Railway Systems Engineering and Integration MSc/PGDip

Dubai Campus

Start date
September
Duration
1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

Annual tuition fee for 2024:
MSc - AED 138,456 for 1 year full-time or AED 69,228 per year over 2 years, part-time.
Your tuition fee can be paid in 3 instalments per year.

Scholarships are available.

Our programme 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.

Subject to Ministry of Education Accreditation

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 in a timely manner. This taught postgraduate programme in Railway Systems Engineering and Integration has a strong focus on developing postgraduates’ railway engineering knowledge and know-how, their systems integration skills and their 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. 

Graduates of the programme design, build, operate and manage successfully the sophisticated subsystems and complex interfaces characterising existing and new railways. The full-time programme comprises of classroom taught modules and coursework modules, scheduled over a period of 8 months. Part-time students follow the same syllabus as full-time students but complete the taught modules in a sequence that best suits their work-commitments. The MSc strand requires the submission of a dissertation that is based on a significant amount of independent research.

Many participants are experienced railway engineers and managers, sponsored by their employers, but the programme also allows new entrants to the railway industry to familiarise themselves with the specialist disciplines involved in railway systems engineering, while also gaining an insight into the complex interactions between subsystems.

Why study this course in Dubai?

  • The Railway Systems Engineering and Integration programme 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, 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.

Modules

Modules

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods

Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee for 2024.

MSc

  • AED 138,456 for 1 year full-time.
  • AED 69,228/year (2 years part-time)

PG Diploma

  • AED 92,304 for 1 year full-time.
  • AED 46,152/year (2 years part-time)

Your tuition fee can be paid in 3 instalments per year.

Scholarships

We have a number of scholarships available.

How To Apply

To find out more information about our application process please visit our 'How to apply page' before starting your application.

Our Standard Requirements

A 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant subject (eg, Engineering, Physics, Economics or Mathematics). Practical experience will also be taken into account.

Mathematics

If you do not meet the entry requirements for maths, you may be eligible to take our maths entry test. For a one to one consultation with our team about this opportunity please contact dubai@contacts.bham.ac.uk or +971 424 92300.

International students

We accept a range of qualifications from different countries – learn more about international entry requirements. Standard English language requirements apply.

International Requirements


Course overview

The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education boasts experts in railway engineering and systems, meaning you will be taught by lectures at the leading edge of their subjects.

The course is taught in intensive, week-long blocks so it is possible to combine work and part-time or distance-learning study from anywhere in the world. Individual modules may be also taken for continuous professional development.

Each taught module takes place over an intensive week-long block and comprises classroom lectures, tutorials, team exercises, visits and assignments to embed and draw each element of the subject together.  

Technology oriented modules cover the principles of rolling stock design, railway traction systems, infrastructure and track systems, railway control systems, as well as systems engineering principles. Management focused modules complement the range of subjects taught in the technology-oriented modules and include the strategic management of railway operations, railway technology strategy and economics, as well as ergonomics and human factors. 

Modules include lectures, tutorials, team exercises and industrial visits.

Course delivery

We offer a combination of evening and weekend classes which are designed to accommodate working professionals and those who choose to study full-time.

Our draft timetable for full-time students is designed to deliver teaching on weekday evenings from 18:00-21:00 and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00-18:00. All modules are block-taught in weeklong intensives. Part-time students will study during these hours as per the number of modules they choose to study.

Please note that the example timetable is to be used as a guide and is subject to change. Our term dates are also available online. For further information, please contact the Programme Director, Dr Melody Khadem Sameni at m.khademsameni@bham.ac.uk.

View example timetable for MSc Railways Systems Engineering and Integration (PDF 94.3 KB)

Our graduates go on to design, build, operate and successfully manage the sophisticated subsystems and complex interfaces characterising existing and new railways.

Many of our graduates now occupy senior positions around the world in the railway industry.