Overview 2023
This course may not be available to international students. Please see the list of distance courses (i.e. online and taken outside Australia) that are offered to international students
View archived years for this course
For years prior to 2015, please view the Course and Unit Handbook Archive
View the current year's course page
"Building this foundation of rail track infrastructure knowledge means I can choose different avenues in an engineering or rail career. It will allow me to diversify my skill set and be more flexible in my future career. Particularly in regional Australia, that’s the way of the future.”
This degree will provide you with critical knowledge and skills not currently being addressed in the tertiary sector. You will learn from staff who are at the forefront of their discipline and industry experts with extensive rail experience in workshops, group work and discussion forums.
As a graduate, you will have knowledge of track engineering, legislation and regulation, to contribute effectively to designing, constructing, commissioning, monitoring, maintaining and managing a section of track. You will also have the skills to communicate and interact with stakeholders to ensure the track meets the operational performance standards of the railway business.
This course is delivered by the University of Tasmania in partnership with Engineering Education Australia and Transport for NSW.
Learning Outcomes
Practical experience
Students enrolled in the Diploma of Engineering Infrastructure (Rail) will be employed within the rail industry and will have extensive industry experience on entry. The units have embedded within aspects of industry practice.
You will be exposed to authentic and engaging learning experiences designed to develop your understanding of work and the workplace. You will be introduced to
- different methods of and approaches to practice,
- how issues such as values, ethics, empathy and leadership are reflected in the workplace and
- the role of reflection and deliberative thinking in developing workplace- based knowledge, skills, attitudes and aspirations.
You will develop personal responsibility for and autonomy in developing their e-portfolio. This will be reflected in educational plans. Learn through projects (local and international), data for decision making, fieldwork, case studies (local and international), action learning, design and creative thinking, simulated environments, and real-world problems; and complete assessment tasks such as presentations, proposals, reports, activities (quizzes/tests), plans.
The Management and Operations unit will have an applied focus and be based around industry engagement.
Career outcomes

“There are huge investments planned by state governments to get economies going after the pandemic. There is a lot of money going into rail right now, and a lot more planned.”
Enhance your career within the rail industry, providing insight and engineering expertise to rail projects.
This degree is designed to provide upskilling for professional engineers, engineering graduates and technically qualified staff interested in reskilling to pursue a role in track engineering.
Course structure
All students must complete eight specified units according to their specialisation.
If you are starting in 2023 you can find your course planner here – this helps you plan what units to enrol in and when.
Rail Specialisation
Compulsory Units
In previous units you have learned about the components making up the structure of a track in the rail corridor, as well as learning about the broad range of other infrastructure within the corridor for which the civil engineer would…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Online | Semester 1 |
Railways were invented in Britain over 200 years ago, and it is difficult to overstate the fundamental and critically important role they have played in the development of nations, the progress of wars, and the prosperity of peoples the world…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Online | Semester 1 |
View all details for JEE151 Fundamentals of Track Engineering
All track engineering activities and planning are undertaken with the purpose of ensuring a successful, profitable and safe railway business. A significant purpose of the management of the business is to ensure that the maintenance of rail infrastructure is appropriately…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Online | Semester 2 |
In JEE151 Fundamentals of Track Engineering and in other units you learned about the various components from which track is constructed, some of the defects which can occur in those components, and something of the forces generated by a train…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Online | Semester 2 |
View all details for JEE153 Track Defects and Track-Train Interactions
This unit has two compatible parts. The first part of the unit is focused on track maintenance and the second on applications of much of the course learning to incidents and case studies. Both parts of the unit require the…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Online | Semester 2 |
View all details for JEE154 Track Maintenance and Applications
In JEE151 Fundamentals of Track Engineering you learned about the various components from which track is constructed. However, simply knowing about these components will not enable you to have any meaningful insight into the complex interactions between each of those…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Online | Semester 1 |
Railway traffic does not simply travel from one place to another along the same single piece of track. In an urban network of rail lines, trains travel in all sorts of directions depending upon customer demand and availability of rollingstock.…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Online | Semester 2 |
Trains run on tracks within the rail corridor, which is a defined strip of land for the exclusive purpose of the railway business. However, within that corridor there are many items and infrastructure not only to ensure that trains can…
Credit Points: 12.5
Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Online | Semester 1 |
Entry requirements
For Domestic students
We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you’re not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, the admissions team will work with you to find the best pathway option.
Enquire online for advice on the application process and the available pathways to study.
DOMESTIC APPLICANTS
This course is restricted to students who have:
- A minimum of three years of industry experience and current employment in the industry; and
- A Certificate III or higher in engineering or a related field.
Students from all other educational backgrounds can enquire online for advice on other course options.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
If your ability to access or participate in education has been affected by circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration as part of your application. We will consider a range of factors for special consideration, including economic hardship, a serious medical condition or disability.
We can only approve applications for special consideration where we are confident that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your studies. If your application is not approved, the UTAS admissions team will work with you to find the best alternative pathway to your chosen course. Special consideration is not available for international applicants.
Detailed Admissions Information
Detailed admissions information and advice for all undergraduate courses, including comprehensive, course-level student profiles, is available from UTAS Admissions.
Fees & scholarships
Domestic students
Cost shouldn’t get in the way of you studying.
If you’re a domestic student, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place in this course. This means your fees will be subsidised by the Australian Government. You’ll only need to pay the student contribution amount for each unit you study within the course.
You may also be able to defer payment of the student contribution amount by accessing a HECS-HELP loan from the Government. If eligible, you’ll only have to pay your tuition fees once you start earning above a specific amount.
Further information is available at Scholarships, fees and costs.
Student contributionStudent contribution amounts are charged for each unit of study. This means that how much you’ll pay will depend on which units you choose. Find out more about student contribution amounts.
Further informationDetailed fee information for domestic students is available at Scholarships, fees and costs, including additional information in relation to the compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
International students
International students should refer to the International Students course fees page to get an indicative course cost.
Scholarships
For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.
How can we help?
Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.
- Domestic
- 1300 363 864
- International
- +61 3 6226 6200
- Course.Info@utas.edu.au
- Online
- Online enquiries