MSc Advanced Geotechnical Engineering
University of Surrey
Key Information
Campus location
Guildford, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
Distance Learning, On-Campus
Duration
1 - 5 year
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 26,000 / per year *
Application deadline
01 Jul 2024
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* full-time Overseas; full-time UK: £11,900 | part-time/distance-learning UK students: £1,300/15 credits; part-time/distance-learning overseas students: £2,800/15 credits
Introduction
Why Choose This Course
Geotechnical engineering – the mechanics of the earth’s materials – is a sector with a huge global skills shortage, meaning that well-trained geotechnical engineers are in high demand.
Our Advanced Geotechnical Engineering MSc will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue an exciting career in the geotechnical engineering sector, including offshore and earthquake geotechnics.
You'll be taught in highly specialized facilities such as our geotechnical lab, which has recently benefitted from a £450,000 investment, by academics who are leaders in their field. Throughout your course, you’ll also benefit from the expert knowledge of specialist guest speakers, including visiting academics and engineers working in the industry.
What You Will Study
Our MSc will develop your understanding of the principles and theories behind ground engineering, from soil mechanics to site investigation, and from advanced soil testing to foundation design. We will provide you with the necessary skills to address technological challenges in the geotechnical engineering sector.
You'll explore topics, including deep foundations in urban areas, deep water energy resources exploration, field monitoring, foundations for energy infrastructure and major bridges, and tunneling.
You’ll also have the opportunity to work on a research project, enabling you to acquire, analyze and critically evaluate data, and then draw valid conclusions from it. It will test your understanding of scientific methodology, and allow you to graduate as a confident and capable geotechnical engineer.
The course covers the following:
- Analysis techniques
- Simplified (spreadsheet-based)
- Standard (code-based methods or simple software)
- Advanced (finite element method)
- Back analysis of the collapse of foundations
- Design and construction of foundations for bridges, buildings, offshore structures, tunnels, and deep basements in busy cities
- Dissertation on a geotechnical topic
- Fundamental soil mechanics and its modeling using numerical approaches
- Testing of soils to obtain design parameters – we use our purpose-built SAGE laboratory for teaching
Distance Learning
Surrey is a pioneer in distance learning-based MSc courses in civil and environmental engineering. This flexible option allows you to study for our distinctive, accredited program from anywhere in the world, without the need to relocate or give up your existing job.
As a distance learner, you’ll study eight modules and complete a dissertation in your chosen subject (like full-time and part-time students), but you can take up to five years to complete your master's. You&rsquo'll be able to access all module materials through our virtual learning environment, SurreyLearn, and arrange to take end-of-module exams remotely.
Professional Recognition
MSc - Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE)
Accredited by IHE as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer under the provisions of UK-SPEC for candidates that have already acquired a CEng accredited BEng(Hons) undergraduate first degree.
MSc - Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
Accredited by ICE as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer under the provisions of UK-SPEC for candidates that have already acquired a CEng accredited BEng(Hons) undergraduate first degree.
MSc - Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)
Accredited by IStructE as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer under the provisions of UK-SPEC for candidates that have already acquired a CEng-accredited BEng(Hons) undergraduate first degree.
MSc - European Accreditation of Engineering Programs (EUR-ACE)
This Program is accredited by the European Accreditation of Engineering Programs (EUR-ACE)
MSc - The Permanent Way Institution
Accredited as partially meeting the academic requirement for CEng registration: i.e. Bachelor (Honours) degrees accredited as partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Graduates from these programs will need to demonstrate 8 additional AHEP Learning Outcomes1 to demonstrate the required underpinning knowledge and understanding for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Admissions
Curriculum
Modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that modules may be subject to teaching availability, student demand, and/or class size caps.
The University operates a credit framework for all taught programs based on a 15-credit tariff. Modules can be either 15, 30, 45, 75, or 120 credits, and additionally for some masters dissertations, 90 credits.
The structure of our programs follows clear educational aims that are tailored to each program. These are all outlined in the program specifications which include further details such as the learning outcomes:
Year 1 Full-time
- Advanced Soil Mechanics
- Applied Chemistry and Microbiology
- Durability of Bridges and Structures
- Energy Geotechnics
- Global Challenges in Water and Health
- Infrastructure Financing
- Infrastructure Systems, Interdependencies and Resilience
- Prestressed Concrete Bridge Design
- Steel Building Design
- Structural Mechanics & Finite Elements
- Wastewater Treatment
- Water Treatment
- Building Information Modelling
- Concrete Building Design
- Deep Foundations and Earth-Retaining Structures
- Earthquake Engineering
- Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing
- Infrastructure Asset Management
- Nature-Based Solutions in Environmental Engineering
- Soil-structure Interaction
- Steel and Composite Bridge Design
- Sustainability and Infrastructure
- Water Resources Management and Hydraulic Modelling
- Dissertation Project
3-5 Years part-time
- Advanced Soil Mechanics
- Applied Chemistry and Microbiology
- Durability of Bridges and Structures
- Energy Geotechnics
- Global Challenges in Water and Health
- Infrastructure Financing
- Infrastructure Systems, Interdependencies and Resilience
- Prestressed Concrete Bridge Design
- Steel Building Design
- Structural Mechanics & Finite Elements
- Wastewater Treatment
- Water Treatment
- Building Information Modelling
- Concrete Building Design
- Deep Foundations and Earth-Retaining Structures
- Earthquake Engineering
- Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing
- Infrastructure Asset Management
- Nature-Based Solutions in Environmental Engineering
- Soil-structure Interaction
- Steel and Composite Bridge Design
- Sustainability and Infrastructure
- Water Resources Management and Hydraulic Modelling
- Dissertation Project
3-5 Years Distance Learning
- Advanced Soil Mechanics
- Applied Chemistry and Microbiology
- Durability of Bridges and Structures
- Energy Geotechnics
- Global Challenges in Water and Health
- Infrastructure Financing
- Infrastructure Systems, Interdependencies and Resilience
- Prestressed Concrete Bridge Design
- Steel Building Design
- Structural Mechanics & Finite Elements
- Wastewater Treatment
- Water Treatment
- Building Information Modelling
- Concrete Building Design
- Deep Foundations and Earth-Retaining Structures
- Earthquake Engineering
- Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing
- Infrastructure Asset Management
- Nature-Based Solutions in Environmental Engineering
- Soil-structure Interaction
- Steel and Composite Bridge Design
- Sustainability and Infrastructure
- Water Resources Management and Hydraulic Modelling
- Dissertation Project
Timetable
Course timetables are normally available one month before the start of the semester.
New students will receive their personalised timetable in Welcome Week, and in subsequent semesters, two weeks prior to the start of semester.
Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week (Monday – Friday). Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities. Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week, details of which can be obtained from the Academic Hive.
Career Opportunities
We offer career information, advice, and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
Our master's courses in civil and environmental engineering open up a huge range of career opportunities, including with major consultancies and contractors.
Recent MSc graduates have been employed by:
- AECOM
- Amey
- Arcadis
- ARUP
- A-squared Studio
- Atkins
- Capita Real Estate and Infrastructure
- Fluor
- Highways England
- Laing O’Rourke
- Mott MacDonald
- Peter Brett Associates
- WSP.
Facilities
Program Tuition Fee
English Language Requirements
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