MSc Advanced Structural Engineering 12 months Postgraduate Programme By Heriot-Watt University |TopUniversities
Subject Ranking

# 151-200QS Subject Rankings

Programme Duration

12 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

25,480 GBPTuition Fee/year

Main Subject Area

Engineering - Civil and StructuralMain Subject Area

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Civil and Structural

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

Overview

MSc Advanced Structural Engineering provides those of you with a bachelor-levels graduate degree the opportunity to build upon your existing knowledge and skills. For those of you from a different engineering background, the programme offers you the opportunity to develop key advanced knowledge in structural engineering to be able to work within the civil and structural engineering industry. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the core technical skills and personal qualities required to work within the dynamic industry at the highest possible technical level and the programme will provide you with an accredited route to becoming a Chartered engineer.  

During the master’s programme, you’ll gain relevant specialist expertise in the field of civil and structural engineering and understand the relevance of sustainability in professional practice. You’ll have an awareness of current global issues, the multidisciplinary relevance to solving industry challenges, and learn about necessary legislative frameworks at a national and international level.  

This career-focused master’s programme will develop your technical, scientific, and managerial abilities, and provide you with a specialist education to set you up to become a professional structural engineer. Upon completion, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to prepare you for a wide range of technical and managerial careers across the sector, including roles in process and plant design, construction, commissioning, operation, management to specialist consultancy, and advanced research and development.  

Our Expertise

Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active civil and structural engineers, construction professionals, industry-leaders, and academics. 


96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh. 


Our MSc Advanced Structural Engineering programme is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Sustainable Built Environment (ISBE) which sits within the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS). EGIS is one of the United Kingdom’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity. The institute’s academic team conduct high-value and high-impact research on fields covering sustainability, digital innovation, design, and management of the built environment. The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused. 


This School is also part of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design, a leading body recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Centre is one of only four such centres established at United Kingdom universities that jointly form a national network to demonstrate and exchange best practice in teaching and research for the sustainable built environment. 

Your Learning Environment

The MSc Advanced Structural Engineering programme is taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory practical demonstrations and experiments, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.  


During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our specialist equipment, computing software and laboratories, including a state-of-the-art Heavy Structures Lab fully equipped to enable large-scale structural testing under a range of loading conditions, a wave basin which can be programmed for hydrodynamic simulations and fluid-structure interaction testing, a geotechnics lab with a range of soil testing equipment, and a rail track testing facility. 


Outside of the classroom, you can get involved with the Heriot-Watt Student Union and there are lots of ways to do so including participating in student groups, becoming a student representative or a school officer, and joining societies. There are several engineering societies, and you may wish to join the:  

Societies provide a great opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects.  

Customise Your Learning

You’ll take two mandatory courses in semester one and choose one course from a choice of four advanced engineering courses, you’ll also choose a sustainability course. In semester two, you’ll take two mandatory courses and choose two optional courses from a list of options.  
In semester three, you’ll undertake an extensive and specialised investigation into your chosen area of structural engineering through your dissertation. You’ll be required to research and report in depth on a subject of relevance to your professional career aspirations. 
You can choose whether to study the programme full time or part time at our Edinburgh campus. This flexibility allows you to fit your postgraduate studies around your career and lifestyle. The programme begins in September and the course will last 12 months full time or 24 months part time.  
Accreditation This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers, the 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 Joint Board of Moderators for further information.

Programme overview

Main Subject

Engineering - Civil and Structural

Degree

MSc

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

Overview

MSc Advanced Structural Engineering provides those of you with a bachelor-levels graduate degree the opportunity to build upon your existing knowledge and skills. For those of you from a different engineering background, the programme offers you the opportunity to develop key advanced knowledge in structural engineering to be able to work within the civil and structural engineering industry. You’ll gain a deep understanding of the core technical skills and personal qualities required to work within the dynamic industry at the highest possible technical level and the programme will provide you with an accredited route to becoming a Chartered engineer.  

