MSc Civil Engineering

Program Overview

The MSc Civil Engineering program at the University of West London is designed to equip graduates with the knowledge, skills, and professional accreditation needed to become Chartered Engineers in the field. The program covers fundamental areas of civil engineering, including structures, materials, geotechnics, hydraulics, transportation, and construction management. Students benefit from research-based teaching, industry-focused labs, and opportunities for a dissertation or further research study.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This MSc Civil Engineering program is designed for individuals seeking a pathway to become professional engineers in diverse contemporary civil engineering fields. The program will enhance your analytical skills, research knowledge, and technical understanding. The primary focus is on the application of industry-relevant applications and IT skills in core areas of civil engineering, including:

• Structures: This area covers the analysis, design, and construction of various structural elements such as buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure.
• Materials: This area focuses on the properties, behavior, and selection of materials commonly used in civil engineering projects, such as concrete, steel, and timber.
• Geotechnics: This area involves the study of soil and rock mechanics, foundation design, and ground improvement techniques.
• Hydraulics: This area focuses on the study of water movement and its interaction with various structures and natural systems, encompassing areas like flood control, irrigation, and water supply.
• Transport Infrastructure Engineering: This area covers the planning, design, and construction of transportation systems like roads, highways, railways, and airports.
• Construction Management: This area delves into the planning, scheduling, budgeting, and execution of construction projects.
The MSc Civil Engineering program is delivered by faculty with both industrial and academic experience. The curriculum is designed to develop technical understanding and skills in both traditional and contemporary analysis and design, along with practical skills and current affairs in Civil Engineering.

Professional Accreditation:

This program is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), comprising:

• Institution of Civil Engineers
• Institution of Structural Engineers
• Institute of Highway Engineers
• The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation
• The Permanent Way Institution
This accreditation satisfies the academic requirements for further learning toward registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). These programs offer four specially designed modules to enhance academic and English language skills. The program will also enable you to effectively utilize analytical methods and modeling tools for analyzing and designing civil engineering structures.
• Structural Engineering
• Construction Engineering and Management
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Transportation Engineering
• Urban Water and Hydraulic Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Civil Engineering Systems

Modules:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Advanced Structural Analysis:
This module focuses on steel structures, encompassing theoretical and computational aspects of advanced structural analysis combined with the finite element method (FEM). This module offers a primary analyzing tool that can overcome the limitations of classical calculations and encourages design creativity.
• Research Methods: This module enhances in-depth knowledge on specific tools and theories to develop research skills at the master's level in the field of audio engineering.
It teaches how to conduct extensive literature reviews, design research questions, define methodology, and establish aims.
• Advanced Geotechnical Engineering: This module delves into advanced geotechnical modeling and its real-world applications.
It explores innovative and new geotechnical methods and experimental tests, such as advanced techniques for slope stabilization and soil cuts.
• Advanced Structural Design: This module develops the skills required for safely analyzing and designing multi-story concrete structures.
Students tackle civil engineering problems and design solutions (individually and in groups), mirroring industry environments. This module also enhances understanding of design codes.
• Dissertation in Civil Engineering: This module assesses the ability to undertake independent research-based work (such as developing conceptual design projects in a field of civil engineering).
It involves applying research skills and knowledge to investigate potential methodology/techniques/solutions in a technical problem/project within civil engineering.
• Optional Modules:
• Hydro-systems Design:
This module involves developing and analyzing conceptual designs and hydraulic modeling for designing hydro-systems like water supply and distribution systems, urban drainage systems, and wastewater and sanitary sewer systems. The application of these techniques is explored for water supply and distribution systems, watershed studies, floodplain computation, flood control, urban hydrology, stormwater design, and computer modeling.
• Construction Risk Management: This module focuses on risk management processes within construction projects.
Students gain an overview of essential risk-control issues as they relate to processes, requirements, and management.
• Transportation and Highway Engineering: This module explores advanced concepts and models of transportation engineering.
The goal is to ensure a proper planning process for building transportation systems and facilities, and forecasting travel demand. Students complete the design process by exploring the geometric design stages of a real-world highway project based on highway engineering standards and requirements.
• Construction Project Management: This module develops knowledge and understanding of the UK construction industry and the strategies clients can adopt to successfully procure construction projects.

Teaching:

The program utilizes a blend of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures: These provide a foundational understanding of core concepts and principles within each module.
• Workshops: These interactive sessions facilitate hands-on application of theoretical knowledge through practical exercises and problem-solving scenarios.
• Case Studies: These real-world scenarios provide insights into practical applications and challenges faced by professionals in the field.
• Group Projects: These collaborative projects encourage teamwork, communication, and the development of problem-solving abilities within a simulated professional context.
• Independent Study: This element encourages self-directed learning, research, and in-depth exploration of specific areas of interest within the broader field of civil engineering.

Careers:

Upon graduating from this program, graduates can pursue diverse career paths:

• Public Sector: Opportunities within government agencies, local authorities, and public utilities, contributing to infrastructure development and management.
• Private Sector: Exciting opportunities with engineering firms, specializing in areas such as structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation infrastructure, and construction project management.
• Further Study: The program can serve as a foundation for specialized postgraduate research degrees, allowing you to delve deeper into specific areas of interest within civil engineering.
With 30 PhD students and staff with strong research backgrounds, the University offers advice and guidance on choosing a career or further study path.

Other:

The program offers access to dedicated computing labs and other civil engineering labs, including:

• Soil Mechanics Lab
• Concrete Lab
• Hydraulics Lab
• Non-Destructive Testing Centre
Students also have access to a range of digital resources and computer modeling tools. The Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters programs offer specialized modules that focus on improving:
• Advanced Study Skills
• Critical Thinking, Analysis, and Evaluation
• Statistics
• English (Business English on the Enhanced course)
The Enhanced Extended Masters emphasizes English skills and includes a Business English module, providing a comprehensive understanding of this critical subject area.

UK

The fee above is the cost per year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront. Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

International

£17,250 per year The fee above is the cost per year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront. Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.