Heriot-Watt University - Edinburgh Open Day (September)
26 Sept 2026, 09:00
Edinburgh

Civil engineering professionals often require an extensive understanding of construction management due to the strategic benefits it can bring to both individuals and project teams. As the industry becomes more competitive, organisations are increasingly demanding the combined time, cost and quality assurances that good project management practice provides.
MSc Civil Engineering with Industry Placement is two years in duration and will interest you if you are a civil engineering professional looking to broaden your knowledge, technical expertise, work experience, and expand your career opportunities. For those of you from a different engineering background, the programme offers you the opportunity to develop key civil engineering and construction management skills to commence a career within the built environment industry. 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 gain hands on practical work experience.
During the master’s programme, you’ll gain relevant specialist expertise around the area of civil and structural engineering that is of most interest to you, develop the applied mathematical skills required by professional engineers, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the concepts, principles, theories, and sustainability issues in construction. With this degree being two years in duration, you’ll also benefit from real-world work experience allowing you more time at university to reflect on theory and practice.
This career-focused master’s programme combines elements of construction project management, and civil and structural engineering to provide a broad and valuable education. Upon completion, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to prepare you for a wide range of technical and managerial careers across the sector, both nationally and internationally, working in areas such as general construction, transport, water and wastewater engineering.
Customise your learning
You’ll begin the programme in September, the programme is offered full time at the Edinburgh campus and is two years in duration.
In year one, you’ll have the opportunity to focus on the areas of civil engineering or construction management that interest you the most. You can customise your degree to match your specific interests or desired career pathway by choosing to take eight courses from a suite of 20 specialist-built environment courses. You will choose your courses from an extensive list of technical, non-technical, and construction management courses, including structures, design, materials, safety and risk, and construction management.
You’ll undertake your industry placement after the taught courses, and then complete a research dissertation. The responsibility of finding a suitable placement lies with you, but to support you, we have partnered with civil engineering and construction industry professionals and will provide advice on recruiters who offer placement opportunities. You’ll also have access to the University’s award winning Careers Service.
Your dissertation will be an extensive and specialised investigation into your chosen area of civil engineering. You’ll be required to research and report in depth on a subject of relevance to your professional career aspirations.
Choose a specific option to see funding information.
Course optionsPostgraduate scholarships and bursaries
We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.
Riccarton
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS
Email:studywithus@hw.ac.uk
Phone:0131 451 3729