and Integration Masters provides an all-round level of knowledge and education and equips the next generation of industry leaders. A major benefit of this course is that it enables you to consider the broader aspects of railway systems and how they interact.

Railway businesses rely on advanced technical and operational systems to carry vast numbers of passengers in densely populated areas and large quantities of goods over long distances, economically, safely, and promptly.

This postgraduate program in Railway Systems Engineering and Integration has a strong focus on developing your railway engineering knowledge and know-how, your expertise in systems engineering and systems integration skills, and your understanding of the complex interactions between subsystems. It develops your ability to work in multi-disciplinary project teams and is strongly supported by railway practitioners.

This fully accredited program prepares you for your professional engineering status and your career as a current or future leader in the rail industry. The full-time program is made up of classroom-taught modules supplemented by reading, seminars, and laboratory work, scheduled over two academic semesters. Part-time students follow the same syllabus as full-time students but complete the taught modules over two academic years. The MSc is completed with a dissertation based on independent research, chosen by you and which suits your specific personal or professional preference.

Many participants are experienced railway engineers and managers, sponsored by their employers, but the program also allows new entrants to the rail industry to familiarise themselves with the specialist disciplines involved in railway systems engineering, while also gaining an insight into the complex interactions between subsystems. Graduates of the program design, build, operate, and successfully manage all aspects of railways and railway systems.

This program is also available as a fully-funded Level 7 degree apprenticeship for eligible participants.

Why study Railway Systems Engineering and Integration Masters at Birmingham?

• Study in our state-of-the-art new School of Engineering building which includes:
  • 160 drop-in study spaces for flexible learning and 20 flexi bays for staff and student interaction
  • Study spaces in our new £16.4M UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) Centre of Excellence in Digital Systems (CEDS) facility with the opportunity to work alongside leading industrial collaborators
  • Provides an opportunity to work on your specific sponsored projects and network globally
• The Railway Systems Engineering and Integration program provides an all-round level of knowledge and education and equips the next generation of industry leaders.
• A major benefit of this course is that it enables you to consider the broader aspects of railway systems and how they interact. Many major projects fail at the interdisciplinary interfaces, and this is precisely the area where the MSc course can assist.
• It allows you to work at a more senior level, on major projects, and to understand when the ‘technical experts' were not fully appreciative of the interfaces with other disciplines and the latent problems that were developing.
• We’re Europe’s largest and most diverse railway research & education group with extensive links into industry. What this means is that students benefit from learning about rail and rail systems from the fundamentals which everyone needs to know, through to the latest research and industrial applications.
• We have extensive laboratories and facilities both on and off our campus for carrying out research in railway engineering. Facilities include railway system simulators, a wind tunnel, electronics laboratories, pantograph testing rig, robotic arms, a railway track foundation rig, plus other equipment. We also have an aerodynamic moving-model testing facility for high-speed trains.

Distance-learning Study Mode

The distance-learning mode is equivalent to part-time study and involves attendance in Birmingham only for the taught weeks over 2-3 years. This means you can combine work with study and visit Birmingham 6-7 times to complete the degree.

Distance learning is available for UK and International students; we are proud to have alumni from Australia, Hong Kong, China, and Singapore who have completed the program on this basis.

Accredited degree

This degree program is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council, as meeting the academic requirement for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).