If you are a busy professional this online advanced degree is an ideal method of studying structural engineering. The programme is fully accredited by the Energy Institute, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). This level of credibility really assists you to gain new career opportunities and advance your job prospects internationally. The area is constantly being improved in terms of design and understanding. You learn with University of Aberdeen, situated in the heart of the European oil and gas industry since its inception and rise in the 1970s. Many multinational headquarters are situated in Aberdeen and the academic and business community have worked together over this time to provide a great deal of knowledge, expertise and vocational training at advanced level to offer very advanced degrees at master's level.
The programme offers you a full range of knowledge in structural engineering to understand brown field engineering, petrochemical structures, conceptual design of structures and management of structures. You understand how load and natural forces can affect structures and the elements of time.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
Find out about international fees
Find out more about fees on the programme page
*Please be advised that some programmes also have additional costs.
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page and the latest postgraduate opportunities
Find out more about:
Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs
Other engineering disciplines you may be interested in:
The goal of structural engineering is to predict the performance of structures under extreme events. This Masters in Structural Engineering provides you with a range of methods to analyse and design structures with quantifiable reliability over their design life.
Modes of delivery of the MSc in Structural Engineering include lectures, seminars, tutorials, a group design project and individual projects.
MSc students undertake an additional individual project.
This is a new programme which will be delivered the first time in 2016/17. However, it is a continuation of a former Structural Engineering and Mechanics MSc programme. Graduates from the former Structural Engineering and Mechanics programme have gone on to positions such as:
Our MSc programmes are ideal if you are a graduate or professional in the civil engineering, structural engineering or construction sector and want to deepen and broaden your technical knowledge and understanding of specialised areas.
There are three routes you can select from to gain a postgraduate Master’s award:
The one-year programme is a great option if you want to gain a traditional MSc qualification – you can find out more here. This two-year master’s degree with advanced practice enhances your qualification by adding to the one-year master’s programme an internship, research or study abroad experience.
The MSc Civil and Structural Engineering (with Advanced Practice) offers you the chance to enhance your qualification by completing an internship, research or study abroad experience in addition to the content of the one-year MSc. Our MSc helps you to enhance your technical skills in various core areas of civil engineering that are in demand in the construction industry, such as advanced geotechnics and river and coastal engineering. You further develop your conceptual understanding of critical aspects of structural engineering, such as advanced structural analysis and design, and become familiar with complex analysis and design techniques, modelling the causes and solutions of problems involving the real behaviour of structures. You also acquire an advanced knowledge and understanding of the design of structures under dynamic and earthquake conditions. Advanced project planning and visualisation methods, such as building information modelling, are also integrated into the course.
Professional accreditation
Our MSc Civil and Structural Engineering is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (representing the ICE, IStructE, IHE and CIHT) as a technical master's. This means it meets the requirements for further learning for Chartered Engineer (CEng) under the provisions of UK-SPEC for candidates who have already acquired a CEng-accredited BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree.
By completing this professionally accredited MSc you benefit from an easier route to professional membership or chartered status. It also helps improve your job prospects, enhancing your career and earning potential. Some companies show preference for graduates who possess a professionally accredited qualification.
The Joint Board of Moderators represents the following four professional bodies:
The two-year MSc Civil and Structural Engineering with Advanced Practice incorporates all the elements of the one-year MSc and adds to these the advanced practice module. The new title is being prepared for formal recognition as an accredited title.
For the MSc with advanced practice, you complete 120 credits of taught modules, a 60-credit master’s research project and 60 credits of advanced practice.
Examples of past MSc research projects include:
Course structure
Core modules
Advanced Practice options
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn through lectures, tutorials and practical sessions. Lectures provide the theoretical underpinning while practical sessions give you the opportunity to put theory into practice, applying your knowledge to specific problems.
Tutorials and seminars provide a context for interactive learning and allow you to explore relevant topics in depth. In addition to the taught sessions, you undertake a substantive MSc research project.
In addition to the taught sessions, you undertake a substantive MSc research project and the Advanced Practice module. This module enables you to experience and develop employability or research attributes and experiential learning opportunities in either an external workplace, internal research environment or by studying abroad. You also critically engage with either external stakeholders or internal academic staff, and reflect on your own personal development through your Advanced Practice experience.
How you are assessed
Assessment varies from module to module. It may include in-course assignments, design exercises, technical reports, presentations or formal examinations. For your MSc project you prepare a dissertation.
Your Advanced Practice module is assessed by an individual written reflective report (3,000 words) together with a study or workplace log, where appropriate, and through a poster presentation.
The course equips you with the relevant technical and transferrable skills to pursue a career as a civil or structural engineer or technical manager with leading multidisciplinary consultancies or contractors, as well as research and government organisations.
You can study this programme either full time on campus, part time, or online to fit flexibly around work commitments.
