Geotechnical & Geological Engineering MSc

Overview

Our MSc gives you a thorough understanding of the principles and practices of geotechnical and geological engineering. You’ll study topics including:

• the engineering behaviour of soils and rocks
• slope stability and retaining structures
• site investigation and interpretation
• construction practice
• data-centric engineering

This course meets the growing need for skilled geotechnical and geological engineers across the construction, environmental and energy industries. The course provides you with:

• advanced conceptual understanding
• detailed factual knowledge
• specialist technical skills
• an awareness of responsibilities to society and the environment

We maintain strong industrial engagement. Our degree programmes are shaped by industry and government policy.

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

The course provides you with an advanced knowledge and understanding of:

• hazard assessments and risks arising from natural and man-made phenomena
• applied rock engineering
• borehole design and operation
• construction practice and awareness of safe operation
• design of reinforced slopes, retaining structures and tailing dams
• engineering geology principles and applications
• geotechnical design
• climate change, vulnerability, impacts and adaptation
• site investigation, testing, interpretation and reporting
• soil mechanics and ground characterisation
• statistical modelling and image analysis

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering MSc modules

The modules listed below are for 2023 entry. Details of the modules on offer for 2024 entry can be found in this course regulations document (PDF: 90KB).

Modules

Compulsory modules

Advanced Geomechanics (10 credits)

Slope stability and Retaining Structures (20 credits)

Applied Rock Engineering (20 credits)

Ground Engineering Practice and Professional Skills (10 credits)

Ground Investigation and Contamination (10 credits)

Ground Improvement Techniques (10 credits)

Data-centric Ground Engineering (10 credits)

Engineering Geology Field Skills (10 credits)

 

All students specialising in Engineering Geology will study:

Fundamentals of Conceptual and Numeric Ground Water Modelling (10 credits)

Climate Change: Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (10 credits)

 

All student specialising in Geotechnical Engineering will study:

Soil Modelling and Numerical Methods (10 credits)

Foundation Design (10 credits)

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

Assessment is by formal written examinations, coursework and oral presentations. You'll write up your research project as a dissertation. Teaching methods on this course typically consist of:

• computing workshops
• fieldwork
• formal lectures
• group projects
• laboratory work
• lectures
• open learning
• seminars
• site visits
• tutorials

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Design or creative project
• Dissertation
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral examination
• Report
• Written examination
• Written exercise

Additional assessment information

Group project

You'll work in groups for various modules in which you'll tackle a practical engineering problem. Working in a multidisciplinary team will help you develop your communication and teamwork skills. You'll benefit from a broad spectrum of geotechnical geological/engineering perspectives.

Dissertation

You'll put your skills, knowledge, and understanding into practice by undertaking an individual research project and written dissertation. This may be theoretical, experimental or the development of a computational model of a geotechnical structure.

Recent examples include:

• seismic analysis of monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines
• the effect of slope geometry on the development of desiccation cracking in clay embankments
• investigating the hydrological performance of SuDS and Green Infrastructure

Your project might involve you working within one of the School's world-class research groups. Alternatively, you might work in collaboration with one of our industrial partners, such as:

• Network Rail
• Arup
• Atkins
• AECOM
• Belfour Beatty
• Cundall
• Global Maritime
• Jacobs

You'll be supervised throughout your project by an experienced academic. Your supervisor will provide advice on the approaches and methods that are best suited to your research problem. For your collection/analysis of data, they will help guide you to producing a well-written dissertation.

 

Support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Your development

Our degree programmes are shaped by strong engagement with industry. They have been developed to equip you with the professional and technical skills crucial in this field.

You'll benefit from our multidisciplinary approach to teaching. You'll have the opportunity to engage with students from civil engineering, geological and other scientific backgrounds. Typically this is through lectures, group work and other activities, providing a rich and diverse learning experience.

Once you have graduated you'll be able to:

• identify, generate and interpret data relevant to an engineering scenario
• employ numerical methods for modelling and analysing problems
• select and apply ideas, concepts and data to generate innovative designs
• evaluate the quality of data through testing and measurement equipment in field and lab
• present and summarise data and critically appraise its significance, using numerical techniques
• formulate and test key hypotheses using logical and consistent quantitative or qualitative arguments

Your future

Graduate destinations

Our close links with industry and our graduates provides you with a network allowing you to enhance your employability.

We'll prepare you for a wide range of careers across the globe in construction, environmental and energy sectors. Our close industry links and strong graduate community have seen graduates go on to destinations including:

• AECOM
• Arup
• Cundall
• Jacobs
• Atkins
• Milestone
• PTV
• Systra

Our degree programme also provides a route into further study at PhD level.

Industry links

During your studies you'll typically benefit from:

• industry guest lectures
• study tours
• site visits
• projects
• placements and employment opportunities (with added support from our Careers Service).

Recent contributors to the MSc programme include visitors from:

• AECOM
• Balfour Beatty
• Land and Minerals Consulting
• Cundall
• Atkins

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

The School of Engineering has an exceptional range of laboratories equipped with a wide range of analytical instrumentation supporting our research, teaching and contract research projects.

Find out more about our Geotechnics and Structures Research Laboratories.

You'll also have access to a student common room based in Cassie Building; this resource facility and study space is perfect for group working.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• campus tours
• on-campus open days
• virtual open days
• webinars

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events