BEng (Hons) Railway Engineering
Course Aim and Title BEng (Hons) Railway Engineering
Intermediate Awards Available BEng Railway Engineering
Dip HE Engineering
Cert HE Engineering
Teaching Institution(s) UEL
Alternative Teaching Institutions N/A
(for local arrangements see final section of
this specification)
UEL Academic School Architecture, Computing and Engineering
UCAS Code
Professional Body Accreditation N/A
Relevant QAA Benchmark Statements Engineering (October 2019)
Additional Versions of this Course N/A
Date Specification Last Updated June 2023
Course Aims and Learning Outcomes
The Railway Engineering is an inter-disciplinary course, designed to meet the increasing
demand (national and international) for transport engineering professionals requiring
technical skills in sustainable, integrated and intelligent rail infrastructure and rail systems.
Graduates of the programme will be able to design, build, operate and manage successfully
the sophisticated and complex interfaces characterising existing and new railways and
infrastructure.
The general aim of this course is to transform learners into railway engineers of sufficient
knowledge to meet the demands of their profession and to enable them to progress to the
status of Chartered Engineer. The specific aim of the course is to encourage students to
respond to changes and developments within technology in rail infrastructure and the wider
engineering sector, and also to
1. Enable learners to gain extensive knowledge and understanding of the most recent
theories, technologies and hands-on works in railway engineering.
2. Enable learners to analyze and solve real-world problems through learning by doing
and within the context of real-world problems.
3. Provide learners a stimulating learning environment for understanding the role of the
engineer as an important profession in the rail infrastructure sector.
4. Improve learners’ skillset to make sound judgements, and to communicate clearly to
specialist and non-specialist audiences in the rail infrastructure sector.
5. Provide learners a platform to demonstrate self-direction and originality in solving
problems, and to act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a
professional level with clear understanding of health and safety, ethics, sustainability
and legal dimensions.
6. Embed industry readiness in learners through engagement with industry experts and
real work experience*, within the core elements of learning and assessment.
7. Prepare learners for progression in career and educational development to pursue
postgraduate studies.
* for optional placement programme only.
You (students) will learn:
Knowledge
• An understanding of the practical and field procedures and techniques that will then
allow the rapid acquisition of more specialist skills.
• The principles of railway engineering; application of appropriate mathematical,
physics, computational techniques and methods to model and analyse real-world
engineering problems.
• Design process, design methodologies, manufacturing and operational practice.
• Management and business practices and engineers’ roles in society.
Thinking skills
• The ability to comprehend, analyse and criticise railway engineering principles.
• Management and business practices and engineers’ roles in society.
• Evaluate commercial risks and technical risks in unfamiliar circumstances.
• Interpret and analyse results, data and other information to present them in suitable
forms.
Subject-Based Practical skills
• The knowledge and skills to function effectively in industry to be able to progress in
career and educational development.
Skills for life and work (general skills)
• Personal development techniques and confidence in your abilities to enable you to
become a valued professional in the shaping of the community and society.
Learning and Teaching
Knowledge is developed through
• lectures/guest presentations
• practical sessions, site visits and field work
• engaging with formative tutorial work
• actively participating in design and project work
• guided reading
• knowledge-based activities with feedback
• online discussions and activities
• attending evening lectures/seminars hosted by the professional institutions
Thinking skills are developed through
• analytical assessment of data
• solving tutorial problems
• critical assessment of information
• problem-solving practical applications
• design and research projects
• reflective activities with feedback
• tutorial activities & discussions
• online discussions and activities
Practical skills are developed through
• laboratory and experimental work
• drawing and design
• application to real life and simulated case studies
• IT activities with feedback
• research skills-based activities with feedback
• seminar preparation and presentations
Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through
• interactive communication exercises
• individual and group working sessions
• planning activities with feedback
• project and team work
• using of specialist software
Assessment
Knowledge is assessed by
• time constrained examinations
• laboratory, practical, and field exercises
• assignments, design and project work
Thinking skills are assessed by
• approach to solving problems
• analysis of alternative solutions
• practical solutions to complex tasks
Practical skills are assessed by
• laboratory reports and experimental assessment
• group survey work
• application to practical problem-solving
Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by
• oral presentations
• written communication exercises
• drawing, sketching and design work
• team project work
• use of specialist software
Students with disabilities and/or particular learning needs should discuss assessments with
the Course Leader to ensure they are able to fully engage with all assessment within the
course.
