The MSc programme in Railway Systems Engineering is designed to be truly interdisciplinary, with a strong focus on developing individuals’ skills and the overarching objective of creating a thorough understanding of the principles of designing and operating modern railway systems and of interface management.

Most participants are experienced railway engineers sponsored by their employers to study for a specialist qualification which allows them to work on complex projects.

The Rail Systems programme is built around eight taught modules and four research modules of 10 credits each and an integrating dissertation attracting 60 credits. Each taught module involves about 27 hours of teaching, 10 hours of tutorials, a major team exercise and a minor assignment. Each research module involves about 60 hours of independent study to complete two major assignments.

The assessment of students’ learning is based on class tests, assignments, presentations and end of year examinations. All modules are assessed individually to allow flexible study.

• Course Brochure (pdf 2 MB)
• Module Information (pdf 29 KB)
• Timetable  (pd 50 KB)
• Programme Fees (pdf 21 KB)
• Part Time Students from the Middle East, Far East, Australia and America:
  To participate in the programme while being based in Hong Kong or another Far East location and wishing to work full-time you only need to visit the UK 5 or 6 times.
  There are 2 visits of three weeks in the first year (in October and January) and 2 visits of three weeks in the second year (in November and February) each allowing attendance on two taught modules with a week of independent study in between. In the second year there is also a one week visit for the European Study Tour (usually in May) and there is a discretionary visit in the third year to put the final touches to the dissertation.
  You will have a substantial amount of homework, assessed by means of assignments, and your exams will take place at Hong Kong Polytechnic University or a similar institution.
  There are a number of people from Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore who have completed the programme on this basis

Contact for further Information on this Programme

• Mrs Joy Grey
  Course Administrator
  Tel:   (+44) (0)121 414 4342
  Email: J.Grey@bham.ac.uk

• Associate Professor Felix Schmid
  Tel: (+44) (0)121 414 5138
  Email: F.Schmid@bham.ac.uk