Program Overview

Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering

The Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering provides students with the training to pursue professional and academic careers in the fields of geotechnical engineering, hydrogeology, geophysics, and earthquake engineering. Students develop specialist knowledge of geophysics and earthquake engineering and acquire the skills to predict, evaluate, and reduce seismic hazards.

General Details

• Academic year starts in:
  • Fall semester (Fall): September
  • Spring semester (Spring): February
• Duration: 2 years
• Study load: 120 ECTS (including the Master's Final Thesis)
• Minimum academic progress: The minimum academic progress for first-year students is 15 ECTS. Students must complete the master's program in up to 3 years (full-time) or 6 years (part-time) depending on dedication.
• Delivery: On-campus
• Enrolment:
  • Part-time: At least 15 ECTS (and up to 60 ECTS) enrolled on the first year, and up to 72 ECTS the rest of the years
  • Full-time: At least 15 ECTS and up to 40 ECTS
• Language: Spanish & English
• Places: 45
• Official degree: Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering by the Universitat Politčcnica de Catalunya (recorded in the Spanish Ministry of Education's degree register)
• Specialisations:
  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Groundwater hydrology
  • Earthquake Engineering & Geophysics (not available for the academic year)
• Double degree agreements:
  • Tongji University (Popular Republic of China)
  • Illinois Institute of Technology (USA)
  • Escola Politčcnica Superior d'Enginyeria de Manresa (Spain)

Admission

• Specific admission requirements:
  • Holders of an official bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Public Works Engineering, or Environmental Engineering
  • Holders of an official bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences or Geology
  • Holders of an official diploma or former undergraduate degrees in Civil Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Public Works Engineering, or Geology
  • Students on double-degree programmes that include the Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering under the continuity system
  • Holders of other qualifications, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2.3 of Order CIN/309/2009, dated February 9th
• Admission criteria:
  • Weighted average mark factor or parameter (40%)
  • CV adequacy factor or parameter (50%)
  • Additional former education factor or parameter (10%)

Objectives & Career Opportunities

• Training objectives: The Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering aims to train professionals and academics at the highest level in field engineering, underground hydrology, geophysics, and seismic engineering.
• Professional opportunities: Graduates of the master's degree are generally employed as managers or as experts working on teams in areas and activities related to geotechnical engineering.

Curriculum, Procedures & Regulations

• Courses:
  • Mandatory common courses
  • Elective common courses
  • Specialty courses
• Specialty courses:
  • Specialty in geotechnical engineering
  • Specialty in groundwater hydrology
  • Specialty in earthquake engineering

Master's Final Thesis

• The Master's Thesis is an original exercise to be done individually and presented and defended before a university panel consisting of a project in the sphere of the specific geotechnical engineering technologies synthesising and integrating the competences acquired on the course.

Process of Adaptation/Extinction of the Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering (2016)

• Since the academic year, the Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering (2016 program) will become extinct and will no longer accept new students.
• Students enrolled in these programs in extinction will have two choices:
  1. To continue with their current Master's program in Geotechnical Engineering following the extinction time table.
  2. To undergo an adaptation to the new Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering (2025 program) following the adaptation table.