Civil Engineering with Project ManagementMSc

Advanced Geotechnical Engineering and Soil-Structure Interaction

Geotechnical Engineering is a fundamental branch of Civil Engineering that studies the behaviour of earth materials, such as soil and rock, and their interaction with structures. It is crucial for the safe and efficient design and construction of all Civil Engineering projects.

In this module, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of Geotechnical Engineering, with a focus on advanced soil mechanics, foundation design, and soil-structure interaction. You will learn to analyse soil behaviour and its interaction with structures, applying your knowledge to practical and complex Civil Engineering problems. Topics covered include soil properties, soil-structure interaction, foundation types, and advanced computational methods for soil analysis.

You will develop the skills to assess soil conditions, interpret geotechnical data, and design safe, efficient foundations for a variety of construction projects. The module will also guide you in considering environmental factors, sustainability in design, and the broader societal impact of geotechnical engineering.

By the end of the module, you will be equipped to apply geotechnical principles to real-world challenges, utilising both theoretical knowledge and software tools. This will enable you to make informed decisions regarding soil analysis and foundation systems, ensuring the safety and performance of engineering projects.

Advanced Structural Design

Structural Design is an essential skill for Civil Engineers, ensuring the safety, stability, and long-term performance of buildings and infrastructure. It also addresses key challenges, including environmental impact and the efficient use of resources.

This module is a core module for the MSc Civil Engineering with Project Management, concentrating on the design and detailing of reinforced concrete and steel-framed structures in accordance with UK standards. You will explore the analysis and design of both steel and concrete structural frames and elements, integrating fundamental and advanced design concepts. You will also learn how to apply relevant Eurocode principles to your designs.

Throughout the module, you will develop the skills required to design safe, resilient, and sustainable structures. You will gain a thorough understanding of the design lifecycle, from conceptualisation to detailed design, while addressing key considerations such as structural integrity, safety, sustainability, constructability, and health and safety.

Dissertation Project

In this module, you will have the opportunity to undertake an independent and in-depth study on a Civil Engineering topic that aligns with your interests. Building on the knowledge and skills developed in CO7P01, this module encourages you to explore a subject or problem within the field of Civil Engineering. The outcome of your research will be a dissertation, which you will submit at the end of the module. Throughout the module, you will receive guidance from a Project Supervisor who will provide support, feedback, and advise as you progress with your work. You will be encouraged to develop your critical thinking and analytical skills by applying rigorous research methods to your chosen topic.

As the primary driver of your project, you will be responsible for managing resources, scheduling meetings, and adhering to deadlines while collecting and analysing relevant data.
You can select a topic from a list of suggestions provided by academic staff or propose your area of research. Your project may involve laboratory work, numerical modelling, advanced design, field observations, or mathematical analysis, depending on the focus of your study. Regardless of the approach you take, a critical review of the relevant literature will form a key part of your dissertation, though you will be expected to go beyond this and contribute original research.

By the end of the module, you will demonstrate your ability to manage a research project from start to finish, producing a well-organised, critical dissertation that showcases your academic and professional development.

Procurement and Contract Practice

The module aims to provide students with a critical awareness of the processes behind successful procurement and contract management of a construction project. It aims to develop their knowledge and understanding of the legal and contractual context within which construction projects operate and the project contexts that influence the procurement strategy. The module will explain the fundamental concepts of procurement and contracting as well as examining the project procurement management knowledge area processes: plan procurements, conduct procurements, administer procurements, and close procurements. It also covers project outsourcing techniques and tools including soliciting, selecting, and managing subcontractors. It will examine the construction project procurement cycle and the statutory and legal frameworks that need to be accounted for. Particular attention will be given towards sustainable procurement and the influence of an organisation’s Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) Strategy on project finance and procurement.

The knowledge gained will enable the student to propose project contract and procurement strategies for planning, decision making, and control.

By the end of the module, students should be able to critically evaluate the following:
• the principles of Contract Law
• the roles and responsibilities of the contract parties
• contract selection and procurement routes
• procurement strategies available for different project types
• the impact of governance on a project procurement strategy for public and private projects
• how a procurement method contributes to an organisation and/or projects ESG goals
• the use of digital tools to aid procurement
• standard form of contracts and their procurement terms
• techniques to manage disputes towards resolution

Project Management Principles

This module will introduce the student to the fundamental theories and concepts for successful project management. It examines the theory behind project management and best practice in the Built Environment industries in local and global contexts. It will consider how organisational strategic objectives drive projects and the role the Project Manager performs in the early stages of the project lifecycle, including the development and use of models to drive portfolio and project management. Following this, it will move the focus to the operational stage of the project and how the key project objectives are identified and managed towards a successful project completion.
The syllabus is guided by professional Project Management bodies of knowledge and codes of practice (such as the APM and CIOB). The module explains the strategic context within which projects operate to enable the students to understand that a project needs to have a strategic fit with the organisation's wider aims and ambitions. By the end of the module, students should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• the link between organisational strategy, programmes, and projects
• project economics
• project finance mechanisms
• project management methodologies and their underpinning theories
• the challenges of leading a complex project
• the contribution project management makes towards a sustainable built environment
• the responsibilities of the modern, global project manager
• strategies to monitor and control the complete project lifecycle

Research Methods in Civil Engineering and Group Design Project

This module is designed to provide you with a strong foundation in research methods and conceptual design of complex and cutting-edge problems in the field of Civil Engineering.