Whilst Safety and Reliability Engineering allows you to apply your skills and knowledge to a wider range of industries, this programme is specifically for the oil and gas industry. It provides you with the knowledge to review reliability of engineering facilities, materials and products and legislative framework at the same time. Safety has always been of paramount concern in the oil and gas industry with a lot of learning and knowledge acquired since the oil industry growth of the 1970s. This knowledge has been scrutinised by University of Aberdeen and the industry to provide professional expertise to manage safety and reliability. Future challenges are being met to some extent by the advent of affordable sensors which manage difficult to reach places, but nonetheless require the knowledge and capabilities of professionals working in this discipline to ensure they are fit for purpose.
The MSc Safety Engineering for Oil & Gas programme provides training in safety engineering, reliability engineering, and loss prevention in the offshore, nuclear, transport, aerospace and process industries and more. Fully accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) and the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT).
Semester 1
Semester 2
Semester 3
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
There is also on online delivery
There is also an Online delivery of this programme
Find out about international fees:
Find out more about fees on the programme page
*Please be advised that some programmes also have additional costs.
Fees for Online delivery
*Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs.
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page and the latest postgraduate opportunities
Find out more about:
Find out more about living in Aberdeen and living costs
Other engineering disciplines you may be interested in:
Our Structural Engineering postgraduate programme is delivered by the Faculty’s own staff, together with practising engineers from consultancies and local authorities.
For practising engineers engaged in the planning, design and construction of structural engineering works, this programme provides an opportunity to update their knowledge of current design practice and to become familiar with developments in codes and methods of analysis.
You will be able to choose from a rich and varied selection of specialist structural engineering subjects. The programme is offered in the standard full-time mode, in addition to part-time and distance learning options.
Graduates from the programme are highly employable and may 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 over two to five academic years. It consists of eight taught modules and a dissertation project.
This degree 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) or an Accredited IEng (Full) BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree.
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.
Structural Engineering Group Modules
Bridge Engineering Group Modules
Geotechnical Engineering Group Modules
Construction Management Group Modules
Infrastructure Engineering Group Modules
Water and Environmental Engineering 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 further information about the details of our distance learning programme.
As part of your learning experience, you will have at your disposal a wide range of relevant software, including ANSYS, ABAQUS, DIANA, SAP 2000, Integer SuperSTRESS, LUSAS, CRISP, MATLAB, PertMaster DRACULA and VISSIM.
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.
This Masters (MSc) and PG diploma postgraduate degree course in Structural Engineering is offered to civil engineering and mechanical engineering related graduates wishing to study structural engineering within a civil engineering context. This programme offers the opportunity to widen knowledge in the area of Structural Engineering by including structural engineering practice, wind engineering, structural behaviour (both static and seismic), geotechnical engineering and industrial research topics.
This opens up a wide range of career opportunities, as many of the techniques are applicable both within and outside the civil engineering design and construction industry.
Designed for civil engineering graduates looking to specialise as structural engineers, or those seeking to advance their career prospects in the industry, this course will enable you to deal with complex structural engineering issues.
Decision making at a high level is often demanded by the industry, and here you will learn the techniques and
unlock the confidence to use your initiative, communicate conclusions and solutions and tackle often-unpredictable scenarios.
The course has been devised to meet the demands of both the UK and overseas engineering and construction industries. It offers advanced training to engineers aspiring to higher or middle management in public and private sector management.
You can transfer from the Postgraduate Diploma to the MSc programme, upon completion of the Diploma, provided you satisfy the MSc requirements.
The taught element takes place between September and May. It is possible to study full-time or part-time, as modules are delivered in intensive week-long blocks. This means that students can combine work and study, attending university for these weeks only. A student's performance is assessed by written examinations and individual coursework.
The research project report is submitted and presented (end of August/early September) for assessment. Students must normally reach a satisfactory standard in the written examinations to be permitted to proceed to the individual project.
Formal examinations are normally held during the week immediately before the Spring term, in early January, and during May; submission of the project thesis is usually due by early September.
Transfer between Postgraduate Diploma and MSc is possible upon completion of the Diploma for a Diploma student who satisfies the MSc requirements. The Diploma may be awarded to an MSc student who fails to complete the individual project.
A high level of numeracy, and skills in structural engineering problem solving, together with the ability to undertake research, team working, and being conversant with both communication and information technology equips you
for a successful career in the structural engineering consultancy or construction industry.
Your MSc counts towards achieving Chartered Engineer accreditation.
University Careers Network
Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.
Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.
If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.
The programme is designed for graduates and professionals involved in the civil engineering, structural engineering and construction sectors who wish to deepen and broaden their technical knowledge and understanding of specialised areas of civil and structural engineering.
