Civil Engineering

This MSc aims to equip students with the skills of analysis and design necessary for employment as professional civil engineers, and give them a solid academic background for becoming chartered engineers. The programme combines traditional lectures with group projects and an individual research project in the student’s chosen specialist field. The Civil Engineering MSc at UCL now offers five additional routes.

Students develop advanced knowledge of civil engineering and associated engineering and scientific disciplines (structure dynamics, sustainable building design, transport, fluids, geotechnics, water and drainage, environmental and coastal engineering, planning and construction). They gain awareness of the context in which engineering operates, in terms of design, construction and the environment, alongside transferable skills, which leads to careers in industry and research.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of four core modules (60 credits), four optional modules (60 credits), and a research project (60 credits).

Core modules

• Advanced Soil Mechanics
• Advanced Structures
• Roads and Underground Infrastructure
• Project Management (Professional Development Module)

Optional modules

Students choose four from the following:

• Anatomy of a Railway
• Applied Building Information Modelling
• Building Engineering Physics
• Coastal Engineering
• Data Analysis
• Engineering and International Development
• Environmental Modelling
• Environmental Systems
• Finite Element Modelling and Numerical Methods
• GIS Principles and Technology
• Introduction to Seismic Design of Structures
• Natural and Environmental Disasters
• Principles and Practices of Surveying
• Roads and Underground Infrastructure
• Systems, Society and Sustainability
• Structural Dynamics
• Urban Flooding and Drainage
• Please note: combinations of different modules will be limited by timetable constraints.

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 approximately 12,000 words.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratory classes and field trips. The design project includes collective and individual studio work, while 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.

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in civil or structural engineering or a closely related subject, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with a good performance in the core subjects (design, structures, geotechnics, and fluids) or extensive work experience covering these areas may be considered. For non-civil or structural engineering candidates we offer a Graduate Diploma in Civil Engineering, recognised by our accrediting body (the Joint Board of Moderators), which can be used as a pre-qualifying year for the Civil Engineering MSc.