Program Overview

Railway Engineering BEng (Hons)

Overview

Our BEng (Hons) Railway Engineering gives you holistic expertise and cutting-edge exposure. Design, build, operate and manage existing and new railways and infrastructure. Access state-of-the-art facilities to excel in designing, operating, and managing rail networks. Engage in solving real-world design challenges, honing your interpersonal, enterprise, and employability skills. Studying for a railway engineering degree in London will prepare you for diverse roles in railway engineering.

Course Options

• Start date: September 2025
• Degree: UCAS code: H UCAS points
• Entry Requirements:
  • Academic requirements:
    • 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification listed on the UCAS tariff calculator, including:
      • A Levels in at least two subjects including Mathematics, Physics or Electronics
      • BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM in a relevant subject. Must include distinctions in both Mathematics and Further Mathematics
      • BTEC Diploma – DD in a relevant subject. Must include Distinctions in Mathematics, Further Mathematics
      • Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject
      • T Levels in a relevant subject
      • International Baccalaureate – 24 points including a minimum of 15 points at Higher Level and must include Mathematics and Physics at Higher Level
  • English Language requirements:
    • IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in Writing and Speaking; 5.5 in Reading and Listening (or recognised equivalent)
  • Mature applicants and those without formal qualifications:
    • As an inclusive university, we recognise those who have been out of education for some time may not have the formal qualifications usually required. We welcome applications from those who can demonstrate their enthusiasm and commitment to study and have the relevant life/work experience that equips them to succeed on the course.

Fees, Funding, and Additional Costs

• Fees:
  • UK/Home students: £9,535 per year
  • International Applicant: £15,560 per year
• Funding:
  • UK fee status holders:
    • Government funding
    • UEL funding
    • External funding
  • International fee status holders:
    • UEL scholarships
    • Ways to pay
• Additional costs:
  • Textbooks
  • Computer equipment
  • Printing
  • Travel

What Makes This Course Different

• 1st In London: Our Civil Engineering courses ranked 1st in London in 5 categories including “Teaching on my course” & “Learning Opportunities” in the 2024 National Student Survey
• Superb facilities: Use cutting-edge equipment like hydraulic compression testing machines, robotic arms, 3D printers, fluid dynamics channels, scanning electron microscopes, CNC machines, and plasma and laser cutters.

Course Modules

• Foundation Year:
  • Mental wealth; Professional Life Core Module
  • Analytical Mathematics Core Module
  • Engineering Sciences Core Module
  • Mathematical Applications Core Module
  • Physical Sciences Core Module
  • Introduction to Computing Core Module
• Year 1:
  • Mental Wealth: Engineering Profession 1 Core Module
  • Engineering Materials Core Module
  • Engineering Principles Core Module
  • Applied Mathematics & Computing Core Module
  • Thermofluids Core Module
  • Engineering Mechanics Core Module
• Year 2:
  • Mental Wealth: Engineering Profession 2 Core Module
  • Engineering Design and Analysis Core Module
  • Dynamics and Control Core Module
  • Applied Mechanics Core Module
  • Digital Communications & Telecommunication Networks Core Module
  • Quality Engineering Core Module
  • Industrial Sandwich Placement Optional Module
• Year 3:
  • Capstone Project Core Module
  • Mental Wealth: Engineering Profession 3 Core Module
  • Turbomachinery and Energy Systems Core Module
  • Transport Infrastructure Engineering Core Module
  • Systems Integration Core Module

Your Future Career

• Industry links: You will be delivered guest sessions by railway industry specialists (e.g. Atkins, Costain Skanska, Siemens, Laing O'Rourke, HS2 project etc.) to strengthen your knowledge of real-world issues.
• Graduate employers: Recent graduates with a railway engineering degree have gone on to work for Balfour Beatty, Transport for London, the Canary Wharf Group, Careys and Atkins.
• Job roles: A railway engineering degree opens doors to various career paths. Typically, you could go on to become a rail systems engineer and progress on to become a rail engineering manager, for example working on the London Underground.

How We Support Your Career Ambitions

• Career Zone: This digital platform provides you with careers and employability resources, including:
  • Jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work
  • Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
  • 1-2-1 career coaching services
  • Careers workshops and employer events
  • Learning pathways to gain new skills and railway engineering industry insight
• Mental Wealth programme: Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you've mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

How You'll Learn

• Guided independent study: When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study.
• Academic support: Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas - including learning and disability support.
• Dedicated personal tutor: When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of the academic course team who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.

How You'll Be Assessed

• Assessment methods: All assessments are designed to ensure that our railway engineering course is equipping you with all of the skills required to get into the engineering sector giving you a major competitive edge. Apart from the coursework and exams, you will be assessed by using technology and other diverse modes.

Campus and Facilities

• Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD: Our waterfront campus in the historic Royal Docks provides a modern, well-equipped learning environment.
• Facilities: Join us and you'll be able to make the most of our facilities including contemporary lecture theatres and seminar rooms, art studios and exhibition spaces, audio and visual labs and a multimedia production centre.

Who Teaches This Course

• Course leader: Thamo Sutharssan
• Course leader: Dr Subramaniam Arunachalam

Official Student Data from Discover Uni

• Statistics for BEng (Hons) Railway Engineering Degree, full time:
  • 72% say staff value students views and opinions about the course
  • 89% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well
  • 70% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course

What Our Students and Staff Say

• Franklin Nubila: UEL was the only university that offered what I actually wanted to study. It was definitely the place to be and I am where I am today thanks to UEL. Studying there could not have been better. The staff are dedicated and the students hospitable and friendly.
• Nicholas Garbett: I went from starting in September with a huge bout of imposter syndrome to finishing the year with tremendous confidence that I can actually go on and achieve a degree.