Triangle

Course overview

Who is this course for?

Study for a varied, creative career that can take you around the world. If you want to make a difference to the world and to the quality of people's lives, this is the course for you. Civil engineers shape the world we live in. They design, build, and maintain the infrastructure we take for granted and their expertise is essential for a sustainable future, both in the UK and globally.

What knowledge will I gain?

You'll develop invaluable skills with modern methods of analysis and design, employing building information modelling (BIM) and other digital technologies that are at the forefront of industry practices. You'll work in groups to solve real-world design problems, developing transferable skills for your future career, and valuable experience of how to manage and delegate responsibilities. You'll have access to a diverse range of topics, including sustainability, bridge engineering, geotechnical engineering, railway technology, highway and pavement design, coastal engineering, asset management, and wind engineering.

Why should I choose University of Nottingham?

We're 8th in the UK for civil engineering (Guardian Good University Guide 2023). 95% of postgraduates from our Department of Civil Engineering are in high skilled work, further higher education or professional study within 15 months of graduation (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019-20).

We are a global university, with staff and students from over 150 countries. We offer comprehensive support for international students, from scholarships and visa guidance to living here in Nottingham. You'll feel like you belong here, even before you start. We know how to welcome international students and have a comprehensive support package for you, from scholarships and visa guidance to living here in Nottingham.

Why choose this course?

7th

in the UK for research power

REF 2021

2nd

highest in the UK for female engineering graduate earnings, five years after graduation.

2nd

highest in the Midlands for male engineering graduate earnings, 5 years after graduation

Course content

The course integrates theory, application and design. A substantial 30-credit BIM and Digital Construction group design project provides a platform for you to learn and apply industry standard digital technologies that are driving innovation within civil engineering.

Modules

Students must take all the modules in this group

Under the umbrella of Building Information Modelling (BIM) this course (module) brings together Construction Management and Structural Design and makes students aware of the potential of emerging digital design technologies.

Students are introduced to fundamental concepts and applications of BIM. Following this, they work in groups on a design project that covers the following subject areas:
(1) Conceptual design
(2) The benefits of using BIM on construction projects
(3) Preparing a BIM Execution Plan (BEP)
(4) Detailed structural design and documentation
(5) Health and Safety considerations
(6) Project planning, risk management, quality management, and cost estimation
(7) Sustainability and Life Cycle Management

For students requiring reassessment, this will be limited to the components which have been failed and these will be in the same form as the original assessment, with any group-based components made suitable for completion by an individual.

This module introduces important aspects affecting the professional practice of Civil Engineering including sustainability, environmental impact, quality management, continuous improvement and management principles. It will also develop knowledge and skills that will be used in the summer project, including writing a literature review and how to critically review your own and others’ writing.

This is a compulsory course for all students studying an MSc in the Department of Civil Engineering. The course provides an introduction into important aspects affecting the professional practice of Civil Engineering and facilitates the development of knowledge and skills that will be used in the summer project, including literature review and writing skills, and developing a proposal for the activities to be conducted in the summer. 

The module will incorporate a mixture of learning environments/resources, including one-on-one tuition with personal tutors to formulate ideas and plans related to the summer project, classroom activities focused on resources relating to writing a literature review and how to critically review others’ as well as one’s own writing, and three 2-week workshops which provide knowledge in aspects that are important within the context of the professional practice of Civil Engineering.

This is the major project element for all MSc plans in the Department of Civil Engineering. It will normally take the form of an in-depth investigation, whether it involves experimentation or an extensive review of work already completed by others. Typically, but not exclusively, it will include the following:

  • Project definition and aim
  • Literature review
  • Practical experimentation / investigation
  • Presentation of results
  • Critical analysis of findings

The detailed technical content of the module will depend on the specific area under examination. Assessment is based on submission of a report (typically 10,000 to 20,000 words) which covers the above elements.

The project area is flexible and will be supervised by an academic member of staff.

Previous research projects have included:

  • Weather impact on construction schedules
  • Predicted future climate change trends
  • The use and abuse of GPS in current UK survey practices
  • The utilization of laser scanning system for examination and monitoring of tunnel deformation and structural integrity
  • Life cycle assessment of the M25 highway widening scheme
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Thursday 31 October 2024.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Lab sessions
  • Self-study
  • Group study
  • Tutorials
  • Supervision
  • Workshops

You'll study on our award-winning University Park Campus, only two miles from the vibrant and student-friendly city of Nottingham. Our MSc Civil Engineering with Digital Construction course is studied over 12 months. Sixty credits of modules are studied in each of the Autumn and Spring Semesters. Any digression from this (for example 50:70 credit split) can only be with agreement of the course director. A research project is undertaken in the summer period.

You'll access state-of-the-art facilities which enable you to experience real-world multi-disciplinary projects. As part of this course, you will have access to the latest civil engineering software (e.g. BIM and project scheduling software), lab and VR equipment, library resources, and civil engineering databases (e.g. ICE database).

The compulsory Technical Writing and Project Preparation module is designed to give a strong foundation in the skills and methodology necessary to successfully complete your research project over the summer period.

In addition, you will be able to choose from several optional modules to create a more generalised path of study for the award of MSc Civil Engineering with Digital Construction or to augment your degree with a specific theme.

Over the summer period, you will complete a 60-credit research project, the topic of which can be selected from a wide range of themes related to civil engineering. The research project is a chance to carry out a major piece of independent research under the supervision of a member of academic staff with expertise in the selected topic.

How you will be assessed

  • Examinations
  • Coursework
  • Presentation
  • Dissertation

A range of assessment methods are adopted, with a pass mark of 50%. To attain the accredited MSc degree, students must pass 100 credits of their taught modules (comprising 120 credits) and have a weighted average of at least 50%. The Civil Engineering Research Project module must be passed to attain the accredited MSc degree.

Contact time and study hours

Teaching on this course takes place throughout the week during term-time, with a 10-credit taught module usually having 3 hours of lecture time per week (6 hours for a 20-credit module). Self-guided learning is an expectation on the course, with an expectation that students nominally dedicate approximately 10 hours of work per credit over the course of the term. Each student will work closely with a member of academic staff who will provide general guidance and support as well as specific instruction related to the student's chosen area for the summer research project.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Undergraduate degree2:1 in Civil Engineering or a closely related degree

Applying

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply

Fees

Qualification MSc
Home / UK £12,750
International £30,750

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses.

You should be able to access most of the books you'll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles.

Funding

There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.

We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates

Related courses

This content was last updated on Thursday 31 October 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.