Master’s in Railway and Marine Cab Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in railway and marine cab engineering. 12 modules covering railway and maritime regulations, anthropometry and layout, DMI and ECDIS interfaces, cab environment, automation, simulators, safety and the design and validation process, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Railway and Marine Cab Engineering — studying from the United Kingdom
Product design and human-machine interface work is well established in the United Kingdom, supported by design-led manufacturers, consumer electronics firms, automotive studios and digital product agencies. London, Brighton, Manchester and Cambridge host design teams working on interfaces, usability and product development. Engineers and designers collaborate on user experience for vehicles, medical devices, industrial equipment and consumer goods. The Design Council and professional design bodies promote standards in design practice and innovation.
Fees for the United Kingdom: £5,770 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom
Typical roles
Questions from the United Kingdom
Which UK professional bodies relate to design and human-machine interface (HMI) work?
In the UK, the Design Council, the Chartered Society of Designers and the British Computer Society's usability specialist groups are relevant, and the IET covers many product and interface engineering areas. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these organisations. Contact the relevant body to confirm how your study would be viewed.
Do UK product and design employers value private online qualifications in HMI?
UK product, automotive, medical device and technology firms usually hire on the strength of design portfolios, user research experience and technical skill. A private qualification can add to your profile, but employers decide its relevance. A strong portfolio showing real interface and product work is typically the key factor.
How does online study work for someone already employed in the UK, and what is the workload?
Programmes are fully online, so you can study around your UK job without a student visa. Teaching is in English, and an assigned technical tutor will guide your work. Each programme has a defined number of hours, and fees can be paid in instalments. Some employers sponsor job-related study, which varies by employer. Check the hours and funding options before enrolling.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Apply the EN 16186 standards to railway cab design.
Design ship bridges in accordance with SOLAS and ISO 8468.
Define cab layout using anthropometric criteria.
Design DMI and ECDIS interfaces and alarm systems.
Control the cab environment: noise, vibration and climate.
Integrate automation and remote supervision.
Validate cabs with mock-ups, simulators and users.
Who it's for
- Railway cab design engineers working on driver's desks and cab layout.
- Railway human factors specialists assessing driver workload and interfaces.
- Naval bridge engineers designing ship bridges and conning positions.
- Driving interface designers working on DMI, ECDIS and alarm systems.
- Railway type-approval engineers verifying cabs against TSI and EN standards.
- Maritime ergonomics consultants auditing bridges and control rooms.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to move into the railway sector.
What you'll work with
- EN 16186-1:2014+A1:2018 (railway driver's cab: anthropometric data and visibility)
- EN 16186-2:2017 (railway driver's cab: integration of displays, controls and indicators)
- Regulation (EU) No 1302/2014 (LOC&PAS TSI) (technical specification for interoperability of locomotives and passenger rolling stock)
- SOLAS Convention (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea)
- IEC 62288:2021 (presentation of navigation-related information on shipborne displays)
- ISO 8468:2007 (ship's bridge layout and associated equipment)
- EN 15227:2020 (crashworthiness requirements for rail vehicles)
- EN 45545-2:2020 (fire protection on railway vehicles)
- RAMSIS
- CATIA V5
- Unity
- MATLAB
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Functions of the driver's cab1.2High-speed and commuter train cabs1.3Ship bridges1.4Single operator and crew1.5Evolution from analogue to digital cabs1.6Differences between transport modes1.7External visibility requirements1.8Human factors in operation1.9Accidents attributed to the interface1.10Case study: analysis of a railway accident
2.1TSI for locomotives and passenger rolling stock2.2Cab dimensions according to EN 16186-12.3Driver's desk according to EN 16186-22.4Cab displays according to EN 16186-32.5Forward visibility and lateral signals2.6Windscreens according to EN 151522.7Cab air conditioning according to EN 148132.8Cab noise according to the Noise TSI2.9Crashworthiness according to EN 152272.10Practical: verifying a driver's desk against EN 16186
3.1The SOLAS Convention and its Chapter V3.2MSC/Circ.982 ergonomic guidelines3.3Bridge layout according to ISO 84683.4Visibility from the conning position3.5Bridge alert management (BAM)3.6Information presentation to IEC 622883.7Class notations from classification societies3.8Integrated navigation systems3.9Officer watch monitoring and BNWAS3.10Lab: ergonomic audit of a ship's bridge
4.1The population of train drivers and officers4.2Seated and standing workstations4.3Driver's desk geometry4.4Reach to primary controls4.5Dead man's pedals4.6Suspended cab seats4.7Cab access and steps4.8Emergency exits4.9Storage of personal equipment4.10Workshop: tram cab layout
5.1The ETCS DMI5.2Train diagnostic displays5.3Combined traction and brake controller5.4GSM-R and FRMCS communications5.5ECDIS electronic charts5.6ARPA radar and target tracking5.7Steering joysticks and dynamic positioning5.8Night lighting and vision5.9Hierarchy of alarms and warnings5.10Practical: DMI display prototype
6.1Cab air conditioning6.2Noise and verbal communication6.3Vibration according to ISO 26316.4Cab lighting and glare6.5Reflections on windscreens and windows6.6Indoor air quality6.7Ship motion and stability6.8Seasickness on the bridge6.9Operator fatigue and vigilance6.10Lab: measuring vibration in a cab
7.1Railway grades of automation (GoA)7.2Automatic train operation (ATO) over ETCS7.3Maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS)7.4Remote control centres for ships7.5Situational awareness in supervision7.6Transitions between operating modes7.7Teleoperation of trains in shunting7.8The IMO MASS Code7.9Workload under automation7.10Case study: supervision workstation for a GoA4 train
8.1Railway driving simulators8.2Ship bridge simulators8.3STCW training requirements8.4Physical and functional fidelity8.5Designing degraded scenarios8.6Competence assessment8.7Simulators as design test benches8.8Virtual reality for training8.9Session recording and analysis8.10Workshop: failure scenario in a railway simulator
9.1Cab structure in a collision9.2Fire protection according to EN 45545-29.3Cab evacuation9.4Protection against projectile impacts9.5On-board emergency equipment9.6Emergency communications9.7Fire protection under SOLAS II-29.8Cab safety testing9.9Integration into structural design9.10Practical: cab evacuation plan
10.1Design centred on drivers and officers10.2Full-scale (1:1) physical mock-ups10.3Virtual reality reviews10.4User participation in design10.5Managing human factors requirements10.6Verification against regulations10.7Operational validation with users10.8Certification by notified bodies10.9Human factors integration documentation10.10Lab: VR cab review with train drivers
11.1Metro and commuter cabs11.2Urban tram cabs11.3Freight locomotives11.4Tugboat bridges11.5Ferry and ro-pax bridges11.6Pleasure yacht bridges11.7Railway maintenance vehicles11.8Port crane cabs11.9Rescue craft cabs11.10Case study: bridge of an electric ferry
12.1Selection of the cab or bridge12.2User and task analysis12.3Applicable regulatory requirements12.4Cab layout and anthropometry12.5Design of interfaces and displays12.6Interior environment and comfort12.7Validation in a mock-up or simulator12.8Design documentation12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme is compatible with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is RAMSIS, CATIA V5, Unity and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: virtual reality cab reviews with train drivers, ergonomic audits of ship bridges and failure scenarios in training simulators. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: EN 16186-1:2014+A1:2018, EN 16186-2:2017, Regulation (EU) No 1302/2014 (LOC&PAS TSI), SOLAS Convention, IEC 62288:2021, ISO 8468:2007, EN 15227:2020, EN 45545-2:2020.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with RAMSIS, CATIA V5, Unity, MATLAB, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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