General OverviewThe MSc in Civil Engineering is a unique UK postgraduate taught programme that draws upon the research strengths of the University of The West of Scotland in Civil Engineering and other engineering disciplines. It offers an advanced qualification to engineering graduates wishing to progress their career and develop an in-depth and practical understanding of Civil Engineering in the provision of sustainable and resilient civil engineering solutions for the built environment. The content of the programme is both timely and is desired by industry both locally and globally. In terms of the internationalisation the School has a well-established partner institution in China – Changchun Institute of Technology.
The MSc is intended to be completed in a 12 month period synchronised with the main undergraduate intake, but running through to the end of the summer break period. There is the opportunity for a January intake; however, this will extend the length of the programme to 18 months.
The Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) and Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) awards provide an exit award from the Masters programme at the end of Trimesters 1 and 2 respectively. However, the main focus is on completion of the MSc.
The first trimester comprises of three core taught modules, worth 20 credits each. These include Project Scheme Design (group-based scheme design project), Advanced Materials for Sustainable Construction and Project Management. Trimester two consists of a further 60 credits comprising an Advanced Structural Analysis module (10 credits), a Civil Engineering Project Design module (20 credits), a Research Design & Methods module (10 credits), a Finite Element Analysis – Linear module (10 credits) and an Advanced Geotechnical Engineering module (10 credits). All of the Trimester 1 and 2 modules are compulsory. The group-based activities (Project Scheme Design & Civil Engineering Project Design) involve the application of design and project management approaches and techniques, and provide the basis for an integrated approach to civil & structural engineering, but with the possibility of specialising in the chosen Masters topic. It is a feature of this programme that the project work proceeds as far as possible in a way typical of best industrial practice, with a focus on Health and Safety implicit within every module studied. The Trimester 1 Project Scheme Design module undertakings have significant scheme planning features including the definition of milestones and deliverables according to a time-scale defined by the students in consultation with their academic supervisor and (where appropriate) their industrial advisor.
Student learning is through an arrangement of lectures, tutorials, case studies, laboratory work, research and independent learning. The units are continuously assessed (reports, projects, oral presentations, seminars), examined by a written exam, or a combination of these assessment methods.
The remaining balance of the overall calendar year is devoted to completion of each student’s individual MSc Dissertation, scheduled and started in the early third trimester. A written Thesis on this work is submitted and an oral presentation of the work delivered, towards the end of the academic year. This MSc Dissertation is worth 60 credits and will support existing research programmes wherever possible. Where possible, the projects will be based on current UWS research or a company-based research project (particularly beneficial to part-time students). To ease pressure on the School’s laboratories it may be possible for some students to carry out research on desk-top projects, including Computational Modelling. Students will be educated using a range of practical tools within each module; in particular, they will leave with knowledge of rigorous decision analysis to support the use of innovative civil engineering techniques and sustainable construction. Most modules will contain a range of contributions from the external guest lecturer (industrial practitioners). Site visits will also be incorporated into the programme wherever possible. The programme’s academic content reflects the desire to provide a grounding in the core areas of Structures, Materials and Geotechnics.
Students, upon completion of the course, will have attained a Masters level qualification and may pursue additional postgraduate study or doctoral level both within the University and at other Higher Education Institutes. These may be either on a full-time/part-time or post-experience basis.
Modules within the programme, with exception of the dissertation modules, share a standard delivery model based around several hours of contact time per module per week, with hours allocated to face to face delivery in lectures/seminar and additional tutorial time. There will also be aspects of the learning Classes will also be “Flipped” or “blended” learning is where students undertake some of their learning outside of the classroom. Opportunities will be given for students to become exposed to industry practitioners acting on a consultancy basis on design problems, where their learning will be problem-based and will involve the assessment of a combination of physical, economic and financial constraints. Each module is supported by further online content hosted via the University's Campus Moodle virtual learning environment (VLE). This will include access to directed readings, online discussion fora, wiki sites and embedded content from a variety of other settings. Whilst directed readings and tasks will be provided via the Campus Moodle platform, students will be encouraged and expected to take responsibility for their own learning by contributing to the activities provided, making decisions about which additional content to access and uploading their own additional materials for distribution and discussion among the student body.
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