Railway Systems Engineering and Integration ( Dubai ) MSc
Join the next generation of railway business leaders. Our MSc will open up a world of career opportunities in global rail industries.
- Application closes on 30th Aug 2026
Start Date
15 October 2026
Location
University of Birmingham Dubai
Mode
On - Campus
Flexible for Professionals
Evening & Weekend Classes
Campus
Dubai
About Program
The University of Birmingham Dubai, a Top 100 Global University, offers the MSc Railway Systems Engineering & Integration, designed for professionals and aspiring engineers looking to advance their expertise in railway infrastructure, systems, and management.
This industry-driven program provides a real-world learning experience through a combination of classroom teaching, laboratory work, and industrial projects, preparing students for leadership roles in railway engineering.
Course Highlights
Learn how to design, build, operate and manage sophisticated subsystems and understand complex interfaces. Become part of a large and diverse railway research and education group.
You’ll benefit from expert insights and great links into industry. Based at our new, technology enhanced ‘smart’ campus you’ll learn from academics in Birmingham as well as in Dubai, for a truly global experience.
- Graduate with the same University of Birmingham degree as you would at our UK campus
- Learn to operate at a senior level on major projects
- Research-led teaching means you’ll learn about the latest railway engineering developments
We are ranked in the top 100 (QS World University Rankings 2025)
Benefit from our extensive laboratories and facilities both on and off our campus for carrying out research in railway engineering.
Who Should Enroll?
This program is ideal for
- Mid-to-Senior Level Railway Professionals looking for career growth
- Engineers & Technicians specializing in railway infrastructure, signaling, or transport planning
- Project Managers & Consultants working on large-scale railway projects
- STEM Graduates seeking specialization in railway engineering
Why Choose This Program?
- Globally Recognized Qualification – Earn an MSc from a Russell Group university, alongside Oxford & Cambridge
- Industry Connections – Partnerships with RTA, Dubai Metro, Etihad Rail, and leading global railway firms
- Hands-On Learning – Access railway simulators, digital control labs, and IoT-driven smart infrastructure
- Strategic Location – Dubai – One of the world’s fastest-growing rail and metro hubs
- Job-Oriented Curriculum – Designed for engineers, managers, and industry professionals
- 1,000+ Graduates | 40+ Countries Join a global alumni network driving innovation in railway systems
- Eligible for UAE 10-Year Golden Visa Apply upon graduation from a Top 100 Global University
- Paid Internships in the UAE Gain real-world experience with top employers like Dubai Metro, RTA, and Etihad Rail 100% paid internships and Placement support after course completion with Additional Benefits
- UK Degree, Global Recognition Earn your MSc from a prestigious Russell Group university
- Flexible Part-Time Option Study while working — just 8 weeks on campus over 2 years
- Scholarships Up to 35% for eligible candidates
- Visa Expenses (Additional): AED 8,000 Additional Benefits
Why Choose This Program?
- Duration: 12 months (Full-Time) / 24 months (Part-Time)
- Location: University of Birmingham Dubai Campus
- Mode: On-campus | Evening & Weekend Classes (Flexible for professionals)
- Accreditation: UAE Ministry of Higher Education Approved
- Job Prospects: Dubai Metro, Etihad Rail, RTA, Global Rail Projects
Are You Interested the Program?
Connect With An Advisor For 1:1 Session
About The University
Our University grew out of the radical vision of our first Chancellor, Joseph Chamberlain. Founded in 1900, Birmingham represented a new model for Higher Education. We were England’s first civic university, a place where students from all backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis. More than 100 years on, our Birmingham campus has grown to 672 acres, and we also now have a campus in Dubai. Each year, we welcome more than 30,000 students from across the world. Our size has changed, but our civic commitment has not
Course Delivery
Our MSc is taught in intensive, week-long blocks, allowing for part-time study or distance learning. You'll specialise in modules and complete a research project.
- Learn about cutting-edge developments in your chosen areas of interest, with lectures delivered by world-leaders in their fields.
- Engage in tutorials that promote independent problem-solving and enquiry-based learning.
- Foster independence through project work, preparing you for professional environments and ongoing personal development
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.
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.
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.
Course Overview
This programme is a 1 year full time (2 years part time) taught master’s degree (180 credits) consisting of 120 credits of taught modules and a 60 credit of a project-based module .
