Advanced Structural Engineering with Data Science
Explore how data science is revolutionising the way structures are designed, analysed and assessed.
Course key facts
Qualification
MSc
Duration
1 year
Start date
October 2027
Study mode
Full-time
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
First class Honours in Civil Engineering, Natural Sciences, Earth Sciences or other numerate disciplines.
Course overview
Gain a comprehensive grounding in key topics related to the mechanics, analysis and design of structures.
You'll place a particular focus on advanced analytical and numerical techniques and their translation into the standards for practice such as the Structural Eurocodes.
With the completion of the MSc programme, you’ll be proficient in the design, analysis, assessment and evaluation of steel, concrete and composite structures while also learning about alternative materials, fundamental concepts and skills required for producing sustainable engineering solutions.
Whether you are a recent graduate or a practising engineer with several years' experience, this degree will equip you with advanced skills required to pursue a career in structural engineering, or further study at PhD level.
Choosing your course
We offer two courses in Structural Engineering:
- MSc Advanced Structural Engineering with Data Science (this stream)
- MSc Advanced Structural Engineering – with the additional option to specialise in 'Steel Structures', 'Concrete Structures', or 'Mechanics, Modelling, and Simulation'.
You should choose the course that suits your career aims and interests. If an offer of admission is made, it will correspond to the course you have applied for. Switching courses is not possible once you have commenced your studies.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You'll take all of these core modules.
Core modules
Understand and apply advanced structural analysis methods and underlying theoretical concepts to determine, analyse and evaluate structural behaviours of civil engineering structures.
Examine the design and behaviour of reinforced concrete structures at the design ultimate limit state.
Understand the behaviour of steel structures and learn to design structural steel members and connections.
This module will provide you with practical experience in constructing and validating models and algorithms and the necessary advanced computational skills to enable you to apply this knowledge to solving a range of complex civil engineering problems.
Develop a comprehensive understanding of the three principal subfields of modern machine learning and learn how to implement these modules using programming language.
Develop the relevant theory, methodology and computational techniques required for you to formulate and implement statistical models to represent real-world phenomena.
You’ll work in a small team to tackle a real-world design brief, guided by instructors and industry advisors. Together, you’ll plan, manage, and present your project in a competitive setting that mirrors how companies pitch and deliver professional engineering solutions.
You’ll choose five modules from the options listed.
Optional modules
Understand the finite element method for structural analysis and investigate the accuracy and convergence characteristics of various finite elements.
Analyse the conceptual design of a range of structural framing systems used in the construction sector and issues related to structural form and behaviour.
Examine the design and construction of bridges, as well as the main construction procedures for short, medium and long span bridges.
Understand the behaviour and design of plated steel structures including the elastic buckling and post-buckling of plates under in-plane loading.
Analyse the behaviour of structural components and systems that suffer from failure due to geometric nonlinearity.
Become familiar with the most basic concepts and principles of dynamics as applied to structural engineering problems.
Gain a detailed understanding of the design of reinforced concrete slabs and structures like deep beams, squat shear walls and pile caps.
Assess the structural behaviour and design criteria of prestressed concrete structures and review the current technology available for these structures.
Discover the systematic procedures for geometric and material nonlinear structural analysis and advance your knowledge of nonlinear analysis software.
Analyse, evaluate and exploit the mechanical behaviour of fibre reinforced polymer composites to facilitate their use in engineering structures.
Familiarise yourself with the design of structures in timber and masonry and apply your knowledge to the design of simple conventional structures.
Understand the fundamental concepts and principles of the analysis and design of thin-walled shelled structures.
Explore the main concepts and principles of structural safety and gain an appreciation for the power of probabilistic methods in structural engineering.
Develop your understanding of structural steel physical metallurgy and learn to apply this knowledge to the manufacture of steels to understand factors leading to corrosion and brittle fracture of steel.
Understand key concepts and principles for retrofitting existing buildings, including those of historical and architectural significance.
Enhance your understanding of the concepts and principles required for the seismic design of steel and concrete structures.
In the summer term, you’ll undertake a design project dissertation with regular guidance from a College supervisor, by private study or by arrangement at your place of employment.
This work will also incorporate a conceptual group project.
Professional accreditation
This MSc degree has accreditation pending from the Engineering Council by the (JBM), comprising:
- Institution of Civil Engineers
- Institution of Structural Engineers
- Institute of Highway Engineers
- Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation
- Permanent Way Institution
Registering as a Chartered Engineer will improve your career prospects and provide higher earning potential. It will also help to demonstrate your commitment to professional standards, the engineering profession and sustainable development.
Our accreditation agreement with members of the Joint Board of Moderators is renewed every five years. The current accreditation agreement is due to be renewed in 2026.
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Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
This is a general guide to how teaching and learning are usually balanced across this course. The methods used may change based on the modules you take.
Key
- Lectures and seminars
- Independent study
- 25% Title 1 goes here
- 75% Title 2 goes here
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Tutorials
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Online quizzes
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Computer sessions
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Group exercises
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Design projects
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Research project
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Slide-based presentations
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Programming code
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Summary reports
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Individual research dissertation
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may be different depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Coursework and examinations
- Project
- 28% Title 1 goes here
- 72% Title 2 goes here
Assessment methods
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Individual and group coursework assignments
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Written exams
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Research dissertation or detailed design project
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Group conceptual design project
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Group projects and presentations
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 6 January 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 3 March 2027
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 7 January 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 10 March 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 5 May 2027
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 11 March 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 28 April 2027
- Decision by Thursday 1 July 2027
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Business School
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs. This includes MRes and PhD combined (1+3) courses with the Centre for Doctoral Training.
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee (CEE 1YFT only)
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £19,400.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the university and not year of study.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee (CEE 1YFT only)
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £45,000.
Fees are charged by year of entry to the university and not year of study.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that the loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start. If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsHow will studying at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø help my career?
Graduates from our Department go on to succeed in a range of sectors such as construction, civil engineering, design engineering, engineering consultancy, sustainability and sustainable design, water resource engineering, environmental engineering, disaster management, structural and architectural design, infrastructure monitoring, materials manufacturing, geotechnical engineering, and renewable energy.
Who do our graduates work for?
Our graduates have worked for companies including Jacobs, Vinci, Mott MacDonald, Atkins, Aecom, Stantec, Foster and Partners, Ramboll, AKTII, WSP.
What jobs do our graduates do?
Structural Engineer, Civil Engineer, Design Engineer, Product Manger, Environmental Consultant, Construction Manager, Geotechnical Engineer, Graduate Hydrologist, Transport Planner, Carbon Market Analyst.
What about further study?
Many graduates go on to become PhD candidates at leading institutions worldwide.
What careers support does 51³Ô¹ÏÍø offer?
Our Careers Service collaborates with our Department to deliver career planning application talks tailored specifically for Civil and Environmental Engineering students during the course.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44(0) 20 7594 5932
- Email: cvpgo@imperial.ac.uk
Admissions Tutor: Professor Lorenzo Macorini
MSc Courses Director:
Visit the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering website.
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Request info
Find out more about studying at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Receive updates about life in our community, including event invites and download our latest Study guide.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should bee of when applying to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications