Civil and Environmental Engineering MSc

The research groups within the Sustainable Technology Research Centre cover a wide range of topics, including:

• land use
• building design and construction
• recycling waste materials
• efficient energy use and distribution
• water resources (hydraulics)
• monitoring using remote sensing

Our lively research culture is reflected in our regular seminars. Recent examples include:

• International Conference on Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
• Recent Advances in the Micromechanics of Ductile Fracture
• Environmental Degradation in Adhesively Bonded Structures
• Modelling of Deformation and Failure of Polymers: Why is Bridging of Length and Time Scales Necessary?
• Why Bolt It When You Can Bond It? The Gluing Evolution

This programme builds on the research excellence in sustainable concrete construction at Kingston University and is fully compatible with the existing Government and Foresight Strategy on Sustainable Construction. It is run in association with The Concrete Centre UK.

Further learning programme – MSc

This course is currently undergoing routine JBM accreditation renewal for 2025 entry.

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 whether they will 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.

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: 282 hours
• Guided independent study (self-managed time): 1,518 hours

Contact hours may vary depending on your modules.

Assessment typically comprises

• exams (e.g. test or exam).
• practical (e.g. presentations, performance).
• coursework (e.g. essays, reports, self-assessment, portfolios, dissertation).

The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows.

• 80% coursework
• 20% exams

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.

Since my childhood I loved Maths and problem-solving skills that inspired me to study engineering. I was also fascinated by everything built around me such as buildings and bridges, and this directed my interest to Civil/Structural Engineering.

Having further guidance from my seniors in A-Levels about the role and responsibilities of a Civil/Structural Engineer, I decided to study Civil/Structural Engineering.

Kingston University is probably the only university in the UK offering a dual MSc Structural Design and Construction Management (with Sustainability), which would give me career opportunities in consulting engineering using the Structural Design part or contracting using the Construction Management part. Also, the Sustainability addition would give me current skills as required by all employers due to climate emergency.

Other attractive attributes that convinced me to choose Kingston University included the:

• full accreditation of the MSc
• subject ranking
• course structure
• core modules
• highly qualified practising staff
• prime location of the University
• great alumni

I felt totally confident that I had chosen the right university to kick off my career in Civil/ Structural Engineering.

The Kingston Award was a fantastic opportunity for me to get motivated and be actively involved to gain soft skills that make a student a stand-out personality.

Being an international student, working towards achieving this award helped me to grow personally and professionally.

After the Kingston Award was mentioned during induction, I flagged this and started working towards achieving each attribute necessary by getting involved in various opportunities such as course representative, social media officer for the water sports club, member of the student union and team leader for the course works.

Apart from my activities at the University I gained experience by volunteering at Oxfam and a part-time job at KFC, where I met a lot of people from different diversities, cultures, and places.

These activities improved my soft skills such as communication, time management, problem-solving, decision making, self-confidence, financial management, and managerial skills which enhance my employability.

A huge thanks to Kingston University for giving me wonderful opportunities to grow myself and progress in my career.

In my opinion, the University is not just about teaching the modules but also giving students the support and opportunities which a young graduate needs to get pushed into the industry. I am confident that Kingston University has provided me with every opportunity to achieve my success.

The Faculty of Science Engineering and Computing is amazing in encouraging students to achieve great heights of success.

I would also like to thank all academic staff at Kingston University for their incredible support during my MSc and particularly Professor Costas Georgopoulos (Prof Costas) who designed this wonderful postgraduate programme and delivers a major part of it.

Prof Costas, Fellow of the Institutions of Civil and Structural Engineers, taught us the technical knowledge and sustainability parts that are necessary for Civil/Structural Engineers who come to study in the UK from all over the world.

From day one I noted all the information which he supplied in the class such as websites, competitions, Institution events, The Concrete Centre, etc., and I got actively involved with all relevant bodies.

I still remember Prof Costas’ classes and use his lifelong resources such as lecture notes, videos and free computer aided learning software to enhance my knowledge and help my performance in practice.

Prof Costas motivated me and pushed me towards achieving things in tough times such as the pandemic. He has always been part of my career achievements and awards. As a course rep I also heard from many students about his continuous support to them.

Prof Costas has a special way to communicate with students and manages to engage with everyone in making them knowledgeable and employable. He is an email away all the time for all graduates who need his advice and recommendation to secure a job. Prof Costas is also a mentor and sponsor for graduates applying to become a Chartered Civil / Structural Engineer incl. myself.