Civil Engineering with Industrial Practice MSc - 2026/7

Awarding body

University of Surrey

Teaching institute

University of Surrey

Framework

FHEQ Level 7

Final award and programme/pathway title

MSc Civil Engineering with Industrial Practice (Placement pathway (24 months))

Modes of study

Route code Credits and ECTS Credits
Full-time with Placement PFB71003 240 credits and 120 ECTS credits

QAA Subject benchmark statement (if applicable)

Engineering (Master)

Other internal and / or external reference points

N/A

Faculty and Department / School

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences - School of Engineering

Programme Leader

IMAM Boulent (Sch of Eng)

Date of production/revision of spec

22/08/2025

Educational aims of the programme

  • Advanced capabilities and in-depth knowledge in a range of specialised aspects of Civil Engineering
  • Update the technical skills of practising engineers engaged in the planning, design, construction and operation of civil engineering works and to contribute to a personal professional development programme
  • A working knowledge of some of the UK and European standards and codes of practice associated with the design, analysis and construction of civil engineering structures and the ability to interpret and apply these to both familiar and unfamiliar problems
  • The necessary further learning towards fulfilling the educational base for the professional qualification of Chartered Engineer in both a technical or non-technical capacity dependent upon module selection
  • To develop skills that enable active participation in a digital, connected civil engineering discipline and professional practice
  • To develop individual, interpersonal and professional skills, relevant to the professional field of civil engineering
  • To develop competencies to engage effectively with people from different backgrounds in ways that respect the interests of cultural groups and individual rights
  • To create the conditions in which students become resourceful and resilient
  • Recognize issues related to sustainability in the domain of civil engineering and develop skills to manage the associated complexity
  • Provide practice opportunities to enhance the learning process by year-long industrial placement where students will be able to put in practice their taught knowledge and develop industry-related skills

Programme learning outcomes

Attributes Developed Awards Ref.
The mathematical principles necessary to underpin their education in civil engineering and to enable them to apply mathematical methods, tools and notations proficiently in the analysis and solution of multi-disciplinary open ended engineering problems K MSc
The properties, behaviour and use of relevant materials K MSc
The management techniques which may be used to achieve Civil Engineering objectives within that context K MSc
Some of the roles of management techniques and codes of practice in design K MSc
The principles and implementation of some advanced design and management techniques specific to Civil Engineering K MSc
Mathematical and computer models relevant to Civil Engineering, and an appreciation of their limitations K MSc
The role of the professional engineer in society, including health, safety, environmental, sustainability, ethical issues and risk assessment within Civil Engineering K MSc
The wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles K MSc
Developing technologies related to civil engineering and the ability to develop an ability to synthesize and critically appraise some of themvvvvvvvvvvvv K MSc
The framework of relevant requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk issues (an awareness of) K MSc
The advanced design processes and methodologies and the ability to adapt them in open ended situations K MSc
Analyse and solve problems C MSc
Think strategically C MSc
Synthesis of complex sets of information C MSc
Synthesis of complex sets of information C MSc
Select and transfer knowledge and methods from other sectors to construction-based organisation C MSc
Produce sound designs to meet specified requirements such as Eurocodes, deploying commercial software packages as appropriate C MSc
Synthesis and critical appraisal of the thoughts of others C MSc
Awareness of professional and ethical conduct P MSc
Extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer-based engineering tools where appropriate P MSc
Evaluate and integrate information and processes in project work P MSc
Present information orally to others P MSc
Show a capability to act decisively in a coordinated way using theory, better practice and harness this to experience P MSc
Use concepts and theories to make engineering judgments in the absence of complete data P MSc
Observe, record and interpret data using appropriate statistical methods and to present results in appropriate forms for the Civil Engineering industry P MSc
Communicate engineering design, concepts, analysis and data in a clear and effective manner T MSc
Collect and analyse research data T MSc
Time and resource management planning T MSc
Demonstrate the ability to work according to the professional expectations and expected codes of behaviour of the industry/company within which the placement is situated. CPT MSc
Reflect and evaluate the skills, knowledge and personal development gained from the completion of the Industrial Practice placement. KPT MSc
Critically analyse how scientific and practical contexts of practice can impact the advancement of their professional practice. KPT MSc
Reflect on career goals and develop the employability skills needed to secure relevant employment. CPT MSc

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Programme structure

Full-time with Placement

This Master's Degree programme is studied full-time over two academic years, consisting of 240 credits at FHEQ level 7*. All modules are semester based and worth 15 credits with the exception of project, practice based and dissertation modules.
Possible exit awards include:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits)
*some programmes may contain up to 30 credits at FHEQ level 6.

