There is growing demand for infrastructure investment globally as traditional sources of public funding and finance can no longer be presumed to provide the required levels of capital. This innovative MSc considers the perspectives of procuring infrastructure as well as providing the private finance to deliver the required investments to close the infrastructure gap.
With a strong commercial focus, the MSc in Infrastructure Investment and Finance (IIF) provides candidates with a well-balanced mix of economic and financial theory as well as industry practice, including modules exploring:
MSc students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma, eight core modules (120 credits) is offered.
Core modules
There are no optional modules for this programme.
Dissertation/research project
All students undertake a substantial research-based dissertation on a research question of their own choosing.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, group tutorials/workshops, project briefings, and individual supervision for the research-based dissertation element. Assessment is through unseen written examinations, 3,000-word written term papers and the 10,000-word dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Infrastructure Investment and Finance MSc
This degree is designed to enable infrastructure specialists to develop the skills essential to the delivery of complex infrastructure projects. It will equip graduates with the potential to become future innovators, leaders, senior managers, policymakers, researchers and teachers in the fields of infrastructure finance, infrastructure ownership and project management industries. Organisations that are likely to take on graduates of this MSc include infrastructure developers, infrastructure financiers and investors such as banks and equity funds, infrastructure operators, public sector commissioning and regulatory bodies, as well as advisory firms active in the growing infrastructure market.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
Completing this MSc will equip graduates with skills necessary for a career in infrastructure financing, procurement and development whether as a public sector advisor, private sector financing specialist or consultant within advisory firms.
Students successfully completing the programme will be able to show:
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
Many governments including the UK, US, the EU, China and India are increasing their focus on improving infrastructure. The required capital for investment is estimated to be in the trillions of US dollars. At the same time there is a compelling need for professionals equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver regional, national and international infrastructure projects. This pioneering MSc is the only programme in the UK, and one of few globally, to focus on the finance, funding and commercial issues associated with these vast sums of investment and global infrastructure needs.
The School of Construction & Project Management is placed within the renowned UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment. Based in central London, it is close to world-leading financial, engineering and consulting practices, many of whom are partners. The school has both specialist expertise and excellent relations with a range of industry and government bodies, which will provide a valuable network to students seeking careers in the exciting area of infrastructure financing and development.
The MSc directly benefits from the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UCL and the European Investment Bank (EIB). This MoU sets out the scope of the EIB's support and ongoing involvement in the planning and delivery of the MSc IIF. The EIB’s involvement aims to enhance students’ understanding of infrastructure finance and investment, through their exposure to the bank’s long and multi-faceted experience in this field.
Accreditation:
The IIF MSc is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and has entered into an academic partnership with the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Bartlett School of Construction & Project Management
81% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
This course covers the planning, design, analysis and management frameworks of infrastructure systems. In particular, you will develop expertise in the:
You will qualify with a sound understanding of the whole life-cycle of infrastructure assets, the environmental impact of infrastructure projects, and formal asset-management techniques enabling you to maximise the benefits of infrastructure assets in the future.
The lectures given by our academic staff are complemented by visiting speakers from different infrastructure companies such as Network Rail, Thames Water, Environment Agency, Transport for London, ARUP, KPMG, etc., covering different aspect of infrastructure engineering and management. During the academic year, infrastructure specialists carry out Keynote Lectures focusing on important infrastructure projects and approaches. Past Keynote Speakers include Sir John Armitt, Sir Terry Morgan, Sir Michael Pitt, Sir David Higgins, Keith Clarke, James Stewart, Andrew Wolstenholme, Michele Dix, Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson. A number of field visits are also organised to provide an overview of real-life infrastructure operation and management. Past field visits have taken place to both the National Grid and Network Rail Control Centers.
Graduates from the programme are highly employable but have the potential to progress to relevant specialist PhD or EngD research programmes in the field.
This programme is studied full-time over one academic year and part-time or distance learning for between two to five academic years. It consists of eight taught modules and a dissertation.
Example module listing
The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.
