Geotechnical Engineering University of Birmingham

Award	Attendance	Study	Duration	Start	Domestic fees	International fees
MSc	On-Campus	Full-time	1 years	September	£9810.00 year per	£19890.00 year per
Postgraduate Certificate	On-Campus	Full-time	9 months	September	find out	find out
Postgraduate Diploma	On-Campus	Full-time	9 months	September	find out	find out

Course overview

There is a wide range of opportunity in the Civil Engineering profession for geotechnical specialists, particularly those who combine geotechnical knowledge with essential managerial skills aspects associated with the Construction Industry.

Modern structures, such as buildings, embankments and dams, must satisfy exacting stability and deformation criteria, and they may have to be sited on weak or compressible ground. It is the responsibility of the geotechnical engineer to plan and direct the necessary ground investigations and laboratory testing, interpret the results, and propose methods of design and construction to overcome difficulties caused by inadequate ground. The long-term performance of the structure must be predicted, and instruments may have to be installed to check the prediction. This needs a sound knowledge of engineering geology, soil and rock mechanics, current civil engineering design, and of construction management and practice.

This MSc programme is designed to support high level training and enhance both the technical and managerial skills of recent graduates or experienced personnel who work in, or aspire to a career in, the construction or related industries. This programme is aimed at Civil Engineers and Geologists who wish to widen their professional scope or to specialise in geotechnical engineering with the addition of modern managerial skills. To summarise the detailed information above, the teaching concentrates on four essential aspects of the subject, to provide four essential skill sets: Physical, chemical and mechanical properties of soils and rocks; ground investigation; field and laboratory testing, Engineering geology, Analysis, design and construction of foundations, retaining walls, embankments and slopes including methods of ground reinforcement and improvement. Managerial skills for the construction industry, including law, project and financial management.