Civil Engineering at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

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Course summary

Overview Work toward Chartered Engineer status with an accredited Master's that helps you become a critically reflective practioner in civil engineering. On this MSc Civil Engineering, you'll develop postgraduate-level skills and knowledge covering the different phases of public works projects, from planning and design to construction and management. You'll master the theory and use of Finite Element Method (FEM) tools, apply numerical analysis techniques, and explore the ways in which engineering can engage with environmental issues. Our syllabus is regularly updated in consultation with industry specialists, so you can be sure of building your strategic management skills in line with what the sector needs. You'll also be able to shape this degree to meet your own needs, as you plan and deliver an integrated design project exploring your engineering interests. You'll be studying with lecturers who are professionally engaged with the sector, working closely with the construction industry and its professional bodies alongside their research and teaching, and you'll have opportunities to develop your industry contacts through our visiting speakers. When you graduate, you'll be qualified to work toward your Chartered Professional Review, to take on professional roles in the civil engineering field, or to dig into PhD research and an academic career. Accredited by: This course is accredited by the Engineering Council, meeting the requirements for further learning for CEng for candidates who have already acquired an accredited CEng (partial) BEng (Hons) or an accredited IEng (full) BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree. What you'll experience On this course you'll:

  • Learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and discussion groups, and benefit from the expertise of our academic staff as well as experienced practitioners from outside organisations
  • Master civil engineering science, using structural analysis, numerical analysis, and solving engineering problems using the Finite Element Method (FEM) and FEM software packages
  • Apply your skills to practical problems as part of our partnership schemes with local and global organisations, and design an integrated project that focuses your learning on your career interests
  • Use our laboratory facilities – including an environmental lab and computing equipment – in support of your lectures and seminars, and join workshops and talks with industry practitioners
  • Study for a Master's that follows the current needs of the industry, shaped by advice from our Industrial Advisory Committee, made up of senior executives from leading client, contracting and consulting organisations
The degree you graduate with depends on what area you focus on in your design project. Your options are:
  • MSc Civil Engineering
  • MSc Civil Engineering with Earthquake Engineering
  • MSc Civil Engineering with Environmental Engineering
  • MSc Civil Engineering with Geotechnical Engineering
  • MSc Civil Engineering with Structural Engineering
You don't need to decide which area to specialise in until you begin your design project. Careers and opportunities Civil engineers need a wide range of skills and abilities in order to meet society's changing needs. When you graduate from the MSc Civil Engineering degree course, you'll have the expert knowledge, technical skills and competencies that employers in industry expect. The employment rate for our civil engineering graduates is excellent. What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree? Career opportunities include:
  • Civil engineering
  • Site engineering
  • Construction
  • Consultancy
  • Project management

Modules

What you'll study on this MSc Civil Engineering degree course Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits. You'll need to study modules worth a total of 180 credits. For example, 4 modules worth 30 credits and 1 module worth 60 credits. Core modules currently include:

  • Advanced Engineering Science (20 credits)
  • Advanced Geotechnics (20 credits)
  • Civil Engineering Group Design Project (20 credits)
  • Environmental Management (20 credits)
  • Independent Project (60 credits)
  • Tools, Techniques and Processes of Project Management (20 credits)
Optional units include:
  • BIM Theory and Practice (20 credits)
  • Climate Change and Decarbonisation (20 credits)
  • General Management (20 credits)
  • Water Resources Engineering (20 credits)
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry.

Assessment method

You'll be assessed through:

  • examinations
  • coursework
  • projects
  • dissertation
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • The Joint Board of Moderators
  • The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation

Entry requirements

A second-class honours degree in Civil Engineering or a related subject, or equivalent industrial and work experience and/or qualification.


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
PTE Academic54An overall score of 54 with a minimum of 51 in each skill.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £5200 Year 1
England £5200 Year 1
Northern Ireland £5200 Year 1
Scotland £5200 Year 1
Wales £5200 Year 1
Channel Islands £5200 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £5200 Year 1
International £9600 Year 1

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Fees may also go up in later years, in line with inflation.
Civil Engineering at University of Portsmouth - UCAS