Course overview

In an uncertain and increasingly competitive environment, the structural engineer is required to develop a wide range of skills and abilities to stay abreast of current industrial needs. We have recognised the need for a fresh approach to the provision of postgraduate courses in civil engineering and have established these courses within our Modular Master's Scheme.

Our courses aim to provide you with a framework within which the understanding of core disciplines in civil engineering can be extended. It will also give you an opportunity to study subjects of growing importance with which the structural engineer is confronted in the changing economic and environmental climate. Overall, it will increase your professional ability to contribute to organisational and managerial effectiveness within your employing organisation by developing your general competence within the context of your own experience, current and future needs and the needs of your organisation.

The courses build on the successful MSc and MEng courses run at the University and may be studied in either full-time or part-time mode. A demonstrable ability to benefit academically from the demands of the course is a prerequisite to entry and will be assessed on the basis of maturity and experience, as well as previous academic and professional qualifications.

Professional accreditation

Engineering Council UK requires graduates with a BEng degree to undertake additional education (known as Further Learning/ Matching Sections) prior to applying for Chartered Status. These Master's courses have been approved by Engineering Council UK as providing the additional education.

Course content

Starting in September, this course is offered in full-time mode (one calendar year) or part-time mode (two calendar years) for your convenience. It is divided into three stages, each contained within an academic teaching period. The first two stages are generally taught through formal tuition, with stage three covering independent research in an academic and/or industrial setting.

The course provides an opportunity to broaden and extend understanding of construction industry issues not normally covered in undergraduate studies. You will build upon established fundamental civil/construction engineering and project management principles and to be able to confidently apply them to a range of complex construction project problems with due regard to related social, economic, environmental and resource issues.

The MSc is awarded for 180 credits from the core units below:

• Environmental Management for Civil Engineering (30 credits):introduces students to the main environmental issues associated with civil engineering projects and how they are considered and mitigated in the Environmental Assessment process.
• Civil Engineering Science (30 credits): seeks to integrate the topics of analytical structural analysis, numerical analysis and solving engineering problems. Whilst being an introduction to the finite element method (FEM) and application of FEM software packages, this unit aims to give you the ability to solve engineering problems in the design of real structures.
• Structural Engineering Design Project (30 credits): provides an opportunity for simulating the design activities of a civil engineering consultancy. Project briefs are typically drawn from the work of professional contacts in the civil engineering industry. You will be required to make professional contacts, obtain advice and guidance, carry out research and conduct site visits outside the University.
• Strategic and General Management (30 credits): taking into account internal and external environments, this unit covers management in the construction industry, and the development of organisational and project strategic direction.
• Independent Project (60 credits – research project): covers the generic research framework within which new knowledge is discovered, and involves the practical application of research skills and techniques to a chosen system within the construction industry.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching on this course will focus on small lecture, seminar and discussion groups. It will also centre on independent learning strategies, which tutorials will help to develop. Practitioners from client, contracting and consulting organisations, with which the School has strong links, deliver some of the lectures and seminars.

Assessment is geared towards the subject matter in a way that encourages a deeper understanding and allows you to develop your skills. It takes many forms, including examinations, dissertations and assessed coursework. Full details of assessment for each unit and their scheduling will be available at the start of the course.

You will be assigned a personal tutor to provide pastoral advice and guidance throughout the course. When undertaking the independent project, you will also have a personal supervisor who will provide advice and guidance relating to matters such as identifying appropriate information sources, methodologies and research instruments.

Career prospects

All postgraduate units offered by the School are accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers on behalf of the Engineering Council as being suitable to provide the Matching Section required for progression to Chartered Status. This means that the curriculum is recognised as equipping graduates with knowledge, skills and competencies that employers in the construction industry expect. Alongside the technical subjects, the curriculum will introduce you to commercial and interpersonal skills topics that illustrate the employment context of construction industry professionals.

The development of your career management skills is supported by an Industrial Liaison Officer (ILO) who liaises with the University careers office as and when necessary. The ILO supports you in preparation of CVs and letters of application. Furthermore, the ILO arranges visits and/or presentations from leading employers (over a dozen every year) who talk to students about work in the construction industry and the skills required. With these visitors, you will have the opportunity to have mock and/or real interviews, as well as collect information to help you in career decision-making.

The School has a longstanding and active Industrial Advisory Committee (IAC) which comprises senior executives from leading client, contracting and consulting organisations (some of whom are alumni). It provides useful input in the design/redesign of courses and units. All academic staff are also professionally engaged with many and varied links with the construction industry and professional bodies. This all ensures that the course continues to meet the expectations of the construction industry.

Through the School’s personal tutor system, you will be supported regularly on Personal Development Planning issues. This generally involves identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and developing and implementing strategies to address the weaknesses using resources internal/external to the University.

The School's curriculum, its delivery, and opportunities for our students to interact with the industry throughout their studies mean the employment rate of our civil engineering graduates is excellent. We are committed to maintaining this standard.

Facilities and features

The University has extensive library and IT facilities. The University Library houses the main collection of books, videos, microfilm and journals, and is open from 8am until midnight every day during term-time. Subject librarians also work with academic departments to ensure that resources are available to meet the needs of each course. We also have specialised software to support teaching and well-equipped, recently refurbished laboratories to underpin research.

Most of our staff have doctorates and are qualified to lead the research aspects of our courses. Many are also qualified engineers or environmentalists. The School has a strong record of undertaking industrial research or knowledge transfer.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Civil Engineering with Structural Engineering are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: The School of Civil Engineering and Surveying
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 2555
Email: technology.admissions@port.ac.uk