Engineering Geology – (M.Sc.)

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Study options

This course is available as either full-time mode (12 months duration) where teaching takes place over two days per week (Mondays and Tuesdays); or part-time mode (two years duration) whereby teaching is timetabled over one day per week (Mondays in year one and then Tuesdays in year two). For more information on study options, please visit our website (and contact the Admissions Tutor.

Course structure

The course itself has a modular structure consisting of six core units, a research project and one optional unit. The taught component is spread over two 12-week semesters running from October until June. The main units are as follows:

Rock and Soil Mechanics provides an advanced understanding of the geo-mechanical behaviour of rocks and soils and how they behave under different geotechnical design scenarios. This unit provides key skills in the assessment, description and testing of geological materials in order to understand and quantify their behaviour. The unit is underpinned by local field excursions that provide training in field assessment and descriptions of rock and soils.

Ground Engineering provides advanced understanding of the fundamental design principles associated with common geotechnical elements encountered on engineering projects. The unit is based around a real project and uses real ground information to develop a conceptual model and to design various geotechnical elements.

Ground Investigation and Assessment provides advanced understanding of an integrated ground investigation using invasive techniques, in-situ tests and geophysical methods. The unit considers concepts of geotechnical risk management within ground investigation and is underpinned by a field day where students apply a variety of geophysical techniques to a local site.

Fundamentals of Contaminated Land provides an overview of geological, geotechnical, geochemical, environmental and legal aspects of contaminated land and provides skills in contaminated land investigation techniques.

Landslide Hazard Analysis provides an advanced coverage of landslide systems, types of slides, method for identification and numerical analysis and common remediation strategies. The unit is underpinned by UK and overseas residential field courses that provide training in field assessment of inland and coastal landslides and debris flows.

Geoscience Risk Analysis provides advanced training in the application of qualitative and quantitative approaches to hazard and risk assessment and analysis and their use in the study of geological processes. The unit involves the development of probability theory and the application of industrial software to the analysis of hazard and risk.

Rock Engineering provides advanced understanding of engineering in rock masses. The unit provides training in rock stability, rock mass classifications, foundation and rock excavatability assessment and considers surface excavation and subsurface tunnelling.

Research project is a student led independent research project that provides an opportunity to undertake an original piece of research to academic or industrial standards, typically in collaboration with research staff in the department or external industrial partners. In addition to submission of a thesis report, students also present the results of their projects at the annual postgraduate conference held at the end of September.