Infrastructure Engineering and Management Group Modules
Structural Engineering Group Modules
Bridge Engineering Group Modules
Geotechnical Engineering Group Modules
Construction Management Group Modules
Water and Environmental Engineering Group Modules
Wind Energy Group Modules
Dissertation
Apart from the usual full-time mode, there are also part-time options. The majority of Bridge, Geotechnical and Structural Engineering modules can be studied by distance learning through the use of an interactive web-based e-learning platform (SurreyLearn).
This programme can be studied via distance learning, which allows a high level of flexibility and enables you to study alongside other commitments you may have. Get full information about our distance learning programme (PDF).
Modules related to the different groups are taught by a total of 20 full or part-time members of academic staff, as well as a number of visiting lecturers from the industry and government.
In addition to the University Library and Learning Centre’s extensive resources, our excellent testing facilities can support experimentally based MSc dissertation projects.
The programme aims to provide graduates with:
We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.
In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.
The Infrastructure Planning, Appraisal and Development MSc is unique in preparing students for the major challenges ahead globally in the infrastructure field. The programme offers a holistic approach to the field offering decision-making and problem-solving that lead to more robust investment outcomes.
This MSc provides a critical review of infrastructure planning and appraisal methods and international practice and assesses how 'fit for purpose' these are for current sustainable development challenges. The programme focuses on generic lessons and principles that apply across the different sectors, while also covering the sectoral and context-specific considerations that determine success in different development contexts.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of seven core modules (105 credits), one option (15 credits), dissertation (60 credits) and a field trip (not credit bearing).
A Postgraduate Diploma, seven core modules (105 credits), one elective module (15 credits), full-time nine months and part-time 2 to 5 years is offered.
Core modules
Optional modules
Students choose one elective module from:
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake a supervised independent research project which culminates in a substantial dissertation.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of traditional lectures, tutorials and seminars, a field trip, individual and group project work, and skills-based practical project work, with direct practitioner involvement. Student performance is assessed through individual and group work, essays, examination and project work.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Infrastructure Planning, Appraisal and Development MSc
Students have gone on to take up positions in:
Graduates have also undertaken PhD studies at the Bartlett School of Planning.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
The programme has been conceived to provide enhanced capacity-building opportunities for those currently working in the field of infrastructure development and offers an invaluable qualification for new entrants into the field. With strong links to industry, government and academia on a global scale, a very high percentage of past students have gone on to find placements within the first year after graduation.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
Originally based on the work of the OMEGA Centre, the programme still draws on the numerous studies undertaken in this field by the centre and other leading research institutions.
The programme is interdisciplinary and international, drawing from experiences both in the developed and developing world. It seeks to provide students with insights, knowledge and skills that will assist them in planning, appraising and delivering future infrastructure developments in a manner that is sensitive to the risks, uncertainties and complexities of different contexts.
Accreditation
Completion of the MSc programme leads to eligibility for professional membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The MSc programme is also accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute as a 'specialist' fourth year for graduate students who have successfully completed an RTPI-accredited three-year undergraduate programme, and by the Joint Board of Moderators as a Further Learning programme for holders of a Chartered Engineer (CEng) accredited first degree.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Bartlett School of Planning
81% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
This course is unique in Ireland for its breadth across a range of infrastructure disciplines such as water, waste, structures, highways, road safety, project management and sustainability, with strong emphases on design. The knowledge and understanding covers key areas of civil and infrastructure engineering and meets the needs of graduates seeking chartered status. It has significant input from the expertise of a blend of current practitioners and research-led academics, with inter-disciplinary teaching in design and sustainability modules; all of this is integrated and delivered within the principles and practice of sustainable development.