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.
Advanced Project
The LM Advanced Project is a 60-credit Masters-level module delivered over the full academic term by the School of Engineering within the Department of Engineering. It is an independent study module in which students undertake a chosen design, development, or research project, demonstrating originality, innovation, and critical analysis. Depending on the topic, the project may involve advanced literature review, design work, surveys, fieldwork, experimentation, and numerical or theoretical modelling.
Through this module, students develop advanced technical understanding, critical evaluation skills, and the ability to address complex problems creatively and systematically while working autonomously at postgraduate level. Assessment is entirely coursework-based, consisting of written project report(s) worth 80 percent and an oral assessment worth 20 percent, with reassessment through revision and resubmission of the final report. This module is the Dubai equivalent of module 04 34666.
Business and People Management
The module LM Business and People Management is a 20-credit Masters-level module delivered in Semester 2 by the School of Engineering within the Department of Civil Engineering. It provides students with a strong foundation in business and management principles tailored to the railway industry, covering topics such as economics, business strategy, investment appraisal, financial reporting, project and asset management, organisational culture, ethics, marketing, and people management. The module also focuses on the structure, funding, and regulation of the UK rail industry and the management of human behaviour in organisational settings.
Students develop the ability to interpret financial information, apply investment appraisal techniques, analyse business strategy, propose performance indicators, and understand sustainability and management responsibilities within the rail sector. Assessment consists of two written reports and a centrally timetabled two-hour written examination, with reassessment through completion of any failed components. This module is the Dubai equivalent of module 04 34518.
Through this module, students develop advanced technical understanding, critical evaluation skills, and the ability to address complex problems creatively and systematically while working autonomously at postgraduate level. Assessment is entirely coursework-based, consisting of written project report(s) worth 80 percent and an oral assessment worth 20 percent, with reassessment through revision and resubmission of the final report. This module is the Dubai equivalent of module 04 34666.
Electrification and Traction Systems
The module LM Electrification and Traction Systems is a 20-credit Masters-level module delivered in Semester 2 by the School of Engineering within the Department of Civil Engineering. It develops the knowledge and skills required to specify, design, and assess railway traction and electrification systems for different train types, networks, and service patterns. The module covers energy supply options, onboard and trackside power systems, traction and braking performance, fixed electrification infrastructure, and the safety and sustainability of traction systems.
Students learn to evaluate drivetrain options, model power and energy requirements, simulate traction and braking performance, select appropriate power sources and control systems, and manage electrical and electromagnetic safety risks. Assessment consists of a design exercise, a written report, and a written examination, with reassessment through completion of failed components. This module is the Dubai equivalent of module 04 34515.
Through this module, students develop advanced technical understanding, critical evaluation skills, and the ability to address complex problems creatively and systematically while working autonomously at postgraduate level. Assessment is entirely coursework-based, consisting of written project report(s) worth 80 percent and an oral assessment worth 20 percent, with reassessment through revision and resubmission of the final report. This module is the Dubai equivalent of module 04 34666.
Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Systems
The module LM Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Systems is a 20-credit Masters-level module delivered in Semester 1 by the School of Engineering within the Department of Civil Engineering. It introduces students to the systems and subsystems that make up railway infrastructure and rolling stock, focusing on their technologies, components, performance, interfaces, installation, maintenance, and management. The module also considers the governmental, financial, and organisational factors influencing infrastructure and rolling stock systems, with teaching supported by industry guest lecturers.
Students develop the ability to specify appropriate infrastructure and rolling stock for given requirements, understand system interfaces, calculate performance parameters, and explain management issues within railway systems. Assessment consists of a centrally timetabled two-hour examination and coursework components, with reassessment through completion of any failed elements.
Through this module, students develop advanced technical understanding, critical evaluation skills, and the ability to address complex problems creatively and systematically while working autonomously at postgraduate level. Assessment is entirely coursework-based, consisting of written project report(s) worth 80 percent and an oral assessment worth 20 percent, with reassessment through revision and resubmission of the final report. This module is the Dubai equivalent of module 04 34666.