Work or Study Placements
For our on-campus based students:
Students, who have come directly onto the BEng (Hons) course, can opt to undertake a
sandwich placement between the second and third year of study. Alternatively, some
arrange work experience over the summer.
The School has strong links with industry and employers often approach us when looking
for placement / internship students.
Relevant personnel from CfSS will oversee the administration of the year out placements.
We are fortunate in the support of our Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) partners in enabling
this important optional element to happen, although this is a competitive process and a
placement cannot be guaranteed.
Course Structure
All courses are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is
needed.
One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g.
lecture, seminar and private study).
Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:
3 Equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students
for year one of an undergraduate degree course.
4 Equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree
course.
5 Equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree
course.
6 Equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree
course.
7 Equivalent in standard to a Masters degree.
Courses are made up of modules that are each credit weighted.
The module structure of this course:
Available by
Credit
Module Core/Option Distance
Level Module Title Weighting
Learning?
Code
Y/N
Mental Wealth:
4 EG4098 20 Core N
Engineering Profession 1
4 EG4014 Engineering Materials 20 Core N
4 EG4016 Engineering Principles 20 Core N
Applied Mathematics &
4 EG4011 20 Core N
Computing
4 EG4020 Thermofluids 20 Core N
4 EG4015 Engineering Mechanics 20 Core N
Mental Wealth:
5 EG5107 20 Core N
Engineering Profession 2
Engineering Design and
5 EG5026 20 Core N
Analysis
5 EG5027 Dynamics and Control 20 Core N
5 EG5025 Applied Mechanics 20 Core N
Digital Communications &
5 EG5042 telecommunication 20 Core N
Networks
5 EG5032 Quality Engineering 20 Core N
On-campus students who take an optional industrial sandwich placement would normally do so after
completion of L5 modules. They are required to register for:
Industrial Sandwich
5 EG5023 120P Option N
Placement
6 EG6011 Capstone project 40 Core N
Mental Wealth:
6 EG6166 20 Core N
Engineering Profession 3
Turbomachinery and
6 EG6027 20 Core N
Energy Systems
Transport Infrastructure
6 EG6026 20 Core N
Engineering
6 EG6025 Systems Integration 20 Core N
Please note: Optional modules might not run every year, the course team will decide on an annual
basis which options will be running, based on student demand and academic factors, in order to
create the best learning experience.)
Additional detail about the course module structure:
Part time day release students would normally study 60 credits per academic year and follow the
same structure as noted for full time study.
The optional level P placement module EGXXXX is required to obtain a sandwich degree, in addition
to the other requirements, but does not count towards the degree classification.
A core module for a course is a module which a student must have passed (i.e. been awarded
credit) in order to achieve the relevant named award. An optional module for a course is a module
selected from a range of modules available on the course.
The overall credit-rating of this course is 360 credits. If for some reason you are unable to
achieve this credit you may be entitled to an intermediate award, the level of the award will
depend on the amount of credit you have accumulated. You can read the University Student
Policies and Regulations on the UEL website.
Course Specific Regulations
None
Typical Duration
It is possible to move from full-time to part-time study and vice-versa to accommodate any external
factors such as financial constraints or domestic commitments. Many of our students make use of
this flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period.
The expected duration of this course is 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time.
A student cannot normally continue study on a course after 4 years of study in full time mode
unless exceptional circumstances apply, and extenuation has been granted. The limit for completion
of a course in part time mode is 7 years from first enrolment.
Further Information
More information about this course is available from:
• The UEL web site ([Link])
• The course handbook
• Module study guides
• UEL Manual of General Regulations (available on the UEL website)
• UEL Quality Manual (available on the UEL website)
• School web pages
All UEL courses are subject to thorough course approval procedures before we allow them
to commence. We also constantly monitor, review and enhance our courses by listening to
student and employer views and the views of external examiners and advisors.
Additional costs:
While the university will provide suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) for students to
work in workshops and/or laboratories where PPE is required, students have to provide their
own steel-toe-capped footwear. This will be approximately £100.
Alternative Locations of Delivery
N/A
