Program Overview

Structural Engineering MSc

Overview

Our Structural Engineering MSc degree is a highly specialist course that has been developed to equip you with a broad range of knowledge and management skills to meet the real-world needs of safety and sustainability in the civil engineering and construction industry.

You will study the traditional elements of structural engineering and deepen your knowledge of structural analysis and design, and sustainable construction. You'll also develop advanced and specialist knowledge on topical subjects such as fire protection, environmental hazards, and energy-efficient buildings.

Course Content

You will study the taught modules in the first two terms and then spend four months working on your dissertation. The dissertation is an advanced piece of research related to structural design and is assessed through a final 20,000-word submission.

• CE5642 - Advanced Construction Materials and Building Retrofitting Technology: To further broaden and deepen students' knowledge of the range of advanced construction materials; low carbon, low energy, and low environmental impact construction materials, to introduce students to the principles of retrofitting technology & retrofitting design with advanced construction materials, to give an appreciation of sustainability issues related to advanced construction materials, and to develop deeper awareness of the latest development and trends in the use of advanced construction materials and retrofitting technology.
• Advanced Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Design: This module aims to further introduce students to the principles and methods of design for reinforced concrete elements and structures, and to introduce students to the principles and methods of design for prestressed and post-tensioned concrete structures.
• Advanced Steel Design: This module aims to introduce the concept of advanced steel design and composite construction and their applications in engineering, and to develop in-depth understanding of the behavioral and theoretical background to limit state design of structural steelwork.
• Civil Engineering Dissertation: The dissertation aims to provide experience in defining and organizing, executing, and evaluating a substantial individual in-depth investigation into a topic related to the appropriate Civil Engineering MSc programme and presenting the information in the form of a dissertation.
• CE5626 - Climate Change and the Environment: The problem: to build understanding of climate change science and associated threats to society and the environment, with critical analysis of progress towards adaptation and mitigation.
• Infrastructure Management: This module aims to give the students an in-depth and comprehensive professional working knowledge of how to carry out condition assessment of engineering infrastructure assets.
• Nonlinear Structural Analysis & Finite Element Method: This module aims to further develop the student's knowledge on structural mechanics, to enhance the student's perception of structural behavior and the corresponding modeling tools, to enable students to design structures based on the Finite Element Method, and to make students competent in using computer codes for structural analysis.
• Research Methods and Professional Development: This module aims to instill principles of good research practice and enable students to acquire skills to conduct scientifically-robust research with due consideration of engineering quality issues and environmental and health and safety risks, and to develop understanding of how research and development drives innovation in a business context and the mechanisms to protect intellectual property.
• Structural Dynamics and Seismic Design: This module aims to enhance the student's perception on the dynamic behavior of deformable bodies, to further develop the student's knowledge on structural mechanics by focusing on the dynamic properties of the structural response, and to introduce students to the fundamental principles of seismic design with an emphasis on current design codes.

Careers and Your Future

A structural engineering degree from Brunel will equip you with advanced knowledge and skills to work on a vast range of modern projects in the construction and civil engineering sector.

Many of our civil engineering graduates have technical and creative roles with contractors and consultants working on large infrastructure projects such as bridges and tall buildings.

Some go on to jobs with national and local government agencies or major firms of consulting engineers. Others specialize in construction, sustainability, innovative materials, foundation engineering, geotechnical exploration, highway engineering, or fire protection.

Entry Requirements

• A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree, or equivalent internationally recognized qualification, in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Materials Engineering, Engineering. Other qualifications and relevant experience will be assessed on an individual basis.

Fees and Funding

• 2026/27 entry:
  • UK: £13,280 full-time
  • International: £24,795 full-time

Teaching and Learning

Our structural engineering degree is delivered by a diverse team of academic staff. This means you'll be learning from a teaching team with both scientific knowledge and industrial experience. There will also be guest lectures from our industry partners, a field trip, and structural engineering site visits.

Study will combine lectures, tutorials, and seminars, laboratory work, computer simulation, field work, self-study, research reports, and project work.

Assessment and Feedback

Your progress will be assessed via assignments, presentations, technical and laboratory reports, design and research projects, exams, and your dissertation.