An MSc in Civil and Environmental Engineering - the route to a profession with a real stake in the development of tomorrow’s world. 

As the world and its infrastructure becomes more and more sophisticated so does the need to create and maintain a sustainable environment for future generations.  Managing these apparently opposing forces in an inventive way is the challenge facing today’s civil engineer.  Imagine projects as diverse as The Eden Project, Hong Kong International Airport and the WaterAid Ethiopian Project and you will begin to understand the diversity of activity and skills that a civil engineer can become involved in.  

With an MSc in one of the specialist disciplines within Civil and Environmental Engineering graduates are given the opportunity to gain deeper understanding into the specific challenges facing civil engineers.  By specialising in structural engineering, students gain an in-depth understanding of the scientific principles involved in how building materials respond to natural or man-made phenomena e.g. the effects of stresses induced from wind and earthquakes on steel and concrete structures, or how the effects of accidental gas explosions on drilling platforms can be contained providing a safe environment for the workforce.  With this knowledge they will bring understanding to how buildings could withstand seismic activity so that in the future more buildings will be built to withstand earthquakes – even in the poorest nations.  A graduate following an MSc in Transport Studies will learn how communities join together and how to develop transport solutions that increase speed of communication, conserve energy, reduce pollution, congestion and accidents.An understanding of the earth’s structure enables graduates following an MSc in one of the areas of Geotechnics to understand the impact of some of the huge excavations required by structures such as the Jubilee Line extension in London and how the famous leaning Tower of Pisa was saved from imminent collapse (and how it comes to lean less these days).  Those wishing to become specialists in clean water supply, responsible waste management and pollution control could do a lot worse than following an MSc programme in an Environmental Engineering discipline.

By following an MSc in one of the specialist areas within the broad subject of Civil and Environmental Engineering graduates are sure to be part of shaping the world’s future environment whether by creating structures of great architectural or engineering interest or by enabling society to access clean water and dispose of its waste safely and responsibly.  Moreover as further technical breakthroughs are made, these need a vehicle for dissemination to future engineers and the MSc students are kept abreast of cutting edge research from academics who are at the forefront of their disciplines. 

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Imperial College London, for example, offers specialised one year postgraduate study programmes in Advanced Structural Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnics and Transport that encompass a total of 25 course titles each of which leads to an MSc accredited by the professional institutions as a so-called “Matching Section”.  Imperial welcomes applications from graduates from all over the world and those who may wish to transfer to a Civil Engineering career from other related subjects.  Graduates with first degrees other than in Civil Engineering such as: Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Materials Science, Architecture and Geography.  All have been successful in their studies at this level.  A 2.1 or equivalent is the degree usually required by for entry to courses at postgraduate level.

After graduating there are various career paths that are taken.  In industry, graduates can work within the leading design consultancies, construction companies and materials manufacturers.  Normally, these engineers would seek Chartered Engineer status, and an MSc from an accredited course from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) or the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), upgrades their professional status from Part I to Part II in just twelve months, the same level as a current MEng graduate from a suitably accredited course.  With only an accredited BEng, the route to Chartered Engineering status would tend to be slower via relevant professional experience and training.

Some graduates go on to further study towards a PhD students.  Students that follow this path can pursue a research, technical specialist or academic career. 

For more information please visit: www.imperial.ac.uk/civilengineering/study/masters

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