Intro

Our accredited MSc gives you an advanced understanding of the concepts and philosophy of civil engineering and its practical application, preparing you for a career at the forefront of the profession.

You’ll develop the knowledge and skills to design engineering solutions that support sustainable development and protect against natural hazards to help ensure quality of life of future generations.

You’ll explore areas linked to the research we do. Our researchers have expertise in areas including structural engineering, earthquake and civil engineering dynamics, rock mechanics, foundation engineering and coastal engineering. You will work closely with your supervisor to plan, research and produce a masters dissertation that reflects your interests and career aspirations.

Our well-established links with industry provide networking opportunities and shared insight. You’ll also benefit from our specialist facilities and software.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2–3 years

Accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM)

Apply now for your place

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Degree and experience
A lower second class (2:2) degree in civil engineering. Candidates with an engineering or physical sciences degree or with relevant professional experience will be considered on an individual basis.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

View our English language courses

For pre-sessional English preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Course content

Course structure

The course can be studied full- or part-time and consists of taught and research components. To be awarded the MSc you must obtain 180 credits. Six taught modules at 20 credits each, plus 60 credits from the dissertation. A typical 20-credit module requires a total of 200 hours of study time.

 

Two students in white coats working together

Syllabus 

The taught programme of the course has been designed to be flexible and allows you to specialise according to your interests. The only constraint for the selection of modules is that you take and pass at least four technical option modules as indicated.

Modules

Core modules

  • Repair and Strengthening of Existing Reinforced Concrete Structures

    Most of the commonly used techniques for the earthquake strengthening of existing reinforced concrete structures will be covered in this module, such as concrete jacketing, epoxy resin injection and fibre-reinforced polymer composites. You will develop a deep understanding of the types and causes of damage and be able to select appropriate strengthening techniques and design strengthened elements.

  • Wave Mechanics and Structural Loading

    Wave Mechanics and Structural Loading will give you an understanding of different wave theories and their applications in offshore and coastal engineering practice. You will also develop an understanding of environments in which different wave theories may be applied. The module will introduce analytical, empirical and numerical methods for the analysis of wave loading on structures.

  • Dynamics of Structures with Earthquake Engineering Applications

    Following an introduction to the fundamental concepts of dynamics of structures, this module focuses on the prediction of the dynamic response of civil engineering structures using simplified analytical models of increasing levels of complexity. It also deals with the calculation of equivalent lateral forces to be used in codified seismic design.

  • Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering

    This module provides an understanding of advanced geotechnical design methods. It will focus on current design methods for soil and rock structures and foundation systems subject to complex loading conditions, with an emphasis on seismic design. The module will give you experience in using a variety of commercial software commonly used in practice.

  • Transport Modelling for Civil Engineering Applications

    This module will develop your skills in applying different modelling approaches appropriate for traffic engineering and transport planning to make road transport networks safe, sustainable and user appropriate. Topics will include traffic flow, demand and capacity, traffic data sources, processing and forecasting using statistical approaches, design of a junction and traffic signal plan design.

  • MSc Engineering Dissertation

    This 10000-word dissertation project enables you to undertake independent research in civil engineering and demonstrate your capacity for critical thinking and devising or recommending creative and appropriate solutions to a specific problem through your understanding and application of advanced engineering concepts.

Options*

  • Water Quality Assessment and Management

    This module introduces you to water quality assessment and management, teaching you skills related to field and laboratory experimental design, measurement of water quality, data analysis, interpretation of results and reporting to specialist/non-specialist audiences. It will provide you with experience in the management and presentation of large datasets and you will explore the roles of water safety planning, risk assessment, nature-based management and water treatment. You will also undertake analysis of water samples in the Centre for Aquatic Environments lab.

  • Water Recycling Technology

    Our ability to identify, treat and distribute water safely is critical, however water scarcity is increasing due to expanding populations and more varied weather patterns, so the need for new water sources means wastewater is a precious resource. The module will explore traditional water and wastewater treatment as well as advanced water recycling processes to enable selection and design of the most sustainable economic and environmental processes. It will also provide carbon accounting skills.

  • Rock Mechanics

    This module will provide you with an understanding of the behaviour of rocks and rock mass and enable you to evaluate the instability of rock slopes and tunnels and design reinforcements and supports for unstable rock. Topics will include the stress-strain relationship of intact rock and rock mass, rock mass classification, stereographic analysis, analysis of plane failure and evacuation techniques.

  • Sustainable Construction

    This module looks at how the design and construction of buildings impact the environment. It provides a critical appraisal of one planet living and the responsibilities of the individual and the construction industry, and explores the resources consumed and pollution resulting from buildings and methods by which their sustainability can be evaluated. Some of the key features of buildings acknowledged as ‘sustainable construction’ will also be appraised.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Close up of a person in a white lab coat testing a concrete block

Careers

Accreditation 

This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), comprising of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the academic requirement for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). To hold accredited qualifications for CEng registration, candidates must also hold a Bachelor (Hons) degree that has been accredited as partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

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

As part of this accreditation, we have achieved AHEP 4 standard, meaning that our degrees meet the requirements of the Engineering Council’s Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (Fourth Edition) in engineering in line with the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence.

