Advanced Structural Engineering Heriot-Watt University

Overview

You’ll gain a deep understanding of the core technical skills and personal qualities required to work within the dynamic industry at the highest possible technical level and the programme will provide you with an accredited route to becoming a Chartered engineer.  During the master’s programme, you’ll gain relevant specialist expertise in the field of civil and structural engineering and understand the relevance of sustainability in professional practice. You’ll have an awareness of current global issues, the multidisciplinary relevance to solving industry challenges, and learn about necessary legislative frameworks at a national and international level.  

This career-focused master’s programme will develop your technical, scientific, and managerial abilities, and provide you with a specialist education to set you up to become a professional structural engineer. Upon completion, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to prepare you for a wide range of technical and managerial careers across the sector, including roles in process and plant design, construction, commissioning, operation, management to specialist consultancy, and advanced research and development.  

Your student experience

Our Expertise

Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active civil and structural engineers, construction professionals, industry-leaders, and academics. 

96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh. 

Our MSc Advanced Structural Engineering programme is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Sustainable Built Environment (ISBE) which sits within the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS). EGIS is one of the United Kingdom’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity. The institute’s academic team conduct high-value and high-impact research on fields covering sustainability, digital innovation, design, and management of the built environment. The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused. 

This School is also part of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design, a leading body recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Centre is one of only four such centres established at United Kingdom universities that jointly form a national network to demonstrate and exchange best practice in teaching and research for the sustainable built environment. 

Your Learning Environment

The MSc Advanced Structural Engineering programme is taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory practical demonstrations and experiments, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be assessed by coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.  

During your studies, you’ll benefit from and have access to our specialist equipment, computing software and laboratories, including a state-of-the-art Heavy Structures Lab fully equipped to enable large-scale structural testing under a range of loading conditions, a wave basin which can be programmed for hydrodynamic simulations and fluid-structure interaction testing, a geotechnics lab with a range of soil testing equipment, and a rail track testing facility. 

Outside of the classroom, you can get involved with the Heriot-Watt Student Union and there are lots of ways to do so including participating in student groups, becoming a student representative or a school officer, and joining societies. There are several engineering societies, and you may wish to join the:  

• Civil Engineering Society 
• Architectural Engineering Society  

Societies provide a great opportunity to meet likeminded people, get involved in regular social and networking events, and gain insights into career prospects.  

Customise Your Learning

You’ll take two mandatory courses in semester one and choose one course from a choice of four advanced engineering courses, you’ll also choose a sustainability course. In semester two, you’ll take two mandatory courses and choose two optional courses from a list of options.  

In semester three, you’ll undertake an extensive and specialised investigation into your chosen area of structural engineering through your dissertation. You’ll be required to research and report in depth on a subject of relevance to your professional career aspirations. 

You can choose whether to study the programme full time or part time at our Edinburgh campus. This flexibility allows you to fit your postgraduate studies around your career and lifestyle. The programme begins in September and the course will last 12 months full time or 24 months part time.  

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council.