Programme Specification for Structural Engineering MSc
|
Final award |
MSc |
|
Intermediate awards available |
PgCert, PgDip |
|
UCAS code |
N/A |
|
Details of professional body accreditation |
JBM Accredited MSc (Technical) – see Added value section for details. |
|
Relevant QAA Benchmark statements |
Masters in Engineering (MEng) |
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Date specification last up-dated |
June 2012 |
Profile
The summary - programme advertising leaflet
Programme content
The aim of the programme is to meet the needs of engineers engaged in the field of structural engineering and enhance their expertise in this area.
MSc at UEL
The programme offers several optional and self-contained modules in the field of Structural Engineering. Different areas, such as structural analysis of building structures and bridges, design in steel and concrete, dynamic analysis of structures, earthquake engineering, soil structure engineering, etc., are covered through the optional modules of this programme. The final core module will provide the opportunity of performing a supervised research dissertation acquiring and developing original knowledge in a specific area of Structural Engineering.
This programme has been developed from the MSc Programme in Civil Engineering, owing to the wide offer of modules in the area of Structural Engineering. Postgraduate programmes in the field of Civil Engineering and Surveying have been successfully run at the UEL since 1964.
Admission requirements
- BEng (Hons) minimum 2:2 or BSc(Hons) minimum 2:1, both in Civil Engineering
- Appropriate professional qualifications such as MICE or MIStructE
- Applicants with other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis
In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS Academic 6.0 Overall, with no less than 6.0 in writing and speaking and 5.5 in reading and listening components, or equivalent, is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate entry to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.
Students who apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.
Programme structure
The programme can be taken either in part-time or full-time mode. The MSc is offered for full-time students with the possibility of being completed in one calendar year. The MSc for part-time students has half load and, consequently, the length of these studies is doubled. Part-time students require a minimum of two years to complete the MSc programme.
Enrolment on the programme is possible either in semester A (starting in September, comprising the academic period from September to January) or semester B (starting in February, comprising the academic period from February to May).
Semester C (June-September) is only available for research supervision.
The programme consists of four optional 30-credit modules plus one 60-credit dissertation. The common schedules for MSc students are included below:
Full-time MSc student starting in semester A:
Semester A (1st year): two 30-credit modules
Semester B (1st year): two 30-credit modules
Semester C (1st year) or Semester A (2nd year): 60-credit dissertation
Full-time MSc student starting in semester B:
Semester B (1st year): two 30-credit modules
Semester A (1st year): two 30-credit modules
Semester B (2nd year): 60-credit dissertation
Part-time MSc student starting in semester A:
Semester A (1st year): one 30-credit module
Semester B (1st year): one 30-credit module
Semester A (2nd year): one 30-credit module
Semester B (2nd year): one 30-credit module
Semester C (2nd year) and Semester A (3rd year), or Semesters A and B (3rd year): 60-credit dissertation
Part-time MSc student starting in semester B:
Semester B (1st year): one 30-credit module
Semester A (1st year): one 30-credit module
Semester B (2nd year): one 30-credit module
Semester A (2nd year): one 30-credit module
Semesters B and C (3rd year), or Semesters B and A (3rd year): 60-credit dissertation
The maximum registration period is six years.
Students require one 30-credit module for a Postgraduate Associate Certificate, two 30-credit modules for the PGCert, four 30-credit modules for the PGDip (Intermediate awards) and four 30-credit modules plus a 60-credit Research Dissertation in the area of Structural Engineering for the MSc.
Learning environment
Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratory work and external site visits. Web based learning is also employed particularly for the research dissertation.
Assessment
Assessment is by a mix of coursework and end of semester examination. The aggregate pass mark for a module is 50% with minimum module component mark of 40%.
Relevance to work/profession
Our teaching is informed by strong links with industry and the profession. We welcome research dissertation topics arising from and linked to professional work.
Thesis/Dissertation/project work
This gives you opportunity to work independently making your own critical appraisal of a chosen subject. This may include literature survey, laboratory testing, numerical analysis with commercial computing software, and computer programming.
Your future career
Structural engineers qualified to masters level find a wide range of career opportunities with consultancy, contractor and client organisations, as well as other related areas such as research and management.
How we support you
You may approach staff for help with personal or academic problems either in person or by e-mail. A programme handbook provides all relevant information on the programme and the teaching resources. Your research dissertation is carried out with the help of web-based guidance notes and a project supervisor.
Outcomes
Programme aims and learning outcomes
What is this programme designed to achieve?
This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
- Gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of the structural behaviour and design of different types of structures (building structures, bridges, roof structures, foundations, etc) with different structural materials.
- Gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of the loads (types, assessment, modelling) that has to be considered in the design of structures. Special attention will be paid to earthquake actions.
- Gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of the most up-to-date techniques for modelling and analysing the structural behaviour of structures
- Gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of the response of structural materials and appropriate design criteria of different structural elements
- Gain in-depth knowledge of the construction methods of different structures and how the construction method determines the internal forces
- Understand the role of the structural engineer as an important professional in society and the built environment
- Develop independent research in a topic relating to structural engineering.
- Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Demonstrate self-direction and originality in solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level
- Advance knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level
What will you learn?
