BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) Systems Course in Cities
Online course of 300 hours in bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in cities, structured in 6 modules covering the BRT concept, corridor planning, infrastructure design, rolling stock and technology, and operation and management, with an assigned technical tutor.
BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) Systems Course in Cities — studying from South Africa
Civil engineering is central to South Africa's infrastructure, from roads and water systems to rail and urban development. Transnet's freight rail network, the Gautrain system in Gauteng and metropolitan projects in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg create steady demand for engineers. Large contractors and consultancies, along with public agencies such as the South African National Roads Agency Limited, employ specialists in structures, transport and urban systems. Smart city initiatives increasingly combine civil works with digital monitoring and sustainable design.
Fees for South Africa: R 12 000 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African body registers civil engineers, and would SEIUM qualifications count towards registration?
ECSA registers engineering professionals in South Africa, and built environment professionals are registered through SACPCMP and SACAP. Registration requires recognised qualifications, supervised experience and assessment. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. Whether they count is decided by ECSA or the relevant body and your employer, so verify before enrolling.
Will this programme help me work on rail or smart city projects in South Africa?
South Africa has ongoing infrastructure, rail and urban development work, with projects involving public bodies, engineering consultancies and contractors. Employers typically seek registered professionals with proven project experience. A private online qualification in smart cities or rail can support your profile, but it does not guarantee work on any project. Speak to potential employers about how they view it.
Can I study alongside a full-time job, and can my employer help pay?
Yes, the programme is 100% online, so you can study around work, though you need a reasonable level of English as teaching is in English. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with a technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Many employers in South Africa fund professional development, so ask yours.
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
Understand the attributes and quality standard of BRT systems.
Plan BRT corridors on the basis of demand models.
Design the infrastructure of running ways, stations and intersections.
Select rolling stock and operating technologies.
Manage operations, regularity and service quality.
Assess the economic, social and environmental viability of a BRT.
Develop the project for a BRT system for a city.
Who it's for
- Public transport planners.
- BRT systems engineers.
- Bus operations technicians.
- Urban mobility consultants.
- Transport authority managers.
- Transport demand analysts.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into public transport.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EC) 1370/2007 (public passenger transport services by rail and road)
- Law 16/1987, LOTT (Spanish Land Transport Act)
- UNE-EN 13816 (public passenger transport service quality)
- Regulation (EU) 181/2011 (bus and coach passenger rights)
- Directive (EU) 2019/1161 (Clean Vehicles Directive)
- Royal Decree 1544/2007 (accessibility of transport for people with disabilities)
- UN ECE Regulation No. 107 (construction of buses and coaches)
- Order TMA/851/2021 (accessibility of urbanised public spaces)
- PTV Visum
- Aimsun Next
- Remix
- QGIS
- TransCAD
6 modules
1.1Origins: Curitiba and Bogotá TransMilenio1.2Essential attributes of a BRT1.3BRT versus tram and light rail1.4The ITDP BRT Standard1.5Capacity and performance of BRT systems1.6BRT in Europe: Metz, Nantes and Castellón1.7Bus with a high level of service (BHLS)1.8Benefits and criticisms1.9Favourable urban conditions1.10Case study: comparison of three BRT systems
2.1Demand analysis and origin-destination matrices2.2Corridor selection2.3Transport demand models2.4Design of the trunk and feeder network2.5Frequencies and required capacity2.6Express services and limited-stop services2.7Integration with other modes2.8Impact on general traffic2.9Social and environmental appraisal2.10Lab: demand modelling for a corridor
3.1Dedicated running way and segregation3.2Central or kerbside lane position3.3Design of stations and platforms3.4Level boarding and off-board fare collection3.5Intersections and signal priority3.6Terminals and interchanges3.7Pavements for bus loads3.8Universal accessibility of the system3.9Urban and landscape integration3.10Practical exercise: design of a BRT station
4.1Articulated and bi-articulated buses4.2Electric buses and charging4.3Optical and mechanical guidance4.4Automatic vehicle location and operations support systems4.5Real-time passenger information4.6Ticketing and validation4.7Conditional signal priority4.8CCTV and security4.9Data for planning4.10Workshop: fleet electrification strategy
5.1Service scheduling and timetables5.2Regularity and headway control5.3Fleet and driver management5.4Operating contract models5.5Fares and fare integration5.6Service quality according to UNE-EN 138165.7Infrastructure financing5.8Fleet and infrastructure maintenance5.9Performance indicators5.10Case study: regularity analysis of a BRT line
6.1Selection of the city and corridor6.2Demand analysis6.3Operational definition of the service6.4Infrastructure design6.5Stations and accessibility6.6Rolling stock and technology6.7Economic and social appraisal6.8Implementation plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits alongside your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PTV Visum, Aimsun Next, Remix, QGIS and TransCAD, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: demand modelling for a BRT corridor, the design of a station with level boarding and the regularity analysis of a trunk line. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Regulation (EC) 1370/2007, Law 16/1987 (LOTT), UNE-EN 13816, Regulation (EU) 181/2011, Directive (EU) 2019/1161, Royal Decree 1544/2007, UN ECE Regulation No. 107, Order TMA/851/2021.
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
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme 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 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with PTV Visum, Aimsun Next, Remix, QGIS and TransCAD, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required: just an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme 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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