Railway Control and Digital Systems
The module LM Railway Control and Digital Systems is a 20-credit Masters-level module delivered in Semester 1 by the School of Engineering within the Department of Civil Engineering and led by Hongsin Kim. It provides detailed knowledge of railway signalling, control, and digital systems, focusing on their design, implementation, reliability, maintainability, safety, and information security while considering capacity, cost, customer comfort, and carbon reduction. The module also introduces digital modelling, simulation, and analysis techniques for railway control and service management systems.
Students develop the ability to analyse capacity, safety, performance, and automation levels of railway control systems, select appropriate digital and signalling technologies, create digital models, and apply carbon reduction strategies. Assessment is mixed and consists of a two-hour examination, a report, and a digital model, with reassessment through completion of failed components. This module is the Dubai equivalent of module 04 34517.
Through this module, students develop advanced technical understanding, critical evaluation skills, and the ability to address complex problems creatively and systematically while working autonomously at postgraduate level. Assessment is entirely coursework-based, consisting of written project report(s) worth 80 percent and an oral assessment worth 20 percent, with reassessment through revision and resubmission of the final report. This module is the Dubai equivalent of module 04 34666.
Railway Operations, Management and Planning
The LM Advanced Project is a 60-credit Masters-level module delivered over the full academic term by the School of Engineering within the Department of Engineering. It is an independent study module in which students undertake a chosen design, development, or research project, demonstrating originality, innovation, and critical analysis. Depending on the topic, the project may involve advanced literature review, design work, surveys, fieldwork, experimentation, and numerical or theoretical modelling.
Through this module, students develop advanced technical understanding, critical evaluation skills, and the ability to address complex problems creatively and systematically while working autonomously at postgraduate level. Assessment is entirely coursework-based, consisting of written project report(s) worth 80 percent and an oral assessment worth 20 percent, with reassessment through revision and resubmission of the final report. This module is the Dubai equivalent of module 04 34666.
Systems Engineering and Ergonomics
The LM Advanced Project is a 60-credit Masters-level module delivered over the full academic term by the School of Engineering within the Department of Engineering. It is an independent study module in which students undertake a chosen design, development, or research project, demonstrating originality, innovation, and critical analysis. Depending on the topic, the project may involve advanced literature review, design work, surveys, fieldwork, experimentation, and numerical or theoretical modelling.
The module LM Systems Engineering and Ergonomics is a 20-credit Masters-level module delivered in Semester 2 by the School of Engineering within the Department of Civil Engineering. It focuses on systems engineering and ergonomic design in the context of railways as complex systems, covering system architecture, life-cycle engineering, reliability and performance tools, safety cases, human factors, and ergonomic design principles. The module also addresses technical, financial, and organisational risks in major railway projects, supported by case studies and industry guest lecturers.
Students develop skills in designing system architectures, applying life-cycle and reliability tools, assessing project risks, and incorporating human-centred design into railway systems. Assessment consists of a systems design project, a computer-based examination, and a reflective report, with reassessment through completion of failed components. This module is the Dubai equivalent of module 04 34516.
Module Title
Credits
Advanced Project
20
Business And People Management
20
Business And People Management
20
Electrification And Traction Systems
20
Infrastructure And Rolling Stock Systems
20
Railway Control And Digital Systems
20
Railway Operations, Management and planning
20
Systems Engineering And Eragonomics
20
Our Faculties
Dr Melody Khadem Sameni
Programme Director
BSc, MSc. and PhD
Dr Krishnan G Venkateswaran
Assistant Professor of Railway Systems
MIET
Emeritus Professor Paul Plummer
Lead for UKRRIN
BA, MSc, FCIRO, FCILT
Professor Stuart Hillmansen
Professor of Railway Traction Systems
BSc ARCS MSc DIC PhD AMIMechE MInstP
Dr Marcelo Blumenfeld
Assistant Professor in Future Transport Systems
MIET
Railway Systems Engineering and Integration ( Dubai ) MSc
Get a globally recognized certificate upon course completion. Click to check sample certificate
Career Prospects & Industry Impact
A Hub for Working Professionals and Lifelong Learners
- The Dubai campus offers flexible postgraduate programs tailored for professionals, including evening and weekend schedules.
- Students gain real-world insights through faculty with international experience and direct industry engagement.
Globally Ranked, Locally Relevant
- Offers the same high academic standards and rigorous curriculum as its UK counterpart.