During the master’s programme, you’ll gain relevant specialist expertise in the field of civil and structural engineering and understand the relevance of sustainability in professional practice. You’ll have an awareness of current global issues, the multidisciplinary relevance to solving industry challenges, and learn about necessary legislative frameworks at a national and international level.  

This career-focused master’s programme will develop your technical, scientific, and managerial abilities, and provide you with a specialist education to set you up to become a professional structural engineer. Upon completion, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to prepare you for a wide range of technical and managerial careers across the sector, including roles in process and plant design, construction, commissioning, operation, management to specialist consultancy, and advanced research and development.  

Our Expertise

Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active civil and structural engineers, construction professionals, industry-leaders, and academics. 


96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh. 


Our MSc Advanced Structural Engineering programme is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Sustainable Built Environment (ISBE) which sits within the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS). EGIS is one of the United Kingdom’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity. The institute’s academic team conduct high-value and high-impact research on fields covering sustainability, digital innovation, design, and management of the built environment. The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused. 


This School is also part of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design, a leading body recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Centre is one of only four such centres established at United Kingdom universities that jointly form a national network to demonstrate and exchange best practice in teaching and research for the sustainable built environment. 

Your Learning Environment

The MSc Advanced Structural Engineering programme is taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory practical demonstrations and experiments, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.  


During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our specialist equipment, computing software and laboratories, including a state-of-the-art Heavy Structures Lab fully equipped to enable large-scale structural testing under a range of loading conditions, a wave basin which can be programmed for hydrodynamic simulations and fluid-structure interaction testing, a geotechnics lab with a range of soil testing equipment, and a rail track testing facility. 


Outside of the classroom, you can get involved with the Heriot-Watt Student Union and there are lots of ways to do so including participating in student groups, becoming a student representative or a school officer, and joining societies. There are several engineering societies, and you may wish to join the:  

Societies provide a great opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects.  

Customise Your Learning

You’ll take two mandatory courses in semester one and choose one course from a choice of four advanced engineering courses, you’ll also choose a sustainability course. In semester two, you’ll take two mandatory courses and choose two optional courses from a list of options.  
In semester three, you’ll undertake an extensive and specialised investigation into your chosen area of structural engineering through your dissertation. You’ll be required to research and report in depth on a subject of relevance to your professional career aspirations. 
You can choose whether to study the programme full time or part time at our Edinburgh campus. This flexibility allows you to fit your postgraduate studies around your career and lifestyle. The programme begins in September and the course will last 12 months full time or 24 months part time.  
Accreditation This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers, the 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 Joint Board of Moderators for further information.

Admission Requirements

79+
6+
2.7+
169+
59+
Masters (MSc) level entry applicants must have one of the following:
  1. Minimum of 2:2 honours degree or equivalent academic qualification in a related subject area (structural engineering)
  2. For postgraduate conversion courses, non-related degrees will be considered.
  3. Corporate (or chartered) membership of relevant professional institutions will also be considered.
PG Diploma level entry applicants must have at least an ordinary degree in a related subject area and relevant post qualification industry experience.
Candidates who do not meet the above entry requirements or have no formal academic qualifications will be considered individually based on their CV and possibly interview. Admission via this route will be at the discretion of the Director of Studies and Programme Leader.
Non-graduating (e.g. CPD) study at master’s level:
Entry is based on CV or on formal academic qualifications or graduate (or incorporated) membership of a relevant professional institution. Admission via this route will be at the discretion of the Director of Studies and Programme Leader.
Recognition of Prior Learning
We are committed to providing study opportunities to applicants who have a wide range of prior experiences through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). For more information on RPL, please contact the Admissions Team ([email protected]) ahead of application. We can only consider requests for RPL at the time of application to a course of study.

1 Year
Sep

Tuition fees

Domestic
12,192 GBP
International
25,480 GBP

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