Program Overview

---

Civil Infrastructure Engineering MSc

Course Overview

Prepare for a career in civil infrastructure engineering focusing on planning, design, management and maintenance of infrastructure systems, guided by global trends in policy and planning.

What You'll Study

This course delves into key civil engineering infrastructure topics, including design principles, sustainable transport, highways, railways, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, and project management.

Modules

• Transport Planning and Operations - 30 credits
  • Learn how to plan efficient and sustainable transport systems across multiple modes, focusing on emerging technologies and demand management strategies.
  • Gain skills in analysing transport operations using data-driven methods and econometrics, including public transport pricing.
• Transport Infrastructure Engineering - 30 credits
  • Develop your critical thinking and independent problem-solving skills in various aspects of analysis, design, and maintenance of highway pavements and bridges.
  • The module will appraise how railway infrastructure and its compositions, maintenance, and operations provide a safe railway system.
• Sustainable and Resilient Civil Engineering Infrastructure - 30 credits
  • Develop knowledge and understanding of designing and managing civil infrastructure systems that are environmentally sustainable and resilient to natural and anthropogenic hazards.
  • Explore innovative approaches to integrate sustainability principles and resilience strategies across various infrastructure systems, including all transportation systems.
• Applied Infrastructure Engineering - 30 credits
  • Explore the practical application of engineering principles to design, develop, and manage essential infrastructure systems.
  • Gain practical skills and knowledge to address real-world challenges regarding conventional and sustainable civil engineering infrastructure, emphasising innovative solutions and sustainability.
• Master’s with Professional Placement
  • If you successfully secure a placement in industry within your first semester, this master’s with professional placement option allows you to extend your 12-month master’s course up to an additional year to complete the placement before starting your final 60-credit module.
• Research Project - 60 credits
  • Develop your research skills by planning, designing, and conducting an independent project in areas such as engineering, construction, sustainability, or energy, with guidance from an academic supervisor.

How You'll Learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Presentations
• Group projects
• Workshops
• Practical laboratory sessions

Teaching Contact Hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching Hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and Independent Study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include:

• Reports
• Tests
• Essays
• Exams
• Practical coursework
• Assignments
• Viva
• Presentations

Entry Requirements

• UK: An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a related discipline.
• International: An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in a related discipline.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

Fees and Funding

• UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man: £11,200 per year
• EU: £11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary
• International: £18,600 per year

Facilities

Key facilities:

• John Laing Building laboratories: you’ll have access to structures, materials, and geotechnics labs.
• Frank Whittle building: facilities include a mechanical testing lab for vibration analysis, an advanced joining lab for welding and cutting, and a metallography room to study material properties.
• Lanchester Library: the library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian.
• The Hub: the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices.

Careers and Opportunities

On successful completion of this course, you may seek positions in the following job roles:

• Infrastructure project manager
• Infrastructure engineer
• Railway engineer
• Highway engineer
• Transport planner
• Active travel infrastructure engineers

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Apply knowledge and wide-ranging understanding of health, safety and environment principles and legal framework within which the industry operates, and undertake full ethical and professional responsibilities in the discharge of their duties.
• Demonstrate an applied, in-depth knowledge and detailed understanding of the technical and professional skills needed for planning, designing, constructing, and delivering civil infrastructure engineering projects focusing on transport infrastructure within the scope of the modules sought for this course at appropriate levels.
• Apply computational methods and numerical tools to model and analyse civil infrastructure systems with a focus on transport infrastructure.
• Apply a wide range understanding of experimental, analytical and numerical techniques for investigative studies within the scope of the modules sought in this course of civil infrastructure engineering with a focus on transport infrastructure.
• Apply critical understanding in academic and professional development and writing; use innovative knowledge in sourcing, analysing and presenting data; and apply research methodologies to undertake independent investigation and academic writing of a specialised topic in civil infrastructure engineering with a focus on transport infrastructure.
• Demonstrate personal abilities in teamwork, leadership and communication necessary for life beyond the campus and workplace in civil infrastructure engineering with a focus on transport infrastructure.