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    MSc
    2025 start September 

    Civil Engineering and Project Management

    School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering

    This academically rigorous, multidisciplinary course will build your technical civil engineering expertise and management skills. We'll empower you to manage sustainable and complex construction projects and become a future leader in the modern construction industry.
    Civil Engineering and Management

    Course description

    Being able to manage complicated civil engineering systems efficiently is an important part of industrial practice, especially in light of the global push to reduce carbon emissions.

    This course integrates a strong technical background with the fundamentals of construction management. The management aspects have a strong contextual grounding in the civil and structural engineering profession, which will be taught via directly applicable examples.

    The course develops your communication and negotiation skills, and explores management and business practices in the context of designing and maintaining infrastructure. You’ll learn to address the challenges facing modern construction practices, and investigate the methods that engineers employ to make the built environment more resilient and sustainable.

    You’ll also develop an awareness of the social, commercial and ethical context of your profession.

    This course teaches you how to design with the least possible environmental impact. We offer a fresh perspective on solving the toughest global engineering problems, such as the causes and effects of climate change.

    You’ll be taught by a mix of research-active academics and specialist construction management professionals, and learn through directed reading, lectures, tutorials, problem-solving classes and classroom discussions.

    Accreditation

    This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the academic requirement for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

    To hold accredited qualifications for CEng registration, candidates must also hold a Bachelor (Hons) degree that has been accredited as partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). See the JBM website for further information.

    Candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited Bachelor degree accredited for IEng only or a non-accredited bachelor degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.

    Modules

    A selection of modules is available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course. From May of the year of entry, formal programme regulations will be available in our Programme Regulations Finder.

    It is expected that students will choose optional modules from within each theme of Geotechnics, Structures, Water and Management, with semester 1 optional modules being pre-requisites for the semester 2 optional modules

    Semester 1 core modules:

    Research and Professional Skills

    This module fosters best practice in engineering-related research/professional skills and delivers a range of training activities to meet the needs of professional engineers dealing with research and technological development.

    15 credits
    Engineering within Planetary Capacity

    It is projected that by 2050 the human population will be 10 billion, with over 75% concentrated in urban and megacity areas. It is essential that engineering solutions are developed to create and maintain an urban built environment that can meet rapidly changing societal needs, whilst being within the carrying capacity of the planet. This module will equip you with the skills to develop and analyse built environment engineering solutions to ensure they operate within planetary boundaries.

    15 credits
    Civil Engineering Project Management

    This module will introduce you to core management topics and skills relevant to the complex environment of the modern construction industry. Key topics addressed include: construction project management, making a business case, understanding value, risk and quality, managing resources and contracts, legal responsibilities and procurement.

    15 credits
    Advanced Engineering Research Study

    This module represents a major element of the Masters programme, with the aim of enabling you to learn skills in scientific investigation and in running and presenting a project. You are required to submit a comprehensive (bound) report describing the individual work that you have done during the summer semester.

    60 credits

    Semester 1 optional modules:

    Advanced Geotechnics

    This module is designed to (i) deepen your understanding of the fundamentals of soil behaviour, (ii) develop your understanding of the use of limit analysis in geotechnical engineering and (iii) describe the concepts behind geotechnical limit state design and how safety idealisations are used to deal with the complexities of soil behaviour in a sustainable manner. Through lectures, tutorial sheets, and software exercises, you will develop your knowledge of geotechnical design with reference to Eurocode 7. You will also develop your ability to use a range of state-of-the-art engineering design concepts and tools, all aimed at promoting sustainability and efficiency in engineering practice.

    15 credits
    Innovations in Construction Materials and Technologies

    This research-led module will familiarise students with some of the innovative materials and technologies used in the construction industry for the design and execution of new structures and the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure. The module will deal with: the use of innovative solutions for reinforcing and strengthening concrete structures (e.g. Fibre Reinforced Polymers - FRP, Textile Reinforced Mortars - TRM); the development of Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) and its structural applications; the development of low-carbon sustainable concretes, including geopolymer concrete, and their applications; recent material and product developments (e.g. self-healing concrete), state-of-the-art additive construction techniques (e.g. concrete 3D printing). Existing design guidelines and state-of-the-art research in the field will be reviewed and discussed, and complemented by practical tutorials, seminars and laboratory sessions.

    15 credits
    Climate Resilient Water Infrastructure Design

    This module aims to equip you with the necessary conceptual knowledge and engineering skills to effectively address the uncertainties associated with climate change, socio-economic factors, and technological advancements in the design of water infrastructure. The module employs computer-assisted exploration, hands-on Python programming, and various interactive interventions (guest lecture, serious game) to empower you in developing robust designs capable of maintaining their intended function throughout the infrastructure's lifetime. The module's objectives include evaluating climate and other risks to water infrastructure, comprehending how they change traditional water engineering design practice, and providing you with essential concepts and methodologies for managing these uncertainties.

