Programme Structure (Full Time mode)

The academic year is spent as follows: September December Early January January - March Early May May September Early September Lecture courses; laboratory classes; seminars; tutorials; design exercises; lectures by visiting specialists from industry; research project Written examinations Lecture courses, etc. continue (as for the September to December period) Written examinations Continue research project; site visits Submit research project dissertation

Field trips are organized throughout and these include: Ironbridge used to study a series of incipient slope failure and examine examples of retaining walls (both successful and the not so successful)

Other visits include to a commercial laboratory and sites of special geotechnical interest to demonstrate material covered during taught elements.

Programme Structure (Part Time mode)

To minimize time away from work, the MSc programme can be taken part time in block delivery mode. This means a 20 credit module (or two 10 credit modules) can be taken in five days' attendance at the University and the rest of the time spent distance learning. Contact with lecturers can be made via e-mail, telephone or if required by coming into the University at a time that suits. Each module is supported by learning materials sent to each student prior to attendance and through Web based materials. This offers the student minimal disturbance at their work place as well as flexibility of delivery and support whilst combining work and study.
Module Soil Mechanics mid-October Delivery Assessments Exam in early January Coursework throughout autumn term

Engineering Geology with Site Investigations Financial Management* Ground Engineering Foundation Engineering with Slopes and Retaining structures Research skills Advanced Soil # Mechanics Construction Management*
#

Early November 2006

Exam in Engineering Geology in early January Coursework throughout autumn term Coursework throughout autumn term Exam in early January Coursework throughout autumn term Exam in early May Coursework throughout spring term Exam in early May Coursework throughout spring term Exam in early May Coursework throughout spring term Coursework throughout spring term Exam in early May Coursework throughout spring term Exam in early May Coursework throughout spring term

Late Nov/ early Dec Late Jan/early Feb Mid-March Mid-March 2007 One day in January Late Feb Late Feb

available to MSc Geotechnical Engineering students only

available to MSc Geotechnical Engineering and Management students only

Typically, students take two 20 credit modules per year, one in each term and complete the MSc in the September of the third year.

Programme Content
Modules The following is a provisional list of modules, including the contents of each module and the assessment methods. (10 Credits nominally equate to 100 hours of student effort.) Modules common to both MSc Geotechnical Engineering and MSc Geotechnical Engineering and Management
Credits 20 10 10 10 10 10

Module Soil Mechanics Engineering Geology Site Investigations Research Skills Financial Management Foundation Engineering

Description Soil Properties, Effective Stress, Seepage, Compression and Consolidation, Strength and Deformation, Laboratory Testing Geology for Engineers, Engineering Geology of Soils and Rocks, Introduction to Rock Engineering Site and Ground Investigations, including Procurement, Methodology, Geophysics, Reporting, Instrumentation Professional Meetings, Research and Communication Skills Financial Decision Making in Business and the Business Environment, Financial Processes Foundation Design and Construction (shallow and deep foundations), Earthquake Engineering

Slopes and Retaining structures Ground Engineering

Slope Stability, Earth Pressures, Design of Gravity Walls and Sheet Pile Walls, Field Trip and Exercise Environmental Geotechnics, Ground Improvement and Dewatering for Construction, Earthworks and Compaction, Geotextiles and Reinforced Soils, Underground Geotechnics (including tunnelling), Sustainability in Geotechnics

10 20

For the MSc Geotechnical Engineering course and additional 20 credit module on Advanced Soil Mechanics is taken covering: Computer Aided Engineering, critical state soil mechanics, and recent developments in geotechnical engineering

For the MSc Geotechnical Engineering and Management course and additional 20 credit module Construction Management is taken covering: Human Resources in the Construction industry; Management of Organizations; Project Management; Management Strategy; Project Management Responsibilities; Project Appraisal; Risk Management; Contract Strategy; Management Contracts; Target Contracts; New Engineering Contract; Construction Planning. Research Project (60 Credits May to September). This module will involve carrying out independent study on a chosen research topic. Many projects are linked to current research programmes or driven by geotechnical companies through the group's many links with industry, for example geotechnics of railways, sustainability in geotechnical engineering, numerical modelling, DEM studies, tunnelling, ground improvements, foundations, slope stability and mitigation.

Assessment of ground improvement using geophysics

Site investigations railway subgrade

Ground source heat pump Public transport Stored heat Waste Collection Stored water

District heating District cooling (Borehole abstraction) HV/LV Electricity Communications Gas Ventilation Public roads

Harvested and abstracted water Waste water Clean water

Discrete element modelling

Sustainable use of the underground

The project is assessed by the following: Project dissertation (60%) - This document will be produced in accordance with the University regulations on the production of MSc dissertations (approx. 100 pages). Oral presentation of work (30%) - This will be a stand-up presentation to all students and examiners. It will also include a question and answer period. Supervisor assessment of performance (10%)