Skip navigation

Advanced Structural Engineering (Taught)

Course details
  • 1 Study option
  • Postgraduate
Course location
Main Site

Course summary

This advanced programme offers a broader range of courses compared to most structural engineering programmes, allowing you to design your course of study to suit your background and career interests and to tackle environmental, economic and social challenges far beyond the construction industry. Unlike most other programmes in structural engineering that focus on the construction industry, the MSc Advanced Structural Engineering at Aberdeen has been developed to ensure engineers from any background - including civil, mechanical, aerospace, automotive and energy - can contribute to the advancement of society on a global scale.

In particular, we focus on topics such as advanced composite materials, lightweight structures and engineering optimisation – skills and knowledge that are crucial for engineers interested in pursuing careers in aerospace, automotive or wind energy sectors where lightweight structures made of advanced composite materials and highly optimised for their performance play a key role.

Almost all industry sectors are experiencing a period of tremendous change with technological developments in areas such as 3D printing, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning. This advanced programme is designed to produce the next generation of structural engineers who can embrace these opportunities to tackle the challenges of sustainable development, climate change, pollution and waste.

Our teaching is informed by our industry partners and our research. The School of Engineering is highly regarded its research in civil engineering and has one of the best hydraulic laboratory facilities in Scotland associated with a high-level research profile. The Structures Research group in particular investigates fundamental and applied aspects of the design and analysis of structural systems, components, connections and materials, and evaluates the performance, condition and health of existing structural systems.

This programme is accredited by both the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, ensuring that the curriculum is designed and delivered to the highest professional standards.

Modules

Course Modules

Offers courses such as Advanced Composite Materials, Lightweight Structures and Engineering Optimisation, which are crucial for students interested in pursuing a career in Aerospace, Automotive or Wind Energy sectors, where lightweight structures made of advanced composite materials and highly optimised for their performance play a key role.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Civil Engineers, Institution of
  • Mechanical Engineers, Institution of

Entry requirements

Minimum requirements for this programme are a 2:2 Honours degree in Civil, Mechanical, Automotive, Aerospace, Energy or Structural Engineering, or equivalent.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5Overall - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5 or above; Reading - 5.5 or above; Speaking - 5.5 or above; Writing - 6.0 or above. IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training are not accepted.
TOEFL (iBT)90TOEFL iBT and TOEFL Home Edition: Overall - 90 with: Listening - 17 or above; Reading - 18 or above; Speaking - 20 or above; Writing - 21 or above. DI code is 0818
PTE Academic62Overall - 62 with: Listening - 59 or above; Reading - 59 or above; Speaking - 59 or above; Writing - 59 or above. Online Test is not accepted
Institution's Own TestPassAcademic English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE) - Pass (valid for one year) Academic English Preparation Programme undertaken at other UK HEI - accredited by BALEAP and within 1 year of start of course

To study for a postgraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write academic English fluently. These skills will allow you to understand lectures, produce high standards of written work, and perform well in examinations. We can assess your English language proficiency through a variety of means: through your nationality, through the qualifications you gained in high school, through the degree you undertook or are undertaking at university, or through a recognised English language test. Postgraduate Standard requirements are used by the Schools of Biological Sciences; Engineering; Geosciences; Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition; Natural and Computing Sciences; and Psychology. Please note certification must be within the two years prior to commencement of your course, unless otherwise stated.https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/requirements-pg-266.php

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fee information is not yet published for entry in Academic Year 2027/2028. For guidance, the fees on the University Online Prospectus website are for 2026/27.

Sponsorship information

Aberdeen Alumni Discount - PG

This scholarship is available for students registered for online programmes and on-campus programmes delivered at our Aberdeen campus.

A special ‘loyalty discount’ of 20% off the cost of any element of self funded graduate study is available to University of Aberdeen graduates who wish to undertake further study at the University of Aberdeen. The discount applies to a range of taught graduate programmes (Masters, Diploma, Certificate and Short Course), and the year one of a full time research programme (years one and two for part time research students). It is available to both UK/EU and International students.

Please see Eligibility at the link provided.

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/funding/69

Like this page