MSc Civil Engineering

Entry standards

A minimum of 60% in an  honours degree in civil engineering or equivalent. Alternatively, at least five years’ relevant industrial experience (preferably design) or a professional qualification. 

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

MSc Civil Engineering - structure and modules

Module Overview 

There are over 30 modules available, each worth 15 credits, covering the general areas of bridge engineering, construction management, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, water engineering, and transport planning. The majority of Bridge, Geotechnical and Structural Engineering modules can be studied by distance learning. 

The wide variety of modules that are available allows you to choose different module pathways through the programme to suit your individual needs. Depending on the module mix the Civil Engineering MSc is classified as both technical or non-technical for the purpose of accreditation by the relevant professional bodies.

To achieve the MSc Civil Engineering you will need to pass eight modules, with at least one being chosen from each of the Bridge Engineering, Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Management groups of modules. The remaining four modules are a free choice from all the Civil Engineering module groups.

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 ten weeks and comprise approximately 30 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 (ULearn). 

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 

A number of management modules will be available covering:

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

 Geotechnical Engineering modules 

• Soil–Structure Interaction 
• Geotechnics 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 

* Currently under review.

* 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 

MSc Civil Engineering - entry standards

Entry standards

A minimum of 60% in an  honours degree in civil engineering or equivalent. Alternatively, at least five years’ relevant industrial experience (preferably design) or a professional qualification. 

English language requirements

Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).

Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.

Planned intake

Unlimited

Start date

September, February

Programme Director

• Mr Tony Thorne

MSc Civil Engineering - fees and funding

Fees

Civil Engineering (full time):

UK/EU - £5,740 
Overseas - £14,830

Civil Engineering (part time - per module and for the dissertation):

UK/EU - £638
Overseas - £1,648

www.surrey.ac.uk/pgfees/2012

Funding

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

MSc Civil Engineering - professional context

Professional recognition

This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineering (CEng) candidate who has already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) (for those wishing to do a nontechnical MSc) and / or Accredited IEng (Full) BEng /BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree (for those wishing to do a technical MSc). 

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

MSc Civil Engineering - teaching

Teaching hours

Each module corresponds to 150 hours of work, which includes 30 hours of lectures in the case of contact students.

Staff perspective

Mr Tony Thorne

As with the Structural Engineering and Bridge Engineering MScs, the Civil Engineering MSc is available by distance learning and benefits from the module notes and e-learning support in place to aid the module learning.  

As a distance-learning student, you will have the benefit of contact through e-learning with other distance-learning students and the campus-based students. As a campus-based student, you will have e-learning contact with the distance-learning students many of who will be working full time in the industry.

A project is a compulsory element of the MSc programme and to meet this requirement the Department has excellent laboratories and computing facilities, enabling a wide range of projects to be undertaken based upon current research or new, relevant industrial practice

MSc Civil Engineering - learning

Academic Support, Facilities and Equipment 

Modules related to the different groups are taught by a total of 17 full- or part-time members of staff as well as over 20 visiting lecturers. 

An extensive library, which stocks more than 85,000 printed and e-books and more than 1400 (1100 online) journal titles, all in the broad area of engineering, caters for the students’ studying needs. The library support can be extended further through inter-library loans. 

Our excellent testing facilities can support experimentally based MSc dissertation projects. 

Tony Thorne has worked in industry with the Severn/ Trent river authority, Norwest Holst, Kottler and Heron, and Preload Limited prior to joining the University of Surrey in 1981 as a researcher. Following a brief period at Wimpey Laboratories, Tony returned in 1984, and since has researched on the use of advanced composite materials in construction. Tony has over 30 conference publications and over 30 refereed journal publications. In recent years this type of work has been carried out by our MSc students on a wide variety of materials such as concrete, FRP and light gauge steels. Where possible, the work related to the MSc dissertation can be carried out in parallel with, and in support of, ongoing research. In the past, several graduates have carried on their MSc research onto a PhD programme. 

As part of your learning experience, you will have at your disposal a wide range of relevant software, including ANSYS, ABAQUS, DIANA, SAP 2000, Integer SuperSTRESS, LUSAS, CRISP, PertMaster and DRACULA.

Assessment 

Modules are generally assessed by a combination of examinations and continuous assessment. The latter will be based on solutions to tutorial questions, reports covering practical sessions and fieldwork, and essays on a number of suitable topics.

Each module is examined separately. There is a written final examination for most modules (some modules are examined by continuous assessment only) at the end of each semester. The modules and the dissertation have a minimum pass mark of 50 per cent.

MSc Civil Engineering - graduate profile

Graduate Profile: Derek Van Rensberg

MSc Civil Engineering

The University of Surrey has a good reputation for the Civil Engineering programme and the choice of subject suited me perfectly.

I enjoyed being able to ask questions about subjects which I did not have an understanding of. As I progressed through my degree I was able to see myself develop as an engineer and was able to solve engineering problems better.

I have developed my sense of time management as I studied part-time and have had to find a balance for work, study and play. I have also seen huge benefits in my approach to engineering problems and feel that, now, I have the skills that enable me to analytically solve problems using these skills.

Being South African, I carried out my initial studies in South Africa. I enjoy the outdoors and have a passion for building things. 

My diploma in South Africa did not go into the great depths that was covered in my postgraduate studies at Surrey. The value that this course has placed on my CV has enabled me to get any job that I want within the construction industry in England at my level. I am a freelance engineer specialising in technical and complex engineering problems.

MSc Civil Engineering - more

MSc Civil Engineering - apply

• MSc Civil Engineering - Full-time - starting September 2012
• MSc Civil Engineering - Full-time - starting February 2013
• MSc Civil Engineering - Part-time - starting September 2012
• MSc Civil Engineering - Part-time - starting February 2013
• MSc Civil Engineering - Distance Learning - starting September 2012
• MSc Civil Engineering - Distance Learning - starting February 2013