Advanced Geotechnical Engineering (Taught)

Why choose this course
Geotechnical engineering – the mechanics of the Earth’s materials – is a sector with a huge global skills shortage. This means that well-trained geotechnical engineers are in high demand.

Our Advanced Geotechnical Engineering MSc will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue an exciting career in the geotechnical engineering sector, including offshore and earthquake geotechnics.

You’ll be taught in highly specialised facilities, such as our Geotechnics and Geology Teaching Laboratory, by academics who are leaders in their field. Throughout your course, you’ll also benefit from the expert knowledge of specialist guest speakers, including visiting academics and engineers working in industry.

You'll also have the opportunity to undertake a postgraduate placement year if you choose our placement pathway, allowing you to gain crucial workplace experience. We’ll support you in finding a placement with a company most suited to your career goals.

What you will study
Our Advanced Geotechnical Engineering MSc will develop your understanding of the principles and theories behind ground engineering, from soil mechanics to site investigation and from advanced soil testing to foundation design. We’ll provide you with the necessary skills to address technological challenges in the geotechnical engineering sector.

You’ll explore a variety of topics, including deep foundations in urban areas, deep water energy resources exploration, field monitoring, foundations for energy infrastructure and major bridges, and tunnelling.

The course covers the following:

Simple and advanced geotechnical analysis techniques including finite element modelling
Application of geotechnical engineering codes-of-practice
Back analysis of collapse of foundations
Design and construction of foundations for bridges, buildings, offshore structures, tunnels and deep basements in busy cities
Geotechnical design principles for energy infrastructure projects such as nuclear and geothermal pile systems
Fundamental soil mechanics and its modelling using numerical approaches
Testing of soils to obtain design parameters – we use our purpose-built SAGE laboratory for teaching
Dissertation on a geotechnical engineering topic.