You enhance your technical skills in various core areas of civil engineering that are in demand in the construction industry, such as advanced geotechnics and river and coastal engineering. You also further develop your conceptual understanding of critical aspects of structural engineering, such as advanced structural analysis and design, and become familiar with complex analysis and design techniques, modelling the causes and solutions of problems involving the real behaviour of structures. You also acquire an advanced knowledge and understanding of the design of structures under dynamic and earthquake conditions. Advanced project planning and visualisation methods, such as building information modelling, are also integrated into the course. The 60-credit dissertation gives you the opportunity to conduct a supervised research project developing original knowledge in a specific area of civil or structural engineering. The programme structure is divided into a combination of 10 and 20-credit taught modules, delivered over two semesters. By successfully completing these modules, you proceed to a 60-credit research project.
Starting salaries for new graduate civil and structural engineers can reach £32,000, increasing to £70,000 when a senior level is reached (prospects.ac.uk, 2015).
Professional accreditation
Our MSc Civil and Structural Engineering is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (representing the ICE, IStructE, IHE and CIHT) as a technical master's. This means it meets the requirements for further learning for Chartered Engineer (CEng) under the provisions of UK-SPEC for candidates who have already acquired a CEng-accredited BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree.
By completing this professionally accredited MSc you benefit from an easier route to professional membership or chartered status. It also helps improve your job prospects, enhancing your career and earning potential. Some companies show preference for graduates who possess a professionally accredited qualification.
The Joint Board of Moderators represents the following four professional bodies:
For the Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) award you must successfully complete 120 credits of taught modules. For an MSc award you must successfully complete 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit master's research project.
Examples of past MSc research projects include:
Course structure
Core modules
MSc only
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn through lectures, tutorials and practical sessions. Lectures provide the theoretical underpinning, while practical sessions give you the opportunity to put theory into practice, applying your knowledge to specific problems.
Tutorials and seminars provide a context for interactive learning and allow you to explore relevant topics in depth. Some of the modules require using specialised technical software and practical computer-based sessions are timetabled.
In addition to the taught sessions, you undertake a substantive MSc research project.
How you are assessed
Assessment varies from module to module. The assessment methodology could include in-course assignments, presentations or formal examinations. For your MSc project, you prepare a dissertation.
The course will equip you with the relevant technical and transferrable skills to pursue a career as a civil/structural engineer or technical manager with leading multidisciplinary consultancies, contractors, as well as research and government organisations.
This programme enables you to focus on developing your technical engineering skills, as well as your management skills
Today, structural engineering is more than just design. Expert consultants are needed globally with a complete skill set; the ability to design, manage and maintain structures, but also to enable existing civil infrastructure to operate under changing loading and environment.
Alongside the core engineering modules, you will also study two management modules taught by the Business School which will help you develop transferable professional management skills that will enhance your study experience and improve your career prospects.
This programme will provide you with a solid understanding of the whole process of structural design, analysis and operation. You will discover how to design and manage the dynamic behaviour of structures using state of the art hardware and software for performance assessment, measurement, and instrumentation to withstand normal and extreme operational loads.
The programme is taught by our internationally leading academic team with expertise in structural performance analysis and health monitoring, structural dynamics, control, infrastructure management, systems and informatics.
Successful graduates will be equipped with specialist skills increasingly demanded by employing infrastructure consultants, contractors, operators, and government agencies and can expect to progress into international senior level positions in civil, construction and environmental industries.
This degree has been accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council for the purposes of meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). An accredited degree will provide you with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
This programme is modular and flexible and consists of eight core engineering modules and one option module.
The core modules can include;
Some examples of the optional modules are
The modules listed here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand
The programme is delivered through a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials, industrial presentations, case studies, industry visits, computer simulations, project work and a dissertation. It has particular value in developing transferable skills development including management skills, communication skills, computational techniques, data handling and analysis, problem solving, decision making and research methodology. Many of these skills will be addressed within an industrial and commercial context.
The MSc Structural Engineering programme will take advantage of a cutting edge laboratory, with state of the art measurement and testing technology. This purpose-built teaching and research facility is dedicated to better understanding structural performance including in-situ testing and monitoring of prototype and real life structures. Featuring;
• Unique and reconfigurable prototype floor or footbridge structure weighing up to 15 tonnes
• Instruments capable of measuring static and dynamic structural movements from meter to nanometer
• Ambient and forced vibration testing, facilities including equipment and software
• Vibration control systems
• Individual and group human motion tracking and measurement systems
• Motion capture facilities
The University of South Wales Civil & Structural Engineering MSc is a taught postgraduate course offering full-time and part-time pathways.
Students complete a sequence of optional and compulsory modules, plus a final dissertation, before graduating with the 180 credit Master of Science degree.
This degree is your opportunity to establish or consolidate your career as a civil or structural design engineer. The course is accredited for the Further Learning Programme (formerly ‘Matching Sections’) at Chartered Engineer (CEng) level by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), and the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE).
