MBA Applied Professional Practice (Railway Operations) (Degree Apprenticeship)

Enhance your qualifications and professional knowledge and advance your career in railway operations.

The Applied Professional Practice MBA (Railway Operations) (Degree Apprenticeship) meets the apprenticeship standard for senior leaders and is the only rail industry qualification of its kind.

Born of a 15-year partnership between Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and the Institution of Railway Operators (IRO), this course is designed to optimise industry specific and academic knowledge; successful apprentices will be entered into the End Point Assessment (EPA) with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

As a contributor of £36bn annually to the UK economy, the rail industry needs excellence in leadership, stakeholder management, systems integration, innovation, management of change and delivery of customer and commercial value. Through our collaborative design and delivery method, this Masters enables apprentices to acquire the knowledge skills and frameworks required to be an agile, resilient and ethical leader with strong railway-specific contextualisation. Graduates will be proficient in their discipline, entrepreneurial, confident, responsible, and capable of fulfilling leadership roles in various organisational, cultural and global contexts in the railway sector.

At the point of completion, apprentices will have integrated knowledge and skills gained in the course with their professional practice, and be able to critically appraise both. All the modules have a work-based focus, which mean apprentices have the opportunity to apply their learning throughout, creating benefits for the employer and employee. GCU’s Common Good principles and values are embedded in the course. Apprentices will develop their understanding of the complexities of the global business environment and responsible leadership. Through work-based learning, they have the opportunity to conceptualise and implement a project of significance within their organisation, taking into account the social and organisational impact of their initiative.

Degree Apprenticeships are supported by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. Students and employers should check their eligibility for funding before supporting an apprentice’s application. The skills, knowledge, academic qualifications and experience of current employees will all be used to inform at which level of the programme candidates will commence their education.
Available in Glasgow, London and by distance learning.

Assessment and teaching methods

The course is delivered via blended learning, (online and face to face). All reading material, tutor discussions, assignment setting, marking and feedback, timelines and key dates are located in the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) GCU Learn.

Through a one password access logon for the VLE, students also access the University’s library.