India has a railway university where students can study rail engineering and AI

If you think engineering means only computer science, mechanical engineering or civil engineering, there is a university in India that takes the idea in a very different direction.

Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) in Vadodara, Gujarat, offers specialised programmes linked to railways, aviation, maritime transport and logistics. It is a Central University under the Ministry of Railways, and describes itself as India's first university dedicated to the transportation and logistics sectors.

Here is what students should know about its courses, admission process and fees for the 2026-27 academic session.WHERE IS INDIA'S RAILWAY UNIVERSITY?

GSV is located in Lalbaug, Vadodara, Gujarat.

The university was created through the Central Universities (Amendment) Act, 2022, which converted the National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI), earlier a deemed university, into a Central University. The government said the institution's scope would extend beyond railways to cover the wider transportation sector.

Its academic focus includes transportation technology, management, policy, research and industry-linked learning. The university also says students benefit from project-based learning at railway establishments and an industry-oriented curriculum. WHAT COURSES DOES GSV OFFER?For 2026-27, the university's BTech offerings include:Civil Engineering, specialisation in Rail EngineeringElectronics and Communication Engineering, specialisation in Rail EngineeringMechanical Engineering, specialisation in Rail EngineeringElectrical Engineering, specialisation in Rail EngineeringArtificial Intelligence and Data Science, specialisation in Transportation and LogisticsAviation EngineeringMaritime Engineering

The 2026-27 admission notification lists 60 seats each for the four rail engineering programmes and the AI and Data Science programme. Aviation Engineering has 40 seats, while Maritime Engineering has 30 seats.

The curriculum goes beyond conventional engineering subjects. Depending on the programme, students may study areas such as railway signalling, railway operations, traction systems, vehicle dynamics, transportation economics and advances in rail technology. WHAT ABOUT MBA, MTECH AND PHD PROGRAMMES?

GSV also offers programmes for students and working professionals in the wider transport ecosystem.

Its academic listings include MTech programmes in Railway Engineering and Intelligent Transport Systems, along with programmes in bridge and tunnel engineering and roads and highway engineering for working professionals.

The management stream includes MBA programmes in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Ports and Shipping Logistics. Other listed options include multimodal transportation, metro rail management and aviation operations and management, particularly for working professionals.

The university also offers PhD programmes in engineering and management focused on transportation and logistics.HOW CAN STUDENTS GET ADMISSION?

For the BTech programmes in 2026-27, candidates need to qualify JEE Main 2026.

Admissions are conducted through JoSAA and CSAB counselling, as applicable. The university's admission notification states that there is no separate GSV entrance test for BTech admissions.

Students applying for other programmes should check the relevant admission notification, as the selection process varies. For example, the university lists entrance tests and interviews for its MBA programmes. WHAT IS THE FEE?

The hosteller amount includes tuition, hostel, electricity, mess and other listed charges. The day scholar amount includes tuition and applicable university charges, but not hostel and mess costs. The university notes that fees may be revised by the competent authority.advertisementIS IT ONLY FOR RAILWAY JOBS?Despite its popular description as a railway university, GSV is not limited to railway careers.

Its programmes cover the larger transportation and logistics ecosystem, including aviation, maritime transport, highways, ports, supply chains and intelligent transport systems. The university's stated aim is to prepare professionals for technology, management and policy roles across these sectors.

For students interested in infrastructure, mobility, logistics, transport technology or railway systems, GSV offers a specialised alternative to a conventional engineering college.- EndsPublished By: Roshni Published On: Sep 12, 2026 14:10 ISTRead | Indian Railways launches 7 core programmes in BTech, MBA, MSc: All you need to knowRead | IIM Kashipur launches railway programme for working professionals | Details here