Program Overview

Introduction to Civil Engineering (with Fluids) MSc

The Civil Engineering (with Fluids) MSc is a comprehensive, one-year program at University College London (UCL) that delves into various aspects of civil engineering, including structural dynamics, sustainable design, geotechnics, and environmental engineering. This program is designed to advance students' careers in the fast-evolving field of civil engineering.

About the Degree

The Fluids route is for students specializing in this area who also want to broaden their knowledge across a range of civil engineering disciplines. Combining theory with extensive project-based experience, this course covers diverse facets of civil engineering, from structural dynamics and sustainable building design to geotechnics, transport, and more. Students will learn about the decisions engineers need to make from an environmental and societal standpoint, understanding the context of their work to create sustainable engineering projects that benefit people and the planet.

Who This Course is For

This program is ideal for individuals interested in gaining the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to elevate their expertise and credentials as qualified civil engineers. It is suitable for graduates in civil engineering or similar fields who want to pursue a lifelong and fulfilling career in various sectors of engineering and its related industries.

What This Course Will Give You

This program offers several benefits and opportunities, including:

• A postgraduate degree from a top-ranked university, providing a prestigious qualification highly regarded by employers worldwide.
• The chance to work with expert academics and researchers in UCL Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, specializing in different disciplines.
• Strong collaborative skills, working alongside experts from UCL and carrying out research projects with industrial partners.
• Access to research and industry links, including seminars and exhibitions by industry leaders.
• A transformative curriculum designed to help build a successful civil engineering career in industry or research.
• Access to state-of-the-art and award-winning facilities across London.

Employability and Networking

Graduates will develop a strong technical and contextual foundation needed to progress into a civil engineering career in either industry or research. The program offers regular opportunities to connect, collaborate, and build professional contacts through guest lectures, special seminars, collaborative group projects, field trips, site visits, case studies, and workshops within the department and with industry partners. Access to UCL Careers provides resources and events to support career development.

Accreditation

This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree.

Teaching and Learning

The MSc program is delivered through a mix of seminars, lectures, laboratory work, projects, and practicals, frequently drawing upon real-life industry case studies. Assessment is through examinations, presentations, essays, coursework, and an individual research project submitted as a dissertation. Full-time students can expect 12-16 hours of contact time per teaching week, with a working schedule of approximately 35-40 hours a week.

Modules

The program structure includes:

Compulsory Modules

• Offshore and Coastal Engineering
• Environmental Fluid Mechanics
• Urban Flooding and Drainage
• Financial Aspects of Project Engineering
• Research Project

Optional Modules

• Environmental Systems
• Roads and Underground Infrastructure: Design, Construction, and Maintenance
• Advanced Soil Mechanics
• Introduction to Seismic Design of Structures
• Seismic Risk Assessment
• Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
• Finite-Element Modelling and Numerical Methods
• Advanced Structural Analysis
• Applied Building Information Modelling
• Environmental Modelling
• Advanced Civil Engineering Materials
• Life Cycle Assessment
• Engineering Study of Rail Systems and Infrastructure
• Building Energy Efficiency
• Catastrophe Risk Modelling
• Waste and Resource Efficiency

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fees (2026/27): Ł21,500 (full-time), Ł10,750 (part-time)
• Overseas tuition fees (2026/27): Ł42,700 (full-time), Ł21,350 (part-time)
• Additional costs may include field trips or activities, with a maximum of Ł300 per student.
• A fee deposit is required for offer holders, with varying amounts depending on the fee status and study mode.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related subject, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.
• Applicants without the required academic threshold but with extensive full-time professional experience in civil engineering or a related discipline can provide a portfolio demonstrating existing engineering and design skills for consideration.
• English language requirements: Level 1, with UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses available for international students.

Duration and Study Mode

• Duration: 1 calendar year (full-time), 2 calendar years (part-time), 5 calendar years (flexible)
• Study mode: Full-time, part-time, flexible/modular

Location

The program is based at UCL's Bloomsbury campus, in the heart of a London district famous for its cultural and educational institutions.