Structural Engineering MSc

Further learning programme – MSc

This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), comprising the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, on behalf of the Engineering Council, as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree.

It should be noted that candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited bachelor degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine if they meet the educational base for CEng registration.

Our MSc course in Structural Design and Construction Management with Sustainability is accredited until 2023 entry.

See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.

Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords. 

Please check the Engineering Council website for more information. 

The MSc programme delivered at our partner institutions is not currently accredited by the JBM.

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

The Faculty has a specialist employability team. It provides friendly and high-quality careers and recruitment guidance, including advice and sessions on job-seeking skills such as CV preparation, application forms and interview techniques. Specific advice is also available for international students about the UK job market and employers' expectations and requirements.

The team runs employer events throughout the year, including job fairs, key speakers from industry and interviews on campus. These events give you the opportunity to hear from, and network with, employers in an informal setting. 

This course, like many postgraduate courses at Kingston University, enables students to integrate a 12-month work placement into their course. You are responsible for finding and securing your own professional placement, which can be highly competitive but also incredibly rewarding. It is very important to prepare yourself if this is the route you wish to take. Employers look for great written and oral communication skills and an excellent CV/portfolio. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a Student Route visa.

Our excellent industrial links have developed over many years and throughout many countries. Some examples include work with: 

• Matra-Marconi Space Ltd
• Ericsson
• Balfour Beatty
• The National Health Service
• British Gas

Our Industrial Advisory Committee reviews and advises industrial activities. The Committee acts as a forum for discussing teaching, research and consultancy to industry.

 When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.

As a student at Kingston University, we will make sure you have access to appropriate advice regarding your academic development. You will also be able to use the University's support services. 

Year 1: 16% of your time is spent in timetabled learning and teaching activity. 

• Scheduled learning and teaching: 290 hours 
• Guided independent study (self-managed time): 1,510 hours 

Contact hours may vary depending on your modules.

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

Assessment typically comprises exams (e.g. test or exam), practical (e.g. presentations, performance) and coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios, dissertation). The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose:

Year 1: 80% coursework, 20% exams, 0% practical

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. Depending on optional modules chosen, this breakdown may change.

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.

Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.

Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.

If you choose to do a placement year, travel costs will vary depending on your location. These costs could be up to £2,000.

Kingston University will supply you with a lab coat, hard hat and safety goggles at the start of the year. A £10 voucher will be supplied to help cover the cost of the safety boots when purchasing with our supplier Activity Work Wear. Safety boots can range between £25 and £100. You may also need to purchase equipment, such as safety gloves, when going on site visits. This may cost up to £50.

The Inspire the Future Scholarship offers a 40% reduction in fees for taught masters or postgraduate diploma courses with September start dates. 20 scholarships are available for progressing Kingston University graduates.

For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Inspire the Future Scholarship page.

International postgraduate students could receive up to £5,000 towards tuition in their first year of study.

For more information on how to apply for these scholarships, visit the International Scholarship page.

If you are a Kingston University undergraduate student progressing to a postgraduate degree (taught or research), you could get a 15% reduction in tuition fees.

For more information on how to apply for this scholarship, visit the Postgraduate Progression Scholarship page.

Kingston University offers a 10% discount on full and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees to our alumni. 

For more information on how to apply for this discount, visit our alumni discount page.