MSc by Research Civil Engineering: The University of Manchester

Course description

Energy, Environment and Climate Change Group

The challenges for energy research will increase against a background of climate change, changing energy provision within uncertain world politics, increasing world population, increasing pollution and need for control and remediation. The group's environmental research covers hydro/morphodynamic and geotechnical processes, particularly associated with pollution dispersion/migration and sediment transport, the built environment and urban aerodynamics. There is strong underpinning capability in computational fluid dynamics and soil mechanics, multi-phase flows, sprays, turbulence modelling and heat transfer.

Extreme Loading and Design Group

To ensure a safe society from accidental events (fires, impact, gas explosions, errors in design, etc.), natural occurrences (hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, etc.) or terrorist attack, there is a need to understand both material and whole structural response under extreme loads.

Manchester has a well-known track record in researching the behaviour of structures under fire, explosions, impact energy absorption, dynamic response, and high strain rate material response.

The design research team is interwoven with the extreme loading investigations through research into risk and reliability methods.  In addition, the design team also concentrates on through-life support of systems, equipment and components. This work comprises conditioning monitoring, single processing, damage detection, and project management.

Course aims

The programme is designed for postgraduate students who seeks to:

• Pursue a career in research and/or teaching both in the UK and other countries
• Pursue a career in industry or commerce
• Further their professional knowledge and standing, by studying and carrying out research in engineering

There is emphasis in the course on self-motivation, particularly when undertaking the dissertation. Students are strongly encouraged to build on the formal teaching, by studying preprints, published papers and conference proceedings, attending seminars, presentation and group meetings in order to expand and develop their knowledge of their field and other areas of engineering.

The aims of the lecture modules are to develop and expand the student's knowledge and understanding of their chosen research area.

The aims of the research project are to develop:

• The ability to work independently and constructively within a research group in the laboratory or theory environment
• Intellectual and communication skills necessary to present and articulate research findings in verbal and written formats
• Skill of numerical manipulation and statistical analysis of data using sophisticated software

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the MSc programme, a successful student will be able to:

• Critically assess a project to evaluate the best strategy to achieve the desired outcome.
• Plan and manage a research project to appropriate timescales and respond and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Use sophisticated computer software to analyse data.

Link the research findings into knowledge obtained variously, in lectures, read in journals, encountered in the laboratory or obtained by the student from self-questioning, from the lecturers, supervisors and from other research group colleagues (including other students).

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview:

Applicants for admission will normally hold a Bachelors degree or equivalent qualification. The level of attainment for the Bachelor's degree will normally be equivalent to that of a Second Class Honours UK Bachelor's degree.  Professional qualifications other than a Bachelor's Degree and/or relevant and appropriate experience may be taken into account for entry to an MSc by Research degree.

English language:

All applicants will need to demonstrate competency in the English language. Applicants who do not already posses a recognised English Language qualification will need to take a recognised test such as IELTS or TOEFL and attain a minimum of IELTS 6.5 ( with no sub test less than 5.5), TOEFL 570 with 5.0 in the TWE (Computer-based 230 or above or Internet-based 88-89 or above).