MSc in Civil Engineering (Engineering (Environmental / Structural and Geotechnical / Transport/ Sustainable Energy)

This is a one year full-time or two year part-time postgraduate course designed to provide graduate engineers with specialist understanding in one of the following areas: Structural and Geotechnical Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Transportation Engineering; or Sustainable Energy Engineering. These programmes reflect our academic expertise and link closely with our research challenges. Our MSc programmes offer you an opportunity to advance your knowledge and expertise in one of our specialist areas in Engineering.

This level 9 programme is accredited by Engineers’ Ireland, which is a member of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE) and the Washington Accord and thus internationally recognised by signature countries, including China (CAST), India (NBA), UK and the USA (ABET).

The reputation of the MSc in Engineering programme is evidenced by the quality of students we attract both nationally and internationally, and from the industry. In recent years, about 70% of our annual intake of students are international, originating from more than 20 countries such as Brazil, China, France, India, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, UK, USA. The MSc in Engineering is highly regarded by industry. In recent years, about 10% of the typical intake are part-time students who originate from the civil engineering consultancy and construction industry, as well as from local authority engineering departments.

Curriculum

The MSc in Engineering programme is designed around the concept of T-Shaped learning, which provides a depth of specialist knowledge and skills and a breath of complementary skills. This approach enhances not only the students’ employability skills but also self-development skills.

The degree programme is divided into three parts: two semesters of taught courses (September-April inclusive) with an average of 18 lectures per week and a major dissertation (April – September inclusive). Candidates must take twelve modules, namely the four mandatory modules (M1, M4, M5 and M3) together with at least four of their chosen specialisation and four other modules, which in total amounts to 90 ECTS.

In the first semester, candidates pursuing the course full-time must take mandatory modules, M1, M4, M5 and M3; along with four other modules selected from options (including at least two from their selected specialisation), listed on right.

In the second semester, candidates pursuing the course full-time must take module M3; along with four other modules selected from options (including at least two from their chosen specialisation), listed on right.

Some of the module options in either semester may be withdrawn from time to time and some new modules may be included, subject to demand. In addition to passing the prescribed examinations, each student must submit a dissertation on an approved topic relating to their chosen specialisation.

Part-time Option

For candidates taking the course part-time over two years, during the first year, candidates take eight modules, namely: the mandatory modules (M1, M4 and M5), along with five of the module options (including at least two from their chosen specialisation) which amounts to 45 ECTS. By the end of the course, part-time candidates must have completed four mandatory modules (M1, M4, M5 and M3), at least four of their specialisation module options and four of the other options, amounting to a total of 90 ECTS.

The part-time option runs in parallel with the full-time course. Full and part-time students attend the same lectures which are typically scheduled Monday – Friday, 9 am – 6 pm. During the teaching periods, students taking the part-time option are typically required to attend 9-12 hours per week during Year 1 and 3-6 hours during Year 2.

Theoretical/Taught Modules

Mandatory

• M1 Civil Engineering Management (10 ECTS)
• M5 Engineering Project (5 ECTS)
• M4 Research Methods 1 (5 ECTS)
• M3 Engineering Dissertation (30 ECTS)
• (Structural & Geotechnical / Environmental / Transport / Sustainable Energy)

Environmental Engineering

• Hydrological Processes and Hyrdometry (5 ECTS)
• Air Pollution (5 ECTS)
• Waste Management and Energy Recovery (5 ECTS)
• Water Quality and Hydrological Modelling (5 ECTS)
• Water Resource Planning and Climate Change (5 ECTS)
• Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation (5 ECTS)

Structural and Geotechnical Engineering

• Geotechnical Engineering (5 ECTS)
• Advanced Computation of Structures (5 ECTS)
• Wind and Earthquake Engineering (5 ECTS)
• Bridge Engineering (5 ECTS)
• Advanced Concrete Technology (5 ECTS)
• Offshore Geotechnical Engineering (5 ECTS)
• A Unified Theory of Structures (5 ECTS)
• Concrete Durability and Sustainability (5 ECTS)
• Advanced Theory of Structures (5 ECTS)

Transport Engineering, Policy and Planning

• Transportation Policy (5 ECTS)
• Transport Modelling and Planning (5 ECTS)
• Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) (5 ECTS)
• Transport Design (5 ECTS)

Sustainable Energy Engineering

• Wind Energy (5 ECTS)
• Solar Energy Conversion Applications (5 ECTS)
• Building Energy Physics and Control (5 ECTS)

Energy Policy and Planning, Energy

• Demand (5 ECTS)
• Wave and Hydro Energy (5 ECTS)

Common

• Façade Engineering (5 ECTS)
• Advanced Spatial Analysis Using GIS (5 ECTS)

Career Prospects

The market for MSc in Engineering graduates is large. Graduates from this programme have gained employment opportunities with private sector firms such as consulting engineers RPS Group, Arup, and Jones Engineering Group, local county councils such as Dublin county council and contracting companies. Some students chose to pursue further research in Trinity and other international leading universities.

Surveys of our recent MSc graduates indicate a high level of employability. Three months after completing the programme, over 85% of graduates responding to the surveys reported that they are in full-time employment or in further studies, and the majority of them were paid between €35,000 and €60,000 per annum, demonstrating the high-value industry is placing on our graduates.