MEng in Civil Engineering

Course Description:

The Masters in Civil Engineering, Level 9, is a 12 month full-time programme concentrating on advanced Civil Engineering design and practice. This is the first taught Masters in Civil Engineering in the Institute of Technology sector in Ireland. The programme encompasses many aspects of infrastructure development and its aim is to improve the learner’s knowledge and understanding of the environment that we live in.

A key element of the programme involves exploring new, exciting and creative ways to develop engineering solutions for everyday problems. It involves the planning, design and construction programming of facilities that we require for common Civil Engineering problems such as roads, bridges, buildings, foundations, water supply systems, wastewater treatment systems and wind farms to name but a few. As a result, this MEng in Civil Engineering will offer diverse and challenging career prospects.

Engineering education has evolved from a very scientific based system to a more profession based approach where a balance is achieved between scientific/engineering topics, and the need to provide industry with graduates with good problem solving, design skills which are based on a sound scientific basis and economic and transferable skills. The need to achieve an adequate balance between engineering topics and professional practice was a driving force in the development of this programme.

The aims and objectives of the Level 9 programme are to:

• Develop a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of current insights in the Civil Engineering profession,
• Develop techniques applicable to their own research and advanced scholarship,
• Develop practical engineering skills, in the design and analysis of core Civil Engineering areas,
• Develop transferable skills such as problem solving, working in teams, communications skills and professional ethics.

Course Structure:

The programme is delivered over 12 months  and consists of three semesters:

• Semester 1 – September to December ,
• Semester 2 – January to May,
• Semester 3 – May to September

Semester 1 consists of 6 taught modules that will be lecture based only and will be examined at the end of the semester. The taught modules add to the overall engineering knowledge of the learner in key Civil Engineering areas of geotechnical, structural, environmental, transportation and renewable energy engineering and also in the important area of professional practice.

Semester 2 consists of Capstone Projects which bring together the cumulative knowledge of the learner into solving a series of group projects. The projects are based around the core civil engineering areas of structural, geotechnical, transportation and environmental engineering but also include engineering practice, health and safety, finance and law. The projects are delivered using problem based learning. The aim of this module is to develop the problem solving and teamwork skills of the learner through exposure to real life design situations.

Semester 3 consists of a research dissertation which will allow the learner to undertake a significant body of research on a particular topic. Along with a detailed understanding of the research topic, a greater understanding of research methods and technical writing will be achieved by the learner through this module.

The programme schedule for the masters degree is shown in the table below:

Module title	ECTS	Semester
		1	2	3
Geotechnical Engineering	5	√
Structural Engineering	5	√
Professional Practice	5	√
Environmental Engineering	5	√
Engineering in the Built Environment	5	√
Numerical Methods in Civil Engineering	5	√
Capstone Projects	30		√
Research Dissertation	30			√
Total	90

After you graduate and the future?

Graduate employment opportunities for you will include positions in the design, specification, supervision, construction and maintenance of Civil Engineering projects.

The general aspect of the programme will also facilitate you in the development of a successful career in more than one area of Civil Engineering. Your Level 9 qualification will also enable you to work at a high level within a particular organisation.

Various bodies have an interest in employing Civil Engineers, both nationally and internationally – Government Bodies, Semi-State Bodies, Local Authorities, Consultancies, Contractors, Insurance firms and Financial Institutions.

Following an unprecedented construction boom in Ireland over the last 15 years, the country is now in the midst of a downturn in the design and construction sector. While employment opportunities in Civil Engineering are currently not as abundant as they have been in recent years this does not mean that there is no more work for Civil Engineers. The construction industry will start to recover over the coming years and will require new graduates to address traditional engineering issues as well as new issues such as reusing our existing building stock, for which innovative solutions will be required.

Ongoing development of infrastructure needs is a major concern for every country worldwide and Civil Engineers are leaders in this field. In addition, Civil Engineers can go on to work in the renewable energy sector which is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world.

Entry requirements:

Applicants must have an honours degree (2:2 or above) in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering or equivalent. All applicants should apply directly through the Registrar’s office of the Institute of Technology, Sligo. The admissions office will asses all degrees obtained in another country using the guidelines supplied by the National Qualifications authority. All non English speaking students will either:

1. Be assessed at an interview

2. Can produce the results of a standard English test at the required level.

Non Standard Applicants may be called for interview and must present a portfolio demonstrating technical ability and relevant industry experience. A request for supplementary information will be made including certified transcripts of previous results. Places may be awarded based on this supplementary information.

Award:

Masters of Civil Engineering

Level

9

Duration:

16 months

Number of places:

24
 

For further information, contact:

• Trevor McSharry
• Head of Department of Civil Engineering and Construction
• + 353 (0)71 91 55221
• mcsharry.trevor@itsligo.ie

or

• Dr Pat Naughton
• Programme Coordinator
• + 353 (0)71 91 55378
• naughton.patrick @itsligo.ie

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