Overview
Structural engineers shape the world with their problem-solving abilities. This accredited course is offered to UK and overseas civil engineering and cognate science/engineering graduates wishing to specialise in structural engineering.
This specialist course is designed to provide advanced analytical and professional skills across planning, design and operational areas of timber, steel, concrete, sustainable composite and lightweight materials and structures. A technical focused MSc research project is also mandatory for students enrolled on this course.
This highly practical course is delivered with input from industry to help you establish or advance your career as a structural design engineer.
Work placement option
This master's programme provides you with the additional option to apply for a 'work placement' opportunity during your first semester with us. The 'work placement' is designed to further develop your skills, knowledge and professional experience with the aim of maximising your employability prospects. Please note that the optional placement modules incur an additional tuition fee of £4,000. Find out more about the work placement pathway.
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedStudent experience
All the support you need, in a top student cityAccreditation and Professional Recognition
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, and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree.*
*It should be noted that candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited bachelor degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.
Institution of Civil Engineers
The Institution of Structural Engineers
The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation
Institute of Highway Engineers
Chartered Management Institute
As part of this course you will undertake a professional development module which is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) for the 2020-21 intake. Upon successful completion of the module, you will gain the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice at no additional cost. Further details can be found under the ‘course detail’ tab and on the Professional Development module homepage.
Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI is currently ongoing for the relevant modules and is regularly reviewed and monitored by the CMI through their quality systems. Whilst Coventry University anticipates that these reviews will continue to be successful, if they were to be unsuccessful, the relevant module in this course would no longer be accredited and we would notify applicants and students of this change as soon as possible.
What our students say...
I believe having an MSc from the UK will open more paths in my career and give me confidence in my future career.
Course information
You will have the opportunity to learn the laboratory testing procedures and techniques used to assess material and structural performance, using modern and upgraded loading equipment automated with data loggers, saturated and unsaturated stress path soil testing apparatus and commercial civil engineering material mixing and synthesising equipment.
This course includes a mandatory Consulting Global Professional Development module developed in partnership with the Chartered Management Institute.
Course Specification
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Modules
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
In more detail...
Coventry University offers modern facilities in our High Performance Engineering Centre, including construction site management simulation. We have links with industry and the course is developed and delivered by academic lecturers and guest speakers in collaboration with civil engineering employers, such as Underground Professional Services and Morgan Sindall.
The course is designed to develop knowledge and understanding of engineering principles and practices, together with methods used to analyse, design, test and monitor structural engineering systems, materials and structural performance.
From concept to construction, we aim to cover the technical skills required to analyse, design and develop sound solutions to structural engineering projects. Using case studies, practical sessions, simulation labs and site visits to live projects, you will have the opportunity to apply engineering principles and use computer modelling techniques to analyse complex engineering systems, gaining valuable experience of the work you will be able to carry out in an industrial context. Past projects have included the Severn Trent building and the Coventry A45/A46 by-pass.
- Home to the Coventry University Simulation Centre.
- 85% overall positive student experience at Coventry University compared to 83% UK average (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2016).
- Strong portfolio of research with 60% of ‘General Engineering’ research rated as 4* or 3* in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014.
Visiting lecture programme which in the past has featured the chairman of Geotechnical Ltd.
Our main study themes are:
- Soil-Structure Interaction: Aims to share the technical knowledge and skills to develop the analytical, decision-making and critical powers required to solve soil-structure interaction problems with ground engineering, along with the transferrable skills to enable a leading career in Civil Engineering (Geotechnical Engineering).
- Plastic Theory of Structures: We will aim to improve your previously acquired knowledge of structural mechanics and design principles for the plastic analysis and design of steel structures. There will be opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of advanced techniques, such as optimisation analysis and reliability analysis of structures and demonstrate expertise in their application.
- Connection Design: Aims to extend your previously acquired knowledge of steel and timber structures to help you tackle structural designs of greater complexity. You will have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of design techniques for complex steel and timber connections, as well as demonstrate expertise in their application.
- Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering:We will aim to help you develop and apply knowledge and understanding of responses of structures to different vibrations combined with computational methods and modelling techniques, and expertise in the usage of these methods will be emphasised. These methods will be placed in the context of applications within engineering in general and structural engineering, using finite element analysis techniques.
- Structural Health and Performance Assessment: Aims to help you understand the key aspects of structural health and performance issues of civil structures. You will explore structural health and performance assessment techniques, state-of-the-art data acquisition and analysis. This understanding will help enable your understanding of design against structural collapse, together with developing cost-effective maintenance and strengthening regimes to prolong structural elements. The strengthening of concrete and metallic structures with materials such as steel plates and advanced fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites will be explored.
