Education

There are many educational pathways into the rail industry. Engineers who are familiar with railway traffic planning, signaling systems, train operations, tracks and catenary systems - and the interaction between these techniques industry are constantly looking for. At the same time, for example, engineers with some railway education and a background within IT, constructions, geo-techniques, etc. are also highly valued.

Students
DTU is one of the universities in the Nordic countries, where not only a general education in mobility, transport and logistics is offered. You can also specialize your interest in the field of railway technology and planning. As a beginning of a study program, you might enroll in Motolo (Mobility, Transport and Logistics), but you may also think that Construction and Infrastructure is an exciting line to enroll. If you want to challenge the development potential of the railway, more courses are offered as you begin your master's program. There are several institutes on the DTU Lyngby campus, where research groups are involved in optimization and technical development of the railway sector, and from which courses in railway technology and planning are offered.

At the Master's program (MSc) in Transport and Logistics, it is possible to choose among topics that combine the railway technical infrastructure (including railway track design, railway maintenance, signaling and electrification, etc.) with railway traffic planning. These topics can also be part of a study career you want to practise within civil engineering, computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering, photonics engineering, as well as industrial engineering, business analytics, etc.

As a student you have ample opportunity to enter into collaborations with railway companies both in connection with assignments on the courses, and not least in connection with the preparation of the thesis. DTU's database of student projects can be an entry to match companies and students.

The rail industry is a large and interdisciplinary industry. If you need to be inspired by what you can do after graduation, you can read a series of interviews with former students - find them in the upper right corner of this page.

At the BEng program within Mobility, Transport and Logistics you will have the pulse of society as your study field, ie. the transport infrastructure network that is vital for national economy, business and industry. With a focus on mobility technology and public transport, courses in railway traffic and railway technical topics are relevant, as well as several logistics and optimization courses, with the possibility of rail-related cases.

During the program, the compulsory engineering internship can advantageously be spent in a railway company - be it Banedanmark, DSB, Metro or others - or an consultancy company working with railways in Denmark or abroad. There are many good opportunities for internships in the industry.

After the internship (5th semester) you’ll conclude the study program with your BEng project within a railway-related topic. This could be in a continued collaboration with companies in the railway sector.

Courses

In the rail industry, there is constantly a demand for new candidates with knowledge of the technical and managerial aspects of the railway. You can choose railway courses according to how it fits with your interests.

Courses you will follow through your BEng program:

62622 Railway Technology and Operations: from initial idea to operating railway Autumn 5 ECTS
62276 Road and railway design

Spring & Autumn

5 ECTS
62381 Traffic and Transport Planning Spring 10 ECTS
62623 Sustainability, mobility and society Spring 10 ECTS

*) courses taught in Danish language

 

Courses offered at MSc level:

34345 Signalling Systems and Technology for Railways Autumn 5 ECTS
12452 Railway Design and Maintenance Spring 10 ECTS

*) Også dilpom-studerende kan tage tage disse kurser

 

Proposed Supplement courses:

42973 Planning and modelling of infrastructure Autumn 10 ECTS
42185 Planning and Modelling of Public Transport Autumn 5 ECTS
42283 Smart Cities Spring 10 ECTS
42187 Transport System Analysis: Performance and Operations Spring 5 ECTS

 

Within the study program in Transport and Logistics, it is possible to set up your own railway package with the most relevant course. The study program allows for:

  • 30 ECTS of general competence course similar to other MSc students in Transport
  • 30 ECTS of technological specialization courses where you could choose 15 ECTS of rail courses 34345 and 11404. These you can combine with various topics, e.g. 15 ECTS of assessment from 42879 + 42372 or 15 ECTS of project + risk management from 42433 + 02431
  • 30 ECTS of elective credits that you can take among DTU courses. You are also allowed to take rail courses at many other universities if they have an agreement with DTU
  • 30 ECTS of thesis focusing on a rail topic


Contact head of Railtech DTU, Henrik Sylvan, if you would like to know more

  • about how to become a railway engineer in a the Danish sector of Banebranchen employing 20,000 employees in private and public companies,
  • about internship opportunities, or
  • -other opportunities for cooperation with railway industry.

Contact

Railtech

Henrik Sylvan

Henrik Sylvan Head of Center Department of Technology, Management and Economics Phone: +45 45251537

Head of studies BEng Program

Samuel Brüning Larsen

Samuel Brüning Larsen Associate Professor Department of Engineering Technology and Didactics Mobile: +45 93510784

Head of studies MSc

Stefan Eriksen Mabit

Stefan Eriksen Mabit Associate Professor Department of Technology, Management and Economics Phone: +45 45251510