Programme Adjustments (if applicable)

N/A

Modules

Year 1 (full-time with placement - 2 years) - FHEQ Level 7

Module Selection for Year 1 (full-time with placement - 2 years) - FHEQ Level 7

Students need to take the following modules:
ENGM265 Sustainability and Infrastructure
ENGM044 Dissertation Project
ENGM324 Employability

Plus, one from each of the following groups:

Structural Engineering Group:
ENGM042 Steel Building Design
ENGM053 Structural Mechanics & Finite Elements
ENGM041 Concrete Building Design

Bridge Engineering Group:
ENGM031 Prestressed Concrete Bridge Design
ENGM033 Durability of Bridges & Structures
ENGM032 Steel & Composite Bridge Design

Infrastructure Engineering Group:
ENGM264 Infrastructure Interdependencies and Resilience
ENGM266 Infrastructure Asset Management

Water Engineering Group:
ENGM035 Water Treatment
ENGM304 Wastewater Treatment
ENGM057 Water Resources Management and Hydraulic Modelling
ENGM289 Global Challenges in Water and Health
ENGM303 Nature Based Solutions in Environmental Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering Group:
ENGM269 Advanced Soil Mechanics
ENGM270 Energy Geotechnics
ENGM272 Deep Foundations and Earth Retaining Structures

Digital Civil and Environmental Engineering Group:
ENGM281 Building Information Modelling
ENGM285 Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing

Plus, one more module from any of the aforementioned groups.

Year 2 (full-time with placement - 2 years) - FHEQ Level 7

Module code Module title Status Credits Semester
ENGM323 INDUSTRIAL PRACTICE Compulsory 60 Cross Year

Module Selection for Year 2 (full-time with placement - 2 years) - FHEQ Level 7

Students need to take the following module ENGM323 Industrial Practice

Opportunities for placements / work related learning / collaborative activity

Associate Tutor(s) / Guest Speakers / Visiting Academics Y
Professional Training Year (PTY) N
Placement(s) (study or work that are not part of PTY) Y Yes
Clinical Placement(s) (that are not part of the PTY scheme) N
Study exchange (Level 5) N
Dual degree N

Other information

The school of Engineering / MSc Civil Engineering with Industrial Practice is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This programme is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Digital capabilities: Within their modules, students are supported to use fit-for-purpose digital capabilities and emerging tools, spanning from traditional structural analysis software and CAD tools to more advanced tools for design, visualisation, and communication purposes. Students will significantly enhance their use of word processing software for report writing, other important job/instrument-related software and the use of scientific databases for research. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity, based on placement company/industry, to work using a plethora of digital tools and communication devices. This will provide them with the latest training opportunities leading to the development of vital digital skills.

Employability: The application of Codes of Practice covered in this programme provides a strong foundation for work in professional civil engineering teams. A year working in industry effectively develops a student¿s employability by giving them practical experience of the work environment and the expectations placed on them by their employer. A year working in industry allows students to apply their knowledge and skills in a work setting, further developing these skills. By working in a company or organisation, students gain a real understanding of the way that company or organisation operates and the challenges which it faces. Employers want to recruit graduates with practical knowledge and experience of their industry which students gain while on placement.

Global and cultural capabilities: Students will be exposed to civil engineering case studies ranging across the globe, covering both developed and developing countries, providing a strong appreciation of priorities in different countries/continents. Cultural awareness is enhanced through facilitating online discussions via SurreyLearn with distance-learning students from around the world. Working in industry helps students to develop competencies to engage effectively with people from the different backgrounds encountered in the workplace. Each workplace has its own culture which a new employee or placement student has to adapt to if they are to do their job effectively. The ability to adapt to a workplace culture comes through experience. Students are supported by their placement tutor as they learn to adapt to the organisational culture of their placement company or organization.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: Through the modules they study, students develop the ability to respond to problem-based tasks and provide viable solutions to realistic civil engineering problems. They are encouraged to apply their engineering knowledge and judgement in proposing and evaluating solutions, identifying and correcting errors; and in building confidence by tackling open ended questions related to multi-disciplinary design problems. Working in industry will develop a student¿s ability to respond effectively to opportunities, challenges, difficulties and setbacks. Students are supported by their placement tutor as they face these challenges and learn to how to respond to the needs of the placement company or organisation.

Sustainability: Throughout their studies, students are exposed to possible trade-offs, between economic, environmental and social, that need to be considered in achieving successful design proposals; they reflect on how the design and operation of different civil infrastructure systems contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Applying theories, concepts and skills relating to sustainability development in the workplace develops a student¿s understanding of sustainability and its practical application to real world problems. During the year in placement students will be exposed to a different work environment/industry which will inevitably have some sustainability agenda that students will be able to engage with and understand thereby developing necessary sustainability skills. Likewise, their relocation may require some adjustments to their lifestyle which may lead to a more sustainable travel and leaving, skills well desired nowadays.

Quality assurance

The Regulations and Codes of Practice for taught programmes can be found at:

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/quality-enhancement-standards

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.