The course can be studied on a one-year full-time basis or over two years part-time. Each module consists of five days of tuition spanning over two weeks (Monday to Wednesday in the first week, and Thursday & Friday in the second week), followed by independent study and completion of assessments.
You will also be given training in research methods to prepare you for the Integrated Project and individual Research Project.
The Integrated Project is normally team-based and investigates a real engineering problem. In the past, students have revaluated the £55-60 million projects at the Coventry A45/A46 By-pass and the I54 Wolverhampton Junction Technopark.
Companies such as Underground Professional Services, currently involved in HS2 rail projects, often suggest research topics for our MSc students. For example, one such project is on the method of monitoring strength gain in sprayed concrete at the tunnel’s crown, comparing thermal imaging (SMUTI) and penetrometer methods.
You will have opportunity to attend Midlands Structural Engineers and Geotechnical Engineers workshops, visit constructions sites, such the Coventry A45/A46 by-pass, and design offices, which are organised in conjunction with industry partners. You will also be invited to special visiting researcher seminars and talks. Workshops and field trips may be subject to additional costs and are subject to availability.
Assessment includes examinations, written tests, computer modelling work, your thesis and coursework, consisting of analysis and evaluation of a number of laboratory exercises, case study assignments and projects.
Coursework/ Practical work: 25%
Formal examinations: 39%
Individual Dissertation/Group project: 36%
On successful completion of the course, you should be able to:
- Apply knowledge and wide-ranging understanding of health, safety & environment principles and legal framework within which the construction industry operates, and undertake full ethical and professional responsibilities in the discharge of your duties.
- Apply in-depth knowledge and detailed understanding of structural analysis and design, innovative construction and performance assessment and maintenance techniques to civil engineering structures.
- Apply innovative and advanced computational methods and simulation tools to model and analyse complex structural and coupled-field engineering systems.
- Apply wide-ranging understanding of experimental, analytical & numerical techniques for investigative studies in structural and geotechnical engineering.
- Apply detailed understanding in proposal development and writing; use innovative knowledge in sourcing, analysing and presenting data; and apply research methodologies to undertake independent technical investigation and academic writing of a specialised topic.
- Develop your personal abilities in teamwork, leadership and communication.
- Apply corporate strategy and systems theory to the management of projects in engineering and construction industry.
Actual teaching contact hours will vary depending on the requirements of a particular semester. In a typical week your contact hours will be divided amongs tutorials and small group teaching; medium group teaching (e.g. seminars, tutorial sessions and lab sessions); and large group teaching (lectures).
In addition, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study each week, depending on the demands of individual modules. The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 16 contact hours per week.
Structural engineering is a global industry and this course attracts students from around the world, including Europe, China, Africa, India, Brunei, Malaysia and the Middle East, providing a multicultural learning experience.
As part of the Global Professional Development module, you will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding of international, cultural and ethical issues, coupled with the principles of consultancy and the theories and practices found in leadership. We will also draw on best practice transport projects from around the world.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2016/17, we were able to provide a total of 3,482 student experiences abroad that lasted at least five.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
international experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni (HESA 2016/17)
3,482
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2016/17
21,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally so far
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
Entry Requirements
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
Course essentials – additional costs
Field trips may be subject to additional costs. Students are also expected to be equipped with appropriate fieldwork clothing and footwear.Subject to a successful application for the optional work placement, a £4000 placement fee is payable in semester two.
EU student fees
EU nationals and their family members starting in the 2019/20 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
Career prospects
The engineering sector generated 25% of the UK’s total GDP in 2015 (£420.5 billion).
You may want to apply for this course if you are considering specialising in Structural Engineering, or require further qualification to advance your career within the public and private sector as a civil or structural engineer. If you are already working within the profession, the course provides an opportunity to enhance previously acquired knowledge regarding the latest issues and technological advances. For example, all design-related modules are taught in accordance with the new structural Eurocodes. In addition, we employ civil and structural engineering software, such as ANSYS and MIDAS for teaching and learning; you should also be able to download these computer applications to undertake your coursework.
As a postgraduate student, you can also receive support from our faculty’s employability and placements unit the Talent Team , which won the ‘Best Placement Service in the UK’ award at the National Undergraduate Employability Awards in 2015 and 2016.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.
Where our graduates work
Some of our graduates have gone on to work for Jacobs, Atkins and AECOM as structural/civil engineers. You could also move into construction, design, project management or go on to pursue an academic or research-oriented career.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 19/20 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the webpage and in the prospectus will apply. If the duration of the course is longer than one academic year, the university may increase the fee for each subsequent year of study but any such increases will be no more than inflation.
Following the UK’s planned exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit from the European Union, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. Coventry University will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance at that time.
Graduate Immigration Route visa – Based on current information from the UK Government, students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