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 course is also underpinned by research into areas such as the use of novel and sustainable environmentally-friendly materials, geotechnics and structural modelling.
See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/577-msc-civil-and-structural-engineering
You will study the following modules:
- Advanced Civil Engineering Materials
- Integrative Project Planning and Management
- Geo-environmental Engineering
- Advanced Structural Analysis and Structural Concrete Design
- Further Advanced Structural Analysis and Steel/Composite Design
- Dissertation
Optional modules include:
- Seismic Analysis and Design to Eurocodes*
- Structural Timber and Masonry Design to Eurocodes*
- Further Finite Element Analysis*
- Non-Destructive Testing*
*10 credit module
The course 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.
On completion of this 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.
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 University of South Wales has excellent facilities, and is committed to investment and refurbishment. We’ve just completed a £130m investment programme in new buildings and facilities, including significant investment in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science. The University has also announced a further investment of £28m ensure that you’re using equipment and software that is state-of-the-art and industry-standard, we continually evaluate our labs and teaching spaces and regularly re-fit and re-equip them. A recent refurbishment of a number of our Civil and Mechanical Engineering labs is part of this programme of continuous enhancement of our facilities.
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 http://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.
Apply directly to the University if you are applying for a part-time, professional or postgraduate course, an Erasmus/Exchange programme, the Legal Practice (part-time) course, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution.
The following postgraduate funding may be available to study the Civil & Structural Engineering MSc at The University of South Wales.
Full Time (UK / EU): £6,000
Full Time (international): £12,600
Part Time (UK /EU): £670 per 20 credit
This course is aimed at graduates with an honours degree or relevant professional experience who want to develop their understanding and skills as structural engineers.
The course meets the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) or an Accredited Eng (Full) BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree. See http://www.jbm.org.uk for further information.
The course is delivered via a combination of lectures, tutorials, design projects, computing sessions and laboratory demonstrations.
You will be encouraged to attend meetings of the professional institutions, where relevant topics are being discussed.
Where possible, pertinent site visits and guest lectures will be organised.
Coursework 42%, Examination 47% and Dissertation 11%.
Graduates of this course will be well equipped to meet the challenges of the modern structural engineering industry. They may occupy pivotal appointments in prestigious building schemes and the prospect of a challenging career to provide and protect the infrastructure that underpins society.
Graduates might typically work as a structural engineer in a design office or for an engineering consultancy.
Many of our graduates will go on to further study in our Engineering 2050 Research Centre.
The Engineering Research Centre brings together a wealth of expertise and international reputation in three focussed subject areas. Research at the centre is well funded, with support from EPSRC, TSB, DoH, MoD, Royal Society, European Commission, as well as excellent links with and direct funding from industry. Our research excellence means that we have not only the highest calibre academics but also the first class facilities to support the leading edge research projects for both post-graduate studies and post-doctoral research.
You will probably be part of our Civil Engineering Group in this Centre which carries out leading edge research in structural engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering and hydraulics.
Today, structural engineering is more than just design. Expert consultants are needed globally with a complete skill set; the ability to design, manage and maintain structures, but also to enable existing civil infrastructure to operate under changing loading and environment.
This programme will provide you with a solid understanding of the whole process of structural design, analysis and operation. You will discover how to design and manage the dynamic behaviour of structures using state of the art hardware and software for performance assessment, measurement, and instrumentation to withstand normal and extreme operational loads.
The programme is taught by our internationally leading academic team with expertise in structural performance analysis and health monitoring, structural dynamics, control, infrastructure management, systems and informatics.
Successful graduates will be equipped with specialist skills increasingly demanded by employing infrastructure consultants, contractors, operators, and government agencies and can expect to progress into international senior level positions in civil, construction and environmental industries.
This degree has been accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council for the purposes of meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). An accredited degree will provide you with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
This programme is modular and flexible and consists of nine core engineering modules.
The core modules can include;
The modules listed here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand
The programme is delivered through a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials, industrial presentations, case studies, industry visits, computer simulations, project work and a dissertation. It has particular value in developing transferable skills development including management skills, communication skills, computational techniques, data handling and analysis, problem solving, decision making and research methodology. Many of these skills will be addressed within an industrial and commercial context.
The MSc Structural Engineering programme will take advantage of a cutting edge laboratory, with state of the art measurement and testing technology. This purpose-built teaching and research facility is dedicated to better understanding structural performance including in-situ testing and monitoring of prototype and real life structures. Featuring;
• Unique and reconfigurable prototype floor or footbridge structure weighing up to 15 tonnes
• Instruments capable of measuring static and dynamic structural movements from meter to nanometer
• Ambient and forced vibration testing, facilities including equipment and software
• Vibration control systems
• Individual and group human motion tracking and measurement systems
• Motion capture facilities
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