Shape the future of rail safety and control systems around the world. Delve deeper into railway communications and risk management as you prepare to join the next generation of industry leaders.
With a large and diverse railway research and education group, you'll learn from experts and have great links into industry. You'll delve into risk and safety management or railway communications and understand how major projects succeed or fail. Study the fundamentals through to the latest research and industrial applications and get set for an exciting career.
This degree programme is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, 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).
Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly postgraduate students to get their thoughts on our courses, stunning campus and life in a vibrant and cultural city.
Course structure Join us on this 1 year full-time advanced course, comprising of lectures, laboratory work, short experimental projects and a research project.
This term starts with an introductory module Terminology & Communication for Railways before proceeding to Foundations of System Safety Thinking which is taught by the University of York.
Depending on your choice of pathway, you'll take further modules in safety at the University of York and/or a module on the Principles of Railway Control Systems.
Depending on your pathway choice, this term you'll take further safety focused modules at the University of York, study railway control systems in greater depth or study railway electrification & traction systems. You'll also study rolling stock and infrastructure systems.
The summer is dedicated to your research project. You'll work closely with an academic supervisor on a live research project. This could be experimental and lab based, theoretical and literature based, involve modelling, or be a mixture of all three elements.
Your project will be concluded by the end of August with marks and feedback delivered in September.
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To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
If you are unsure if you meet our entry requirements, you can also contact the admissions department to discuss whether your application would be considered.
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 or a Presessional English course.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.