MSc Advanced Geotechnical Engineering University of Surrey

Key information

• Start date: February 2021; October 2021
• Full-time: 1 year
• Part-time: 5 years
• Distance-learning: 5 years

Why choose this course

Geotechnical engineering – the mechanics of the earth’s materials – is a sector with a huge global skills shortage, meaning that well-trained geotechnical engineers are in high demand.

Our Advanced Geotechnical Engineering MSc will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue an exciting career in the geotechnical engineering sector, including offshore and earthquake geotechnics.

You’ll be taught in highly specialised facilities such as our geotechnical lab, which has recently benefitted from a £450,000 investment, by academics who are leaders in their field. Throughout your course, you’ll also benefit from the expert knowledge of specialist guest speakers, including visiting academics and engineers working in the industry.

University of Surrey

What you will study

Our MSc Advanced Geotechnical Engineering will develop your understanding of the principles and theories behind ground engineering, from soil mechanics to site investigation, advanced soil testing and foundation design. We’ll provide you with the necessary skills to address technological challenges in the geotechnical engineering sector.

You’ll explore topics including deep foundations in urban areas, tunnelling, foundations for energy infrastructure and major bridges, deepwater energy resources exploration and field monitoring.

You’ll also have the opportunity to work on a research project, enabling you to acquire, analyse and critically evaluate data, then draw valid conclusions from it. It will test your understanding of scientific methodology, and allow you to graduate as a confident and capable geotechnical engineer.

The course covers the following:

• Fundamental soil mechanics and its modelling using numerical approaches
• Testing of soils for obtaining design parameters – we use our purpose-built SAGE laboratory for teaching
• Analysis techniques: Simplified (Spreadsheet-based); Standard (code-based methods or simple software); Advanced (Finite Element Method)
• Design and construction of foundations for bridges, buildings, offshore structures, tunnels and deep basements in busy cities
• Dissertation on a geotechnical topic
• Back analysis of the collapse of foundations

University of Surrey

Study and work abroad

There may be opportunities to acquire valuable European experience by working or conducting research abroad during your degree or shortly afterwards. It is possible to do this in the summer period with an Erasmus+ grant working on your dissertation or as a recent graduate. In order to qualify your Erasmus+ traineeship must be a minimum of two months.

Professional recognition

MSc - Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) - Accredited by CIHT as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer under the provisions of UK-SPEC for candidates that have already acquired a CEng accredited BEng(Hons) undergraduate first degree.

MSc - Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) - Accredited by IHE as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer under the provisions of UK-SPEC for candidates that have already acquired a CEng accredited BEng(Hons) undergraduate first degree.

MSc - Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) - Accredited by ICE as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer under the provisions of UK-SPEC for candidates that have already acquired a CEng accredited BEng(Hons) undergraduate first degree.

MSc - Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) - Accredited by IStructE as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer under the provisions of UK-SPEC for candidates that have already acquired a CEng accredited BEng(Hons) undergraduate first degree.

MSc - European Accreditation of Engineering Programmes (EUR-ACE) - This Programme is accredited by the European Accreditation of Engineering Programmes (EUR-ACE)

Careers and graduate prospects

We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.

Our master's courses in civil engineering open up a huge range of career opportunities, not only with major consultancies and contractors but across other sectors such as management and business consultancy.

Recent MSc graduates have been employed by Atkins, A-squared Studio, WSP, AECOM, Amey, Highways England, Mott MacDonald, Laing O’Rourke, ARUP, Arcadis, Fluor, Capita Real Estate and Infrastructure, and Peter Brett Associates.