The MSc is in the ‘Type I’ technical category which means that the MSc offers more learning outcomes than ‘Type II’. This may help students meet the CEng educational requirements even if the previous Bachelor’s degree covers the academic requirements for IEng registration. However, the student must verify with the JBM member institutions to ensure combinedly both courses will give the academic base to meet the CEng educational requirements.

Montage of JBM accrediting bodies logos

 Preparing for your career

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your degree. You will:

  • develop a critical awareness of, and ability to apply, current civil and environmental engineering practices globally
  • gain an understanding of the distinct branches of knowledge and skills within civil engineering and its associated subject areas
  • participate in group activities to develop teamwork, leadership skills and integration of subject specialisms
  • build advanced research, analytical and communication skills through working on your dissertation.
Student working with civil engineering facility for testing concrete

Facilities

Our specialist facilities include:

  • structures lab, equipped with static and cyclic loading equipment and data acquisition systems
  • dynamics lab equipped with a shake table that replicates seismic activity on scaled models
  • soil mechanics lab with direct and ring shear testing equipment, soil rock triaxial testing equipment and a geotechnical centrifuge
  • concrete lab with cube testing facilities, mixing and casting facilities and load testing rigs
  • hydraulics lab with flumes for river and wave simulation
  • soil and water analysis lab with muffle furnace, analytical balances, atomic absorption spectrometer and gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector
  • environment and public health lab with bench top spectrophotometers for basic water chemistry, membrane filtration equipment, incubators and sterilisation equipment for public health microbiology procedures
  • X-ray diffraction spectrometer
  • scanning electron microscopy facility
  • equipment for field-based geophysical surveying.

Industry links

Senior representatives from around the region meet regularly at our Industrial Advisory Board to review our courses, ensuring they remain up-to-date and relevant to industry.

Guest lecturers from industry share their insights and knowledge with you, giving you opportunities to network.

Graduate destinations 

The course will prepare you for work in areas including structural, geotechnical and coastal engineering.

Graduates have gone on into roles such as structural engineers and civil engineers in a number of structural design offices around the world.

Others have been motivated by the research component of the course and followed a PhD programme after graduation.

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,750 GBP

International (full-time)17,900 GBP

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

What's included

Here you’ll find details of specific resources and services that are included in the tuition fee for our School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering students. To help you to budget for your studies, there is also information on any additional costs that you may have to pay or can choose to pay in addition to your tuition fee.

Find out how tuition fees enable us to support all of our students with important services, facilities and resources across the university - https://www.brighton.ac.uk/whats-included-in-your-fee - and check out our finance pages for info about fees, funding and scholarships along with advice on international and island fee-paying status - https://www.brighton.ac.uk/fees-and-finance.

You can chat with our enquiries team - https://www.brighton.ac.uk/enquiries - if you have a question or need more information.

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees.

  • Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you’ll need to provide your own food and drink.
  • There will be opportunities to attend additional study trips or optional taught residential field trips throughout the school, but these are not required to pass your course. Normally, a contribution will be required towards expenses such as travel, entrance fees and accommodation. This will vary depending on where and how long the trip is, but you should budget around £1,500.
  • Where optional international field trips are offered, these are not required to pass your course. You should expect to budget £300–£500 for these, to cover flight, accommodation, food and entrance to museums. The total amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
  • If you choose to take an optional paid placement, you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.
  • Some students require specialist outdoor equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) and should budget up to £150.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software; however, many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices, but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the University of Brighton.
  • Course books are available from the university, but you may wish to budget from £15 to £100 per year to buy your own copies and subscribe to design magazines.
  • In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.
  • Costs of up to £50 are included in the fees for students on engineering courses to pay for materials for their final year projects. On rare occasions where material costs exceed £50, they will need to be paid for by the student.

Architecture, interior architecture, design and product design additional costs

  • Students should budget around £25 for printing and binding dissertations in their final year.
  • In your first year of studies, you will need to buy a drawing and modelling toolkit. Each course will suggest a list of items of which some will be essential, and others optional. You should budget around £100–£250 for these.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £100 to £300 per year for printing and portfolio costs. Costs will vary depending on type of printer and type and size of paper used. Some students tend to work digitally, spending more on printing and some by hand, spending more on materials so these costs vary widely between students.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £10 and £100 for material costs per design project. Costs will vary depending on how and what you use to make models. You are encouraged to recycle used materials where possible.
  • You will need to budget between £5–£50 to exhibit work for the end-of-year show. Fundraising by the student society, BIAAS, normally helps towards this cost.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you’ll find new Students’ Union, events venue and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our Moulsecoomb Place halls and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains so you can access all the exciting things happening in our home city.

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Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

  • Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
  • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently?
We can help – find out more about private renting.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

One of Time Out's 50 best cities in the world

“Brighton has… all the important parts of a sprawling cosmopolitan metropolis (connections to London in under an hour, an array of properly excellent restaurants, energetic late-night spots) … with the easy-breezy beachy attitude to life that makes you feel welcome in an instant.”
Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World, 2025

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy – as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Brighton Cricket Academy

Develop your cricketing skills in the UK’s largest indoor cricket facility alongside studying for a degree. Whether you can already play or you’re new to the game offers the opportunity to train with top coaches in our world-class training environment. 

Find out about the Brighton Cricket Academy.

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Take a tour of sport facilities on our Falmer campus

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

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