This technical masters programme focuses on Technical subjects in a framework of Design and Sustainability, and this approach is grounded in technical modules covering waste, water, structural design, utilities, road safety and highways, supported by project management and sustainable development; a large Dissertation brings research-led studies and unique knowledge with substantial industrial linkages. Sustainable Development is the key driver in the design, delivery and assessment of all curricula and material; also, all content is set in the context of scholarly activity in which academic research is blended with professional knowledge and experience to provide a rich learning environment. Input from leading professionals as guest lecturers, mentors and advisors enhances the delivery and educational experience. Therefore the course offers a linked postgraduate course which is intellectually coherent, academically challenging, progressive in nature (with appropriate exit points) and has vocational relevance to the disciplines of civil and infrastructure engineering, as well as being linked to transport, construction, waste management and water engineering. It is designed to provide: (1) development of infrastructure engineering in the context of global sustainability and local strategic drivers, by studying relevant theoretical concepts and making critical reflection on their application;& (2) access to multi and interdisciplinary teaching and professional strengths of the Faculty staff;& (3) innovation in teaching, learning and assessment strategies, thereby relating to current professional practice; (4) leaders of infrastructure engineering for the future; and;(5) opportunities for graduates and professionals within the broad construction and built environment industry to enhance their knowledge and skills through the application of appropriate methods and techniques.
Attendance is full-time for one year over 3 Semesters, commencing normally in September, but it is also possible to commence in January.
Attendance for the part-time Postgraduate Diploma is over 3 years, requiring attendance in 2 semesters of Years 1 and 2, and attendance in Year 3 as agreed with the Dissertation supervisor
Semester 1 - Compulsory: Project Management Practice; Integrated Design Studies; Optional – two from: Utilities and Water Engineering, Road Safety Engineering or Highway Asset Management; total of 4 x 15 credit modules.
Semester 2 - Compulsory: Sustainable Development; Infrastructure Design Studies; Optional – two from Structural Design for Infrastructure, Waste Systems or Road Safety Engineering; total of 4 x 15 credit modules.
Semester 3 – Compulsory: Dissertation - 1 x 60 credit module. Study will normally involve a weekly 12 hours of lectures, tutorials, site visits, design studio work, with independent study of 20+ hours.
Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE)
Accredited by the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)
Accredited by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT)
Accredited by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
Accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Graduate employment may be found in public or private sectors in built environment disciplines, especially in the careers of civil engineering, transportation, public health or environmental engineering, dealing with many key activities such as utilities, construction, design, infrastructure, sustainability, environmental and traffic impacts and waste management. Skills developed will include rational thinking, integrative studies and recent knowledge of current issues such as legislative structures, sustainability challenges, design practices, research-led knowledge. Recent graduates have found professional employment in the UK Water Sector, Australian engineering industries, Scottish Local Authorities, Irish County Councils, major consulting engineers and in Research posts.
The Civil Engineering MSc at UCL now offers six additional specialist routes which reflect the expertise within the department and expanding career paths of civil engineers. This programme is for those students who wish to combine a general MSc in the subject with the related discipline of infrastructure planning.
The programme provides students with a strong academic background in a broad range of civil engineering topics and advanced skills in problem-solving necessary for a successful career in the sector. This route will also offer you the opportunity to gain specialist knowledge in your chosen area of seismic design and provide a clear path to a professional career in civil engineering.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of four core modules including three specialist modules and one professional development module (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits) and a research project (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma, four core modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits) is also offered.
Core modules
Optional modules
Students choose four from the following:
Please note: combinations of different modules will be determined by timetable constraints
Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000–15,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratory classes and field trips. The research project includes laboratory, computational or fieldwork depending on the nature of the project. Assessment is through examinations, coursework, project reports and the research project.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Civil Engineering (with Infrastructure Planning) MSc
Civil Engineering graduates are readily employed by consultancies, construction companies and government departments.
Employability
There are excellent employment prospects for our graduates. There is international demand for multi-skilled, solutions-focused professionals who can take a holistic approach to solving problems.
Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering at UCL is an energetic and exciting environment. Students have the advantages of studying in a multidisciplinary department with a long tradition of excellence in teaching and research, situated at the heart of London. We carry out advanced research in structures, environmental engineering, laser scanning and seismic design.
This MSc covers all the major areas of civil engineering, reflecting the broad range of expertise available within the department and its strong links with the engineering profession across the UK and beyond.
There is a strong emphasis on developing skills within a teamwork environment, equipping students for subsequent professional practice.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering
60% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
This Distance Learning programme has been developed for graduates working or hoping to work in the emergency water and sanitation sector in low- and middle-income countries. It is designed to develop your understanding on the principles and practice of infrastructure provision in emergencies and during reconstruction. It will equip you with the key skills, expertise and knowledge for emergency work in low- and middle-income countries.
