The MSc Civil and Structural Engineering programme is your opportunity to establish or consolidate your career as a civil or structural design engineer. There is also an opportunity for working professionals to progress towards CEng status through a tailor-made route. This will help you accelerate to the remaining steps of CEng status by working with your employer in the process. This is a unique feature of a Masters course and significantly reduces the period required to achieve Chartered status.
To provide the latest specialist knowledge and technical competence, all design-related modules are taught in accordance with the new structural Eurocodes. As well as developing your analytical and problem-solving skills, tuition covers project planning and contract management. The MSc Civil and Structural Engineering course is also underpinned by research into areas such as the use of novel and sustainable environmentally-friendly materials, geotechnics and structural modelling.
The wellbeing and health and safety of our students and staff is paramount to us. We are committed to delivering all of our courses and services as safely as possible. Due to the pandemic, the methods and activities adopted for the coming year may differ from those previously published and may be subject to further change through the course of your study if such change is necessary due to public health concerns, health and safety guidance or in response to Government Guidelines. USW is committed to providing you with a fantastic student experience and a wealth of support, and you can hear how students have benefitted from this approach here: Learn more about blended learning.
You will study the following modules:
Optional modules include:
*10 credit module
This postgraduate degree in Civil and Structural Engineering is delivered in three major blocks that offer an intensive but flexible learning pattern, with two entry opportunities for applicants each year – February and September. You will learn through lectures, tutorials and seminars, as well as guest lectures and seminars with prominent industry experts. You will complete a research project using our excellent laboratory facilities and a dissertation on a chosen topic of interest.
Some modules are assessed through coursework, others by a combination of design projects and a formal examination. If you want to continue working in industry, you can apply to study individual modules as short courses on a day-release or block-delivery basis.
The MSc Civil and Structural Engineering is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree*. See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.
* It should be noted that candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited bachelor degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.
An Honours degree, normally a JBM-accredited BEng degree of class 2:2 or above, or a BSc Honours degree of class 2:1 or above in Civil or Structural Engineering (or equivalent professional or recognised overseas qualifications), or sufficient and relevant industrial work experience.
Applicants with a JBM-accredited IEng degree will be treated on an individual basis, but must have attained competences in the core mechanics subject areas of civil/structural engineering at undergraduate level.
The course welcomes international applicants and requires an English level of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component or equivalent.
Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.
Students have access to a wide range of resources including textbooks, publications, and computers in the University’s library and via online resources. In most cases they are more than sufficient to complete a course of study. Where there are additional costs, either obligatory or optional, these are detailed below. Of course students may choose to purchase their own additional personal resources/tools over and above those listed to support their studies at their own expense. All stationery and printing costs are at a student’s own expense.
Whilst you’re studying you’ll have two main costs – tuition fees and living costs. You can get a range of funding to help with these costs.
There are a number of ways to fund your postgraduate study. This can be through student finance, bursaries or help from grants, trusts and charities (see Alternative Funding), or a combination of all three.
Click here to find out more about funding your postgraduate tuition fees and living costs.
On completion of this MSc Civil and Structural Engineering course, you will be able to develop a career as a structural engineer, technical manager, or research and development manager. These roles can be with leading international consultancies, contractors, national and local consulting companies, as well as international research and government organisations.
Graduates may also progress to an engineering research degree.
As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.