You will have the opportunity to work both individually and in teams, getting hands-on experience in identifying and solving real-world engineering problems.
In a group case study, you will collaborate with others to develop creative solutions and conceptual designs based on a given brief that you might face in a professional engineering environment.

Moreover, you will individually develop a detailed research proposal on a Civil Engineering-related topic of your choice, which will help you develop your skills in research design, planning, and methods. This proposal will prepare you for the Dissertation Project module where you will develop your research and will complete and write up your research findings in a dissertation. Focusing on critical thinking, this module will help you strengthen your ability to approach and solve advanced Civil Engineering problems.

Advanced Structural Analysis and Finite Element Method

In this module on Advanced Structural Analysis and the Finite Element Method (FEM), you will gain the knowledge and practical skills needed to analyse complex structures. You will cover both analytical and computational techniques in structural analysis focusing on FEM. You will dive into the core principles of FEM, from the mathematical foundations to the numerical techniques used in structural analysis and explore both linear and nonlinear analysis methods.

You will also work with industry-standard software to model and analyse different structures, dealing with various loading scenarios. A key part of the module is learning how to verify and validate your results by comparing them with analytical solutions, lab data, and benchmarks. You will also discuss the limitations of FEM and other methods so you can develop a critical understanding of their applications.

On completion of the module, you will be confident in analysing complex engineering problems using a systematic approach and hierarchical techniques. In addition, you will learn how to make decisions using engineering judgment based on available, sometimes incomplete, data, producing technical reports that communicate your findings, ready for professional settings.

Managing Risk and Uncertainty

The aim of this module is to provide the student with knowledge and understanding of risk and uncertainty theories and an appreciation of the differences between risks found on different project types.

Responding to today’s highly complex project landscapes, the module looks at risk management in a contemporary way, including complex projects which involve an unusual degree of uncertainty and unpredictability.

The module will introduce students to risk analysis techniques and how they can help the project team in making decisions under a highly dynamic project landscape. It will provide students with the tools to identify and assess risk and make informed decisions including how to manage risks within the context of a changing project environment. The module looks at “managing change” from the perspective of the risks involved.

By the end of the module students should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• The level of individual element and overall project risk
• Project complexity and risk
• Tools available to manage qualitative and quantitative project risks
• Appropriate means to manage risk
• The links between project change and risks

Project Planning and Delivery

The module aims for students to develop a critical awareness of project planning and delivery principles alongside developing the skills necessary to deploy them to manage a construction project. Through enquiry-based learning, it will facilitate a project scenario to allow students to deploy the tools necessary to successfully plan a project and monitor a project's resources.

The syllabus is guided by professional project management bodies of knowledge and codes of practice (such as the APM and CIOB), and the module explores the pre-construction and delivery phase of the project to enable the students to understand that detailed planning of a project is needed to help in the successful delivery of the construction phase. By the end of the module, students should be able to critically evaluate the following:

• project constraints and how they are identified and accommodated.
• project risks and strategies to accept, avoid, control, transfer, and monitor them.
• internal and external stakeholders to the project and how to manage their expectations.
• the requirements of a project delivery plan for the pre-construction and construction phase of a project and, once produced, how to control it throughout the construction phase.
• Produce and maintain a detailed project programme

The sustainable adaptation and re-use of existing infrastructure and buildings

In this module, you will examine the contribution that can be made by the Civil and Structural Engineer to the sustainable re-use and adaptation of existing infrastructure (e.g., bridges) and buildings.

The aims of the module are for you to:

• gain an understanding of the current approach to structural re-use and adaptation commonly found in UK practice
• explore the reasons for the retention of an existing structure
• gain skills in investigating and recording an existing structure
• gain experience of assessing the performance of an existing structure and options to meet any shortfalls in this, and to identify both the necessary and optional interventions that may support the adaptation or re-use of the structure
• explore the legislative requirements when re-using and adapting existing infrastructure and buildings
• gain experience of real-life re-use and adaptation projects from practice

Transportation Engineering Systems and Simulation

The Transportation Engineering Systems & Simulation module introduces you to the principles of design, analysis, and optimisation of transportation engineering systems, with a strong focus on modern simulation techniques.

The module covers a broad range of topics including geometric design of roads and highways, road safety engineering and accident analysis, traffic flow theory and modelling, and traffic signal design and control systems.

You will learn to apply advanced engineering tools and methods to solve real-world transportation challenges, using industry-standard practices and software. The module also incorporates current issues such as sustainable transportation and the integration of intelligent transportation systems. Through practical exercises, and project work, you will develop the analytical and technical skills needed to design efficient, safe, and sustainable transport networks. The content is aligned with the professional bodies standards, ensuring that you are equipped with the essential competencies required for a successful career in transportation engineering within the civil engineering profession.