Modules are delivered by experts in a broad range of disciplines who have considerable experience of working in low- and middle- income countries. Participants have a mix of nationalities and past experiences, providing opportunities for learning from them and development of a valuable future network.
Externally accredited, WEDC programmes are well-established, and held in high regard by practitioners and employers from both the emergency and development sectors.
- Research-led teaching from international experts. 75% of the School’s research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the latest Government Research Excellence Framework.
- An outstanding place to study. The School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering is ranked 1st in the UK for Building in the Times Good University Guide 2018. .
- Excellent graduate prospects. Many of our participants are employed by relief and development agencies.
- Professionally accredited. The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) have accredited this programme. Students registered for this programme are eligible for free student membership of CIWEM. The Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) has also accredited all WEDC MSc degrees as meeting requirements for Further Learning.
See the website http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/civil/infrastructure-emergencies-dl/
Distance Learning students study from home but are welcome to visit the Loughborough campus. They can make remote use of the University Library’s electronic search facilities. They can also remotely access the WEDC ‘Knowledge Base’, which has links to many sources of useful and relevant information.
Facilities on campus include our laboratory which houses equipment for field sampling and analysis of water and wastewater, and some of the largest hydraulics equipment in the UK. Although Distance Learners will not normally have access to this equipment they can ask the advice of laboratory staff if they are carrying out fieldwork as part of their dissertation.
Distance Learning students study from home but are welcome to visit the Loughborough campus. They can make remote use of the University Library’s electronic search facilities and the WEDC ‘Knowledge Base’, which has links to many sources of useful and relevant information.
The programme comprises both compulsory core modules, and optional modules which may be selected. The Case Study module draws together material from across the programme. A research dissertation between 75 and 150 pages long on a chosen topic relevant to interests or career development concludes the programme. Many of the Distance Learning modules have web-based discussion forums, where Distance Learners can choose to interact with each other and Module Tutors.
The method of delivery for the learning materials is mainly portable and paper-based, to suit students who are living or working in areas of the world with poor internet connectivity, or those who travel frequently. We also arrange some webinars which are recorded for students who are unable to participate.
- Assessment
For most modules, students are assessed by two written assessments (three items for core modules). The individual research dissertation module is assessed on the basis of a written dissertation and an oral when a student discusses their submitted dissertation with their supervisor and a second member of staff. For students who cannot visit the UK this oral takes place over Skype.
On occasion we offer specific full-fee and partial-fee scholarships for distance learning applicants.
As one of four Royal Academy of Engineering designated Centres of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design, the School of Civil and Building Engineering is one of the largest of its type in the UK and holds together a thriving community of over 60 academic staff, 40 technical and clerical support staff and over 240 active researchers that include Fellows, Associates, Assistants, Engineers and Doctoral Students.
Our world-class teaching and research are integrated to support the technical and commercial needs of both industry and society. A key part of our ethos is our extensive links with industry resulting in our graduates being extremely sought after by industry and commerce world-wide,
- Postgraduate programmes
The School offers a focussed suite of post graduate programmes aligned to meet the needs of industry and fully accredited by the relevant professional institutions. Consequently, our record of graduate employment is second to none. Our programmes also have a long track record of delivering high quality, research-led education. Indeed, some of our programmes have been responding to the needs of industry and producing high quality graduates for over 40 years.
Currently, our suite of Masters programmes seeks to draw upon our cutting edge research and broad base knowledge of within the areas of contemporary construction management, project management, infrastructure management, building engineering, building modelling, building energy demand and waste and water engineering. The programmes are designed to respond to contemporary issues in the field such as sustainable construction, low carbon building, low energy services, project complexity, socio-technical systems and socio-economic concerns.
- Research
Drawing from our excellent record in attracting research funds (currently standing at over £19M), the focal point of the School is innovative, industry-relevant research. This continues to nurture and refresh our long history of working closely with industrial partners on novel collaborative research and informs our ongoing innovative teaching and extensive enterprise activities. This is further complemented by our outstanding record of doctoral supervision which has provided, on average, a PhD graduate from the School every two weeks.
