Course description
There is increasing demand for the engineer to play a greater role in poverty reduction and sustainable development, to be more holistic in
training and professional practice and integrate social, environmental, political and economic contexts in the application of engineering. Civil
engineering institutions worldwide are also strongly promoting this theme, since a traditional MSc Civil Engineering degree programme does not focus enough on development issues. The motivation for this course is to address the wider role of the civil engineer.
The unique feature of this course is its holistic integration of the social, geo-environmental, political and economic contexts in the application of engineering. The award equips students with the key skills for the provision of effective and sustainable solutions to development engineering needs in various contexts, by providing an in-depth knowledge of the core areas of civil engineering, as well as non-technical development issues such as aid and finance, gender, community participation, socio-political and economic considerations.
This programme is approved for the Further Learning Programme (formerly ‘Matching Sections’) at Chartered Engineer (CEng) level, by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and the Institution of Highways and Transportation (IHT).
Course Content
You will study the following modules:
* Integrative Project Planning and Management
* Aid, Finance and Development Practices
* Advanced Civil Engineering Materials
* Applied Geomatics
* Geo-environmental Engineering
* Water Resources Development and Management
* Dissertation
Plus one or two modules from:
* Environmental Health Engineering for Developing Countries
* Appropriate Environmental Technologies
* Transportation Infrastructure Engineering and Maintenance
How To Study
Taught modules are delivered between September and May. Applicants working in industry may apply to study some individual modules as short courses on a day-release or block-delivery basis. Modules are delivered by experienced academic staff with significant expertise in their specialist areas, through a combination of formal lectures, tutorials and seminars. Prominent industrial experts will be invited to give supplementary lectures and chair seminars. In addition, you will undertake a research project using the Faculty’s excellent facilities, and complete a dissertation on a chosen topic of interest.
Assessment methods vary; some modules are assessed completely through coursework, while others are assessed by a combination of design projects
and a formal examination.
Career prospects
This MSc award offers excellent opportunities for career progression. You can work in government departments concerned with development strategy implementation, development aid agencies, NGOs, or
international organisations such as UNEP, WHO, Oxfam, WaterAid, Tearfund, UNESCO, World Bank, HABITAT, UNHCR, UNDP, UNIDO.
For applicants already involved with development work, such as engineers, advisers and managers of aid projects, the course provides an opportunity to enhance your career development prospects by updating your knowledge and skills with recent and appropriate technologies for development.
