Structural Engineering

Entry requirements

You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Applied Physics
• Architectural Engineering
• Building Surveying
• Civil/Structural Engineering
• Engineering Design
• Geology
• Information Engineering
• Mathematics/Applied Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering.

Other Engineering subjects will also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree.

We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement.

If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional qualifications, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé ) when you apply, showing:

• a relevant postgraduate qualification.

Months of entry

September

Course content

This unique one-year, full-time Master's programme focuses on industry-relevant skills, ensuring you graduate ready to make an immediate impact.

You'll be able to specialise your learning through one of three curated pathways:

• Asset Management and Digital Transformation: specialise in managing civil infrastructure assets and data, utilizing systems-level thinking alongside mathematical and sustainable approaches.
• Composite Materials and Sustainable Design: develop expertise in innovative materials such as fibre-reinforced polymers, discover structural retrofitting, and learn how to integrate sustainability criteria into your design process.
• Earthquake Engineering: specialise in structural reliability, soil-structure interaction and natural disaster risk management making an impact on the efficient design of the built environment, the mitigation of seismic loss and the protection of human life.

These pathways are specifically developed to align with the changing demands on future structural and civil engineers, aligned with recommendations by leading professional bodies such as the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).

Why Choose Our Programme?

The University of Bristol’s Civil Engineering programme is ranked 1st in the UK (Guardian University Guide 2025) and we are the 7th in the UK for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings, 2022).

You'll learn from world-leading experts and benefit from our state-of-the-art research facilities, including:

• The Bristol Composites Institute Lab.
• The Heavy and Light Structures Lab.
• The Soil-Foundation-Structure-Interaction Lab.

This programme welcomes a diverse array of students with different subject backgrounds. Through the core units of the MSc, you'll gain advanced skills in construction materials, analysis, and civil infrastructure design. You'll also benefit from:

• Guest lecturers from industry and prominent academic institutions, offering real-world insights.
• An interesting field trip designed to enhance your understanding of construction procedures and manufacturing workflows.
• A summer design project that simulates real-life conditions within an engineering company, allowing you to collaborate with academic and industrial supervisors and to develop leadership and communication skills essential for your career.

This programme is your gateway to gaining advanced engineering skills and staying at the forefront of developments in the structural engineering field, wherever your career takes you globally.

We welcome a diverse array of students with different subject backgrounds.

Information for international students

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Fees and funding

Fees for the field trip are included in the postgraduate-taught fees. Fees are subject to an annual review.

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.