- Degrees are UK-accredited and internationally recognized, giving students a powerful edge in global and regional job markets.
Strategic Location in Dubai International Academic City
- Situated in the heart of the UAE’s education and innovation ecosystem, the campus gives students access to industry partnerships, internships, and employment opportunities across the UAE and GCC.
Future-Ready Smart Campus
- The newly built, sustainability-focused campus is designed to facilitate next-generation learning, equipped with the latest technology, collaborative workspaces, and digital infrastructure to support research, innovation, and enterprise.
Global Faculty, Local Expertise
- Courses are delivered by a blend of UK-based and UAE-based expert faculty, ensuring learners benefit from global perspectives with strong regional relevance.
Diverse Student Community
- Courses are delivered by a blend of UK-based and UAE-based expert faculty, ensuring learners benefit from global perspectives with strong regional relevance.
Masterclass: AI in Railway Systems Engineering | University of Birmingham Dubai
What You’ll Learn: How AI and automation are revolutionizing operations, signaling & infrastructure Career opportunities emerging from UAE’s AED 50 billion rail investment Why systems-thinking professionals are in high demand across the GCC A detailed walkthrough of the globally recognized MSc in Railway Systems Engineering & Integration
Facilities At Our Dubai Campus
Admission Process
Submit Application
Tell us a bit about yourself and why you want to join this program
Review Application
An admission panel will shortlist candidates based on their application
Review Application
Selected candidates will be notified within 1-2 weeks
Program Fees & Scholarship
Installment Schedule
Tuition Fees:
Full-Time: AED 155,483 (full Time -1 Year )
Part-Time: AED 77,742 (Part-time-2 years)
Get Started Today
Scholarship Opportunities: Up to 35% for eligible candidates
Corporate Discounts for employees of RTA, Dubai Metro, and government partners
Early Bird Offers for applications before 30 October
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is this programme about?
It focuses on designing, operating, and managing modern railway systems, with strong emphasis on subsystem integration and real-world applications.
Who can apply for this course?
Engineering graduates and professionals from railway, metro, transport, or infrastructure backgrounds are ideal candidates.
What are the eligibility requirements?
Graduates can work as Railway Systems Engineers, Integration Engineers, Signalling Engineers, Project Engineers, or Operations Managers across global rail projects.
Is the degree internationally recognised?
Yes. The degree is awarded by the University of Birmingham (UK) and is globally recognised by employers.
Is prior railway experience mandatory to apply for this MSc?
No. While railway experience is beneficial, it is not mandatory.
Engineering graduates from relevant disciplines (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Electronics, Systems, etc.) can apply. The programme is designed to build railway specialization from foundational engineering knowledge.
What makes studying this programme in Dubai different from studying it in the UK?
Studying in Dubai provides:
* Direct exposure to the fast-growing GCC rail ecosystem
* Proximity to live metro and infrastructure projects
* Lower overall living investment compared to the UK
* Access to regional employers in infrastructure and transport
The academic standards remain aligned with the UK-awarded degree.
Are there opportunities for internships during the programme?
Yes. Students may access paid internship opportunities in the UAE, enabling exposure to live rail and metro projects. Internship availability depends on industry demand and student performance.
How does the Careers Network Dubai support students?
Students receive career guidance, CV and interview support, skill-building workshops, and access to industry opportunities.
Is the programme industry-oriented?
Yes. The curriculum is designed to meet current industry needs and prepares students to be job-ready.
Where is the programme delivered?
At the University of Birmingham Dubai campus, offering world-class facilities and industry exposure.
Does this course support international careers?
Yes. The programme prepares graduates for careers across international railway and metro systems.
What kind of research project is included in the MSc?
The programme includes a 60-credit research project, allowing students to work on advanced railway engineering topics such as systems integration, safety, control systems, infrastructure design, or digital rail technologies.
This project helps strengthen technical depth and industry readiness.
How competitive is the scholarship selection process?
Scholarships (up to 25%) are awarded based on:
* Academic merit
* Relevant engineering background
* Statement of purpose
* Overall profile strength
Shortlisting is competitive and the scholarship pool is limited. Early submission increases evaluation chances.
Connect with our course advisor for 1:1 discussion to explore if this program is right for your career aspirations
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