    15 credits

    Semester 2 core modules:

    Regenerative Design Project

    This module involves working in groups to address a complex, real-world engineering problem. The module will involve receiving, interrogating, and developing a project brief, then drawing on myriad sources to develop options. Students will conduct stakeholder engagement and systems thinking to develop options which meet ecological, ethical, social and technical needs. In doing so will develop holistic concept / scheme stage designs, using engineering calculations to rapidly validate design options, and to inform decision making. Students will then communicate their proposals and reflect on their learning.

    15 credits
    Managing Design and Construction

    This module will apply core skills taught in previous modules to real life scenarios related to the management of construction. The scenarios will include aspects of: construction project management, making a business case, understanding value, risk and quality, managing resources and contracts, legal responsibilities and procurement.

    15 credits
    Advanced Engineering Research Study

    This module represents a major element of the Masters programme, with the aim of enabling you to learn skills in scientific investigation and in running and presenting a project. You are required to submit a comprehensive (bound) report describing the individual work that you have done during the summer semester.

    60 credits

    Semester 2 optional modules:

    Advanced Concrete Design for Net-Zero

    This module is designed for individuals with a background in reinforced concrete structure design, offering an in-depth exploration of advanced topics in the field. Focusing on emerging concepts, construction techniques, and innovative materials, the course places particular emphasis on materials conducive to achieving Net Zero Carbon and examines their implications in the design process. The module not only revisits fundamental principles of reinforced concrete design but also delves into key aspects such as short and long-term deflections, creep, shrinkage, ductility, section analysis, prestressing, shear, and cracking. This module equips participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of modern reinforced concrete design.

    15 credits
    Sustainable Steel and Hybrid Structures

    This module will provide students with up-to-date knowledge of steel and hybrid construction and prepare them with skills for designing steel, steel-concrete hybrid and steel-timber hybrid structures.  The module will help the students to develop a fundamental understanding of the underlying principles of the behaviour of these structures, as well as sustainability and modern constructions methods, such as design for disassembly and adaptability.

    15 credits
    Urban Stormwater Management

    This module is designed to provide you with an understanding of the fundamental concepts and processes associated with hydrology and urban drainage design, and to apply these concepts to a variety of drainage engineering problems. Through lectures, tutorials and individual literature and case study research, you will develop your knowledge of current and developing practice in urban drainage, including the increasingly important roles of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) (also know as 'Sponge Cities').

    This module aims: (i) to develop knowledge and understanding of current and developing practice in urban drainage engineering/urban stormwater management; and (ii) to develop skills in applying fundamental hydrological and hydraulic knowledge to drainage design.

    15 credits

    The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

    Open days

    An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.
    Open days and campus tours

    Duration

    1 year full-time

    Teaching

    We use a variety of teaching methods to support your learning, including tutorials, lectures, group project work, virtual learning environments and individual research. Some modules may feature input from our industrial partners, laboratory work or site visits.

    Assessment

    Your assessments will include formal examinations, coursework and research projects. Regular feedback is also provided, so that you can understand your own development throughout the course.

    School

    School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

    Civil engineering is at the forefront of improving the way we live. Whether it's designing the infrastructure that keeps our day-to-day lives running smoothly - from buildings and bridges to clean water supplies - or working to meet the ever-changing needs of our society in the areas of sustainability, renewable energy and climate change, you'll be helping to create and protect the world we live in.

    Our courses will make you the kind of engineer the world needs right now; forward-thinking, interdisciplinary, environmentally conscious, and capable of the kind of complex thinking our rapidly changing society needs. Wherever you choose to start your career, you'll be in demand.

    We're top 10 for civil engineering, according to the Times UK University Rankings 2024. Our research is internationally recognised, and we work closely with industry and government to ensure that our research has real world impact.

    Entry requirements

    Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in any engineering or science subject which meets the module requirement below.

    Module requirements 

    You should have studied at least one module from both of the two areas below:

    Area 1

    • Calculus
    • Linear Algebra
    • Mathematics
    • Numerical Methods
    • Statistics

    Area 2

    • Drainage
    • Fluid
    • Foundations
    • Foundation Engineering
    • Geomechanics
    • Geotechnics
    • Ground
    • Hydraulics
    • Hydro
    • Mechanics
    • Sanitary Engineering
    • Soil Mechanics
    • Structures

    We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:

    Entry requirements for international students

    We assess each application on the basis of the applicant’s preparation and achievement as a whole. We may accept applicants whose qualifications don’t meet the published entry criteria but have other experience relevant to the course.

    The lists of required degree subjects and modules are indicative only.  Sometimes we may accept subjects or modules that aren’t listed, and sometimes we may not accept subjects or modules that are listed, depending on the content studied.

    English language requirements

    IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent.

    Pathway programme for international students

    If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for a pre-masters programme in Science and Engineering at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

    If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.

    Apply

    You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.

    Apply now

    Contact

    study@sheffield.ac.uk
    +44 114 222 5738

    Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

    Our student protection plan

    Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.