MSc Bridge Engineering

A minimum of 60 per cent in an honours degree in civil engineering accredited to CEng, or a minimum of 70 per cent in an honours degree in civil engineering accredited to IEng. Overseas equivalent qualifications are also welcome. Alternatively, at least five years’ relevant industrial experience (preferably codified design) or a professional qualification (for example, CEng).

English language requirements

IELTS minimum overall: 6.5

IELTS minimum by component: 6.0

All fees are subject to increase or review for subsequent academic years. Please note that not all visa routes permit part-time study and overseas students entering the UK on a Tier 4 visa will not be permitted to study on a part-time basis.

Funding

Overseas students should contact the British Council in their home country for available funding.

Specific Bridge Engineering Modules

• Bridge Deck Loading and Analysis
• Bridge Management
• Long Span Bridges
• Steel and Composite Bridge Design
• Pre-stressed Concrete Bridge Design
• Durability of Bridges and Structures

Module Overview

To achieve the MSc Bridge Engineering, you will need to pass eight modules, with at least four being chosen from the Bridge Engineering group of modules and a further two being chosen from the Bridge or Structural Engineering groups of modules. The remaining two modules are a free choice from all the Civil Engineering module groups.

There are over 30 modules available, each worth 15 credits, covering the general areas of bridge engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, water engineering, transport planning and construction management. (Please note that the transport planning modules are currently under review.) The MSc is classified as technical for the purposes of accreditation by the relevant professional bodies.

Module Descriptions

Bridge Deck Loading and Analysis

Loading: types of load; traffic loads; application of loads; load combinations; partial safety factors; shrinkage and temperature loads; the use of influence lines. Analysis: types of bridge deck and their behaviour; distribution of loads; skew deck analysis; use of influence surfaces; computer methods (grillage, finite element, finite strip).

Bridge Management

Inspection, assessment and strengthening; technical approval procedures; maintenance strategies, systems and procedures; whole-life costing and asset management; the assessment of reinforced concrete, pre-stressed concrete, steel and composite bridges; load testing of bridges; methods of strengthening; the design of bridges for durability of maintenance.

Long Span Bridges

Historical perspective and case studies; the analysis, design and construction of long span cable-supported bridges; the design of the main elements – cables, towers, hangers, deck and foundations; construction processes; aerodynamic considerations.

Steel and Composite Bridge Design

Propped and unpropped construction; serviceability and ultimate limit states; design for bending, shear and combined bending and shear, continuous construction, plastic analysis; reference to current codes of practice; the design of steel plate girders for shear and bending interaction; the design of transverse stiffeners; fatigue behaviour of steel bridges and connections; appraisal to Part 10 BS 5400; means of improving fatigue performance of steel bridges; the design of bolted and welded steel bridge connections; the design of longitudinally and transversely stiffened webs and flanges for box girders; the design of plate elements, longitudinal stiffeners and cross frames.

Pre-stressed Concrete Bridge Design

Pre-stressed concrete: simple design equations; kern limits; losses; cable design; end block design; differential shrinkage; continuous beams. Box girders: design concept; construction methods; cost benefits; global analysis; pre-stress design; distortion effects; end blocks; diaphragms; reinforcement.

Durability of Bridges and Structures

Overview of durability; the durability of concrete, metals, reinforcement in concrete and polymers; testing and monitoring structures; the assessment of structures, repair methods and materials; the design and construction of durable structures; failures of durability and their consequences.

Programme Structure

The modular arrangement is intended to tailor the programme to your individual needs and provide maximum flexibility in terms of attendance of full-time and part-time students.

The majority of modules run for eleven weeks and comprise approximately 33 hours (three hours per week) of class time and 120 hours of self-study and assignments.

Successful completion of four modules is required for a student to gain a Postgraduate Certificate, eight modules for a Postgraduate Diploma. Eight modules and a dissertation are required for the award of an MSc.

Individual modules can be used to contribute towards a continuing professional development programme.

Mode of Study

Apart from the usual full-time mode, there are also part-time options. The majority of Bridge, Geotechnical and Structural Engineering modules can be studied by distance learning through the use of an interactive web-based e-learning platform (SurreyLearn).

Civil Engineering Module Groups

MSc programmes in Bridge Engineering, Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering share module options. The modules fall under six streams of study:

Bridge Engineering modules

• Bridge Management
• Bridge Deck Loading and Analysis
• Durability of Bridges and Structures
• Pre-stressed Concrete Bridge Design
• Steel and Composite Bridge Design
• Long Span Bridges

Structural Engineering modules

• Steel Building Design
• Space Structures
• Structural Mechanics and Finite Elements
• Concrete Building Design
• Structural Safety and Reliability
• Earthquake Engineering
• Design of Masonry Structures

Construction Management modules

• Construction Organisation
• Project and Risk Management
• Construction, Management and Law

Geotechnical Engineering modules

• Soil–Structure Interaction
• Geotechnical Engineering 2

Water Engineering modules*

• Environmental Health
• Water Treatment
• Wastewater Treatment and Sewerage
• Applied Chemistry and Microbiology (Intensive)
• Pollution Control and Waste Management
• Groundwater Control
• Regulation and Management
• Water Resources Management and Hydraulic Modelling

* Students must meet prerequisites for some of these modules to be able to take them.

Transport Planning and Practice modules**

• Transport Policy
• Transport Strategies and Interventions
• Developing Transport Solutions
• Transport Appraisal Methods
• Design and Analysis of Transport Schemes
• Asset Management and Maintenance
• Transport Modelling
  ** Currently under review

This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng(Hons) or an Accredited IEng (Full) BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree.

See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.