(Full time / Part time) 2019 start
Railway Operations, Management and Policy MSc
Overview
Railways throughout the world play a key social and economic role. They are constantly adapting to change. Many are experiencing substantial growth in patronage due to ever increasing economic prosperity and urbanisation - the result is a need for greater connectivity among urban centres and communities.
Across the world, railways are coming under increasing pressure particularly as means of intercity transport (prompting the rapid expansion of High Speed Rail) and urban transportation with the growth of cities. Holistic, multi-disciplinary solutions need to be developed to meet the challenges of capacity, congestion, reliability and user comfort within a finite resource budget.
This Masters will equip you with the skills needed to develop and evaluate a variety of solutions to these problems, including the appraisal of a variety of engineering solutions as well as pricing and other measures aimed at changing user behaviour.
Taught by researchers who are at the forefront of their field, you will develop a range and depth of expertise that will equip you for a rewarding career. We work closely with the University’s Institute of High Speed Rail Technology and System Integration. The equipment, facilities and expertise within the Institute will create a UK centre of excellence. It will be equipped to lead on the research and development needs for global industry partners including advanced technology development and testing, digital engineering and transport policy and economics.
This course will develop your skills and abilities enabling you to:
- Apply and evaluate approaches to pricing, cost measurement and allocation of resources in the rail sector
- Understand and apply the key principles and methods of railway investment appraisal, including practical tools
- Demonstrate knowledge of how railway transport fits into public policy, the ownership and structure of the industry and the related governance and decision making structures
- Identify, manage and analyse a range of data related to rail sector management, operations and policy
- Apply statistical techniques to conduct railway transport analysis
- Understand and evaluate the purpose and relative merits of the main types of transport models and how railway operational and management analysts interact with them
- Develop multi-disciplinary team working skills and gain practical experience with managing a real world project.
Other study options
This programme is available part time over 24 or 36 months. We are flexible as to how you choose to study this course so that you can combine it with other commitments, such as an existing job.
Please get in touch with our admissions team to discuss part time study options.
You can also study this subject at Postgraduate Diploma level, part time or full time, or at Postgraduate Certificate level with our PGCert in Transport Studies.
Course content
You’ll consider a variety of perspectives when approaching a challenge in a rail context, including management, policy and economics through the following core modules:
- Management (Railway Operation and Management)
- Policy (Railway Policy and Railway Investment Appraisal)
- Economics (Pricing and Demand analysis and Railway Investment Appraisal
Through the Transport Integrated Project module you’ll also be exposed to an even broader set of disciplines pertinent to key roles in the transport sector, such as engineers, sustainability analysts and environmental scientists, and you’ll be required to work in multidisciplinary teams to solve a real world transport problem involving rail.
The Programme Leader for this course is Dr Manuel Ojeda Cabral.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
- Transport Data Collection and Analysis 15 credits
- Transport Dissertation 60 credits
- Transport Integrated Project 15 credits
- Railway Policy 15 credits
- Railway Operation and Management 15 credits
- Pricing and Demand Analysis 15 credits
- Rail Investment Appraisal 15 credits
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- Funding for Projects 15 credits
- Managing and Delivering Sustainability through Projects and Organisations 30 credits
- Green Logistics 15 credits
- Choice Modelling and Stated Preference Survey Design 15 credits
- Transport Resilience 15 credits
- Railway Signalling and Control 15 credits
Learning and teaching
Teaching methods will include lectures, tutorials, group work and practical computer sessions.
Independent study is also important to the programme, as you develop your problem-solving and research skills as well as your subject knowledge.
The dissertation project is one of the most satisfying elements of this course. You’ll get the opportunity to undertake an original piece of research relevant to the addressing the challenges in the rail industry.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including case studies, technical reports, assignments, group projects and exams.
Applying, fees and funding
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a relevant subject such as engineering, environmental science, maths, economics, physics, computing, natural sciences or a quantitative subject.
Graduates from other disciplines and those with professional experience plus experience in the sector will also be considered.
We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For information contact our admissions team.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in in any component, or equivalent qualification.. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Engineering (6 weeks) and Language for Science: Engineering (10 weeks).
If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.
How to apply
This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
Faculty of Engineering Postgraduate Admissions Policy 2019
Fees
- UK/EU: £9,500 (total)
- International: £22,750 (total)
Read more about paying fees and charges.
For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.
Part-time fees are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.
Additional cost information
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs
Scholarships and financial support
The Institute for Transport Studies offer a range of scholarships for UK, EU and International students.
Find out more about our scholarships.
Career opportunities
The UK has a shortage of railway professionals, which are needed to develop and deliver the plans for significant railway infrastructure investment. The job market will be buoyant for graduates of this Masters course.
Upon graduation, you may find employment in a range of roles across the transport industry, as a policy analyst, economist, strategic operations manager or planner among many others.
This course is interdisciplinary in nature and will equip you with the necessary skills to make a real contribution to the changes needed on our railways.
Careers Support
You’ll have access to the wide variety of support available to Masters students, both within the Institute for Transport Studies and at the University’s Careers Centre.
You’ll have the chance to attend employer visit days at the Institute, which give you the opportunity to meet potential graduate employers and gain experience of the recruitment process. You’ll also be able to connect with our global alumni network and build industry contacts.
The University's Careers Centre also provides a range of support and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
Field trips
We offer plenty of opportunities for students to experience transport systems in action, both within the UK and Europe, allowing you to meet and hear directly from transport professionals and see what you’ve learned in practice.
For many of our students, the highlight of their year is the European Field Trip. This week-long trip which takes place after the summer exams and has been a fixture in the Institute's calendar since 1987. The itinerary varies from year to year, but has often included Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany.
Stops en-route have included Pedestrian Centres and Docklands Transport in Rotterdam; Cycle and Traffic Calming Facilities in Delft; the Motorway Traffic Control Centre in Amsterdam; the Guided Bus System in Essen; the Wuppertal Monorail; Town Planning features in Duisburg and Dusseldorf; research talks at the University of Hasselt, and visit to the Brussels Metro.