ObjectivesThis course aims to provide you with the technical knowledge and skills to develop the analytical, decision-making and critical powers required to solve Civil Engineering problems, along with the transferable skills to enable a leading career in Civil Engineering. An innovative feature of the MSc in Civil Engineering is that the degree title can be augmented to include a subject theme (in this case, Mechanics) by choosing specific modules in the first two semesters and completing a project related to the theme. As such, you will concentrate on the technical knowledge and skills relevant to the field of Civil Engineering Mechanics for the award of MSc in Civil Engineering: Mechanics. The other available subject themes are as follows: Geotechnical Engineering; Environmental Fluid Mechanics; Management; Structural Engineering; Transportation; Pavement Engineering. It is also possible to choose a more generalised programme of study across these subject areas for the award of MSc in Civil Engineering.
Academic titleMSc Civil Engineering Mechanics
Course descriptionKey facts
-We have recently invested over £3m into upgrading our facilities.
-The quality of teaching in the School of Civil Engineering is rated ‘excellent’ by HEFCE and we received a rating of 5A in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise.
-The Times Good University Guide ranked the School seventh in the UK 2007 League Table.
-Two prestigious international league tables published for 2006/07 put Nottingham in the Top 10 of the best in Britain, in the Top 100 worldwide and Top 25 in Europe.
-The School has extensive links with industrial sponsors and other organisations, locally, nationally and internationally.
-Our research is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK industrial and commercial companies, UK government departments, charities and the European Union.
Course Content
-The compulsory modules taken on this course are designed to give you a strong foundation in the skills and methodology necessary to successfully complete your research project over the summer period. These core modules are:
-Research Preparation (autumn semester)
-Research Project Organisation and Design (spring semester)
-By taking the MSc in Civil Engineering: Mechanics, you will be expected to focus these core modules and your subsequent research project on an issue relating to Pavement Engineering.
In addition, you will be able to choose from a number of optional modules to either further develop your studies in this area or to include other topics offered from an approved list of Civil Engineering modules.
The optional modules currently offered are:
Autumn
-Coastal and River Engineering
-Construction Planning and Risk
-Advanced Pavement Materials
-Rail Transportation
-Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics
-Concrete Structures
-Finite Element Analysis in Structural Mechanics
-A maximum of one of the following level 3 modules: Steel Structures; Pavement Engineering; Geotechnical Engineering; or Geospatial Engineering 1.
Spring
-Construction Management Processes
-Soil Mechanics
-Concrete Technology
-Applied Construction Project Management
-Geology for Civil Engineers
-Plates and Shells
-Geospatial Engineering 2 (must have taken Geospatial Engineering 1 during the autumn semester)
-Traffic Engineering
-A maximum of one of the following level 3 modules: Environmental Geotechnology; Railway Engineering; or Sustainable Construction
Over the summer period, you will undertake a research project on a subject of your choice relating to Mechanics.
The research project is a chance to carry out a major piece of independent research under the supervision of a suitable member of academic staff.
Course Structure
The MSc in Civil Engineering: Mechanics is taught on a full-time basis over 1 year, commencing at the start of the autumn semester.
The course is taught through lectures, tutorials, projects and student-centred learning.
In both the autumn and spring semesters, you will take 20 credits worth of compulsory modules and 40 credits of optional modules chosen from an approved list (120 credits in total).
Over the summer period, you will be required to complete a 60 credit dissertation / research project.
By choosing to augment the MSc in Civil Engineering degree title to include Mechanics, all compulsory modules (100 credits, including the 60 credit dissertation) must focus on this area of study. The remaining 80 credits would then be chosen from the optional modules listed under ‘Course Content’ above.
Specialised pathways exist in the following areas:
-MSc in Civil Engineering: Geotechnical Engineering
-MSc in Civil Engineering: Management
-MSc in Civil Engineering: Structural Engineering
-MSc in Civil Engineering: Transportation
-MSc in Civil Engineering: Environmental Fluid Mechanics