Knowledge
Understand the latest theories and practices in:
- Advanced analysis of structures
- Structural dynamics
- Earthquake engineering
- Design of structures
- Design in steel and concrete
- Building structures, roof structures, and bridges
- Soil structure engineering
- Relevant scientific principles of the specialisation
- New and emerging technologies
- Appropriate models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases
- Collecting and analysing research data and using appropriate engineering tools to tackle unfamiliar problems, such as those with uncertain or incomplete data
Thinking skills
Develop skills in:
- Development of models for the analysis of structures and their foundations
- Analysis of data related to the material properties, accuracy of models, suitability of models, the structural response, etc.
- Solving practical problems and design of structural elements
- Critical assessment
- Carrying out a research project
- Interpreting experimental and numerical data
- Applying original thought to the development of practical solutions for products systems, components or processes
- Developing a thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations, and some appreciation of likely new developments
- Developing advanced level knowledge and understanding of a wide range of engineering materials and components
- Making general evaluations of risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks
Subject-Based Practical skills
Ability to:
- Use computer design packages
- Use office packages
- Complete design projects
- Use current codes and relevant structural guidelines
- Apply engineering techniques taking account of a range of commercial and industrial constraints
Skills for life and work (general skills)
Ability to:
- Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
- Express, discuss and defend technical ideas in front of others
- Work as a part of a design team
- Plan the work in advance, estimate the resources required, comply with deadliness and submit works in time.
- Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, which may be as a team member or leader
- Learn new theories, concepts, methods etc and apply these in unfamiliar situations
- Develop, monitor and update a plan, to reflect a changing operating environment
- Learn independently
Structure
The programme structure
Introduction
All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.
One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).
Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:
- 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
- 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree
Credit rating
The overall credit-rating of this programme is 180 for Masters, 120 for PGDip, 60 for PGCert and 30 for PGAssCert.
Typical duration
The duration of this programme is one year full time if the enrolment is in September, and two years part time. For February enrolment, the duration becomes 15 months full time, and 27 months part time.
How the teaching year is divided
The teaching year is divided into two semesters of roughly equal length (semester A, from September to January, and Semester B, from February to May). A typical student registered in a full-time attendance mode will study two 30-credit modules per semester and a typical student registered in a part-time attendance mode will study one 30-credit module per semester.
What you will study when
The modules offered in this MSc in Structural Engineering are:
- CEM004: Soil Structure Engineering (30-credit optional module taught in semester B)
- CEM005: Design in Steel and Concrete (30-credit optional module taught in semester B)
- CEM006: Advanced Structural Analysis (30-credit optional module taught in semester A)
- CEM010: Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering (30-credit optional module taught in semester A)
- CEM015: Design in Timber and Masonry (30-credit optional module taught in Semester B)
- CEM011: Research Dissertation (60-credit core module, with taught methodology classes)
Requirements for gaining an award
In order to gain a Postgraduate Associate Certificate, you will need to obtain 30 credits at Level M.
In order to gain a Postgraduate Certificate, you will need to obtain 60 credits at Level M.
In order to gain a Postgraduate Diploma, you will need to obtain 120 credits at Level M
In order to obtain a Masters, you will need to obtain 180 credits at Level M. These credits will include a 60 credit level M core module of advanced independent research.
Masters Award Classification
Where a student is eligible for an Masters award then the award classification is determined by calculating the arithmetic mean of all marks and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification
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70% - 100% |
Distinction |
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60% - 69% |
Merit |
|
50% - 59% |
Pass |
|
0% - 49% |
Not Passed |
Assessment
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching and learning
Knowledge is developed through:
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Seminars
- Site visits
Thinking skills developed through:
- Coursework
- Mini projects
- Research dissertation
Practical skills:
- Laboratory experiments
- Design projects
- Planning of work required for the research dissertation
Skills for life developed through:
- Seminars
- Presentation of research
- Research dissertation
Assessment
Knowledge is assessed by:
- Coursework
- Examinations
- Research dissertation
Thinking skills are assessed by:
- Solutions to practical problems
- Evaluation of literature
- Evaluation of experimental data
- Research dissertation
Practical skills are assessed by:
- Use of design aids
- Use of computer aided design packages
- Laboratory experiments
- Preparation of research dissertation
Skills for life are assessed by:
- Seminars
- Design drawings
- Research dissertation
- Oral examinations
Quality
How we assure the quality of this programme
Before this programme started
Before the programme started, the following was checked:
- there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
- adequate resources would be in place;
- the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
- the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
- the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
- the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.
This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.
How we monitor the quality of this programme
The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:
- external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
- statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
- student feedback.
Drawing on this and other information programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by the University's Quality Standing Committee.
Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.
The role of the programme committee
This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the University's quality assurance procedures.
The role of external examiners
The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:
- To ensure the standard of the programme
- To ensure that justice is done to individual students
External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:
- Approving exam papers/assignments
- Attending assessment boards
- Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks
- Ensuring that regulations are followed
- Providing feedback to UEL through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future
Listening to the views of students
The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:
- Module evaluations
- Student representation on programme committees
Students are notified of the action taken through:
- circulating the minutes of the programme committee
- providing charts on student feedback on the programme notice board
Listening to the views of others
The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:
- Questionnaires to former students
- Industrial liaison committee
Further Information
Where you can find further information
Further information about this programme is available from:
- The UEL web site www.uel.ac.uk
- The programme handbook
- Module Specifications
- UEL Manual of Regulations and Policies http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/
- UEL Quality Manual http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/manual
- Regulations for the Academic Framework http://www.uel.ac.uk/academicframework/
- Current External examiners
- External examiner reports (available from UEL virtual learning environment (UELPlus or Moodle))
