Railway Systems Engineering and Integration MSc

With a large and diverse railway research and education group, you'll receive insight from experts and have great links into industry. You'll learn how to create reliable operational systems for the railway and benefit from real-world experiences. 

Course Structure 

Join us on this full-time advanced course, comprising of lectures, laboratory work, short experimental projects and a research project. The course can also be taken on a part-time basis over two or three years. It is also available as a Degree Apprenticeship.

Our innovative distance-learning format, equivalent to part-time study over 2-3 years, requires attendance only during designated taught weeks. This flexibility allows you to seamlessly integrate study with your career, making 7-8 visits to Birmingham or York to complete your degree a manageable and enriching journey.

• Study flexibly with our distance-learning study mode
• Benefit from our cutting-edge research centre and facilities
• Work on worldwide sponsored projects
• Learn through our unique interdisciplinary approach

We’re Europe’s largest and most diverse railway research and education group with extensive links into industry. You'll learn about rail and rail systems from the fundamentals through to the latest research and industrial applications.

• Learn about cutting-edge developments in your chosen areas of interest, with lectures delivered by world-leaders in their fields
• Receive tailored guidance and feedback in tutorials, enabling you to tackle specific challenges and enhance comprehension of the material
• Engage in projects that bridge theoretical knowledge with practical applications, enhancing your understanding and retention of concepts
• Gain valuable experience by engaging in practical assignments that simulate real-world tasks and cultivate job-ready skills
• Experience active learning and engagement in the lab and develop skills such as collaboration, teamwork, critical thinking, as well as independent problem-solving when conducting experiments and interpreting results

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. 

The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Any optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.

In order to be awarded an accredited degree a student must have achieved 100 credits in taught modules given that the pass mark at this level is 50.

The following must be taken:

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.

For this course we require IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band, which is equivalent to:

• TOEFL: 80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 Listening, 21 Speaking and 19 in Writing
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in any component
• LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 25 in each skill

English Presessional Programmes

Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025 entry are above.

The fees quoted are for one year only. For those studying courses that are longer than one year, tuition fees will also be payable in subsequent years of your programme.

Paying your tuition fees

Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. You can check whether you are eligible for UK or international fees with our admissions team.

Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.

Postgraduate Masters Loan

To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.

Scholarships

To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.

Birmingham Masters Scholarships

We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.

Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.

Accommodation

Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. Our student accommodation will allow you to enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.

Living in Birmingham

As one of the original pioneering cities, Birmingham has developed into a melting pot for shopping, food and drink, nightlife, sport, culture, and industry. It’s no wonder our students fall in love with the city.

Campus life

Our green and spacious campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn, relax and socialise. Like a town of its own, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.

Student support

Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to all of our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus, so that you can get the most out of your university experience.