- Career Prospects
Independent surveys continue to show that industry has the highest regard for our graduates. Over 98% (DLHE, 2016) were in employment and/or further study six months after graduating. Recent independent surveys of major employers have also consistently rated the School at the top nationally for civil engineering and construction graduates.
Find out how to apply here http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/programmes/departments/civil/infrastructure-emergencies-dl/
Our MSc Transportation Planning and Engineering (Infrastructure) course focuses on the design, engineering and operation of land transport systems, with modules looking in detail at road and railway systems.
This MSc is appropriate for students interested in a career in the transport industry. The infrastructure pathway is differentiated through the compulsory study of highway and traffic engineering, and railway engineering and operations.
Whilst this pathway is very suitable for engineers; graduates from other disciplines - science, mathematics, planning and geography – would be welcome on this course.
Whether you are interested in starting a career in the transport industry, or an experienced transport professional keen to enhance your skills, our MSc in Transportation Planning and Engineering (Infrastructure) is the masters course for you. Covering everything from the fundamentals of modelling and economics through to the application of software and planning tools using real life examples from around the world, it is the perfect way to improve your capabilities and employability in the transport sector.
The one year full-time course starts in September each year and includes two semesters of taught modules and a summer period devoted to your individual project, from which you produce a Dissertation. Lectures take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week – allowing the course to be undertaken on a part-time basis over 2 years, with attendance on one day each week. The course includes a 2 day residential field trip which in the past has featured behind-the-scenes site visits, museum trips, and a 'transport challenge' competition.
Develop a holistic view of the design, construction and maintenance of land transport infrastructure, regarded by the construction industry as a key asset in the engineers they need to recruit.
This course will give you specialist knowledge on how bridges, highways and tunnels are designed, built, and maintained. You will develop a sophisticated understanding of techniques at the forefront of design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure and acquire specialist knowledge on the latest technological developments such as accelerated bridge construction, advanced materials like ultra-high performance concrete, and the possibilities of cutting-edge sensing techniques and robotics for the monitoring and repair of infrastructure.
With an emphasis on the construction and maintenance stages and the ‘how-is-it-made’ approach, different construction processes and techniques will be explored in detail, and used as a platform to investigate how they affect (and are affected by) the design process, the selection of alternatives and the implications for the entire service life.
The Institute for Infrastructure and Environment (IIE) is among the leading centres of civil and environmental engineering research in the UK. The Institute seeks new technologies to solve real-world problems in order to promote sustainability.
Key research areas include:
IIE has excellent laboratory and computing facilities, including the latest facilities and instrumentation for experimental and computational research in structures, granular solids, fire safety engineering, non-destructive testing and environmental engineering.
An MSc by Research is based on a research project tailored to a candidate’s interests. It lasts one year full time or two years part time. The project can be a shorter alternative to an MPhil or PhD, or a precursor to either – including the option of an MSc project expanding into MPhil or doctorate work as it evolves. It can also be a mechanism for industry to collaborate with the School.
Students are strongly encouraged and trained to present their research at conferences and in journal papers during the course of their PhD.
Students are also encouraged to attend transferable skills courses provided by the University and to participate in external courses provided by organisations such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
PhD candidates pursue their research projects under continuous guidance, resulting in a thesis that makes an original contribution to knowledge. You will be linked to two academic supervisors, and one industrial supervisor if the project is industrially sponsored.
The Institute has excellent laboratory and computing facilities, including the latest instruments for experimental and computational research in structures, granular solids, fire safety engineering, non-destructive testing and environmental engineering.
Our MSc Building and Infrastructure Information Modelling (BIM) for Smart Engineering aims to provide you with the necessary training, skills and hands-on experience to become successful in the dynamic and highly competitive fields of BIM and smart engineering, and to give you a distinct edge when applying for a career in industry or for a PhD studentship.
The course will provide you with engineering oriented advanced BIM training, consolidate the related fundamental theory, strengthen your modelling and analysis skills and smart engineering knowledge, and enhance your future engineering competency and employability. It will build on your existing engineering knowledge and skills to deliver a comprehensive, flexible, robust and research led advanced BIM training package.
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