Course Overview

There is a global shortage and demand for highly-skilled Civil Engineering professionals. The MSc Civil Engineering will equip students with the required knowledge and skillset to meet the needs of industry. This program will prepare graduates with the skills necessary to undertake complex, innovative and impactful work with significant benefits to society and the environment. The program emphasises a design led approach in its teaching and will offer a broad, but advanced, range of modules covering structural design, geotechnical, hydraulic and offshore engineering, water and wastewater engineering and transport. It will also offer a range of transferable skills modules that are much sought-after by employers. 

The following is a list of the intended Programme Level Learning Outcomes.  

  • PLO1 Understand and analyse the mechanics, dynamics, design and construction of various civil structures. 
  • PLO2 Design and implement innovative sustainable solutions for complex structural, transport, offshore and coastal, hydraulic and geotechnical engineering problems 
  • PLO3 Implement solutions at planning, design and operation stage that enable a sustainable built environment. 
  • PLO4 Develop skills necessary for the management and implementation of complex Civil Engineering projects 
  • PLO5 Develop transferable skills to enable a multi-disciplinary approach to complex challenges that enable a sustainable and more equal society 
  • PLO6 Understand the responsibilities of your profession and develop skills necessary for high ethical standards in professional practice 
  • PL07 Develop the ability to work effectively independently and in teams and to communicate successfully with a range of audiences. 

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.  

Factors taken into account in determining admission will include the specific content of the undergraduate degree, the applicant’s performance and the availability of places. 

Who Teaches this Course

  • Victoria Mossman (Discipline Administrator) 
  • Professor Eoghan Clifford (Head of Discipline) 
  • Dr. Edelle Doherty 
  • Dr. William Finnegan (co-programme director) 
  • Professor Jamie Goggins. 
  • Professor Mike Hartnett 
  • Professor Mark Healy 
  • Dr Yadong Jiang 
  • Dr. Marcus Keane 
  • Dr. Myra Lydon (co-programme director) 
  • Dr. Bryan McCabe 
  • Dr. Patrick McGetrick 
  • Dr. Paul Moran 
  • Dr. Stephen Nash 
  • Dr. Indiana Agnieszka Olbert 
  • Dr. Guangxue Wu 
  • Professor Xinmin Zhan  

Programme Board: Dr. Mya Lydon, Dr. William Finnegan, Prof. Eoghan Clifford.  

Module leads (core modules):  

All modules are existing modules. The full list is not given here due to the number of modules but includes the staff list above. 

Requirements and Assessment

Pre-requisites: Entry requirements mandate a minimum 2-1 degree in Civil, Structural, Environmental Engineering, or equivalent, or at least 5 years of pertinent industrial experience. English proficiency is mandatory for non-native speakers. 

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Pre-requisites: Entry requirements mandate a minimum 2-1 degree in Civil, Structural, Environmental Engineering, or equivalent, or at least 5 years of pertinent industrial experience. English proficiency is mandatory for non-native speakers. 

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

1 Year

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

20

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Please refer to the review/closing date website.

NFQ level

Mode of study

Full time study

ECTS weighting

90

Award

CAO

Course code

Course Outline

The MSc Civil Engineering will equip students with the required knowledge and skillset to meet the needs of industry. Graduates of this program can avail of diverse career pathways in a variety of exciting fields in various areas of Civil Engineering. Graduates from Civil Engineering at the University of Galway have an excellent international relationship and many are leaders in industry, government, non-governmental organisations, utilities and research/academia.

This program will prepare graduates with the skills necessary to undertake complex, innovative and impactful work with significant benefits to society and the environment. Our goal is to foster a learning environment that encourages creativity, teamwork and innovation. There will be an emphasis on “hands-on” and “design-led” learning activities, and the assessment structure will reflect this. Students will also be encouraged to bring their own project ideas, particularly if they are pertinent to current/previous employment. The programme integrates industry feedback and direct industry contact into its structure and individual modules (e.g. the integrated design project which involves industry partners at all stages of the project).  

Upon completion of the programme, graduates will have the ability to:  

  • Identify and implement solutions to complex societal and environmental challenges related to the built environment, water, energy and climate resilience 
  • Incorporate sustainability as a key design and operational feature of civil engineering infrastructure and embed it all life cycle stages of complex projects 
  • Implement complex engineering projects and take leadership roles in the delivery of infrastructure 
  • Use data-centred approaches to inform the planning, design and operation of civil and environmental engineering infrastructure 
  • Work effectively independently and in diverse and inclusive teams, communicate complex problems with the public and undertake lifelong learning. 

The 90 ECTS that Students must take in the MSc in Civil Engineering consists of 40 ECTS Project/Thesis, 40 ECTS Advanced Subject-Specific Modules and 10 ECTS Transferrable Skills Modules. Students choose options in each of the categories: (1) Advanced Subject Specific Courses and (2) Transferrable Skills Modules. 

Advanced Subject Specific Modules (40 ECTS), chosen from: 

  • CE509 Advanced Structures (5 ECTS)
  • CE514 Transportation Systems and Infrastructure II (5 ECTS)
  • BME5110 Finite Element Methods in Engineering – Theory and Practice (5 ECTS)
  • CE6102 Design of Sustainable Environmental Systems I (5 ECTS)
  • EOS418 Applied Field Hydrogeology (5 ECTS)
  • CE5104 Sustainability Planning in Construction (10 ECTS)
  • CE5105 Digital Construction Technologies (10 ECTS)
  • ME4112 Computational Fluid Dynamics (5 ECTS)
  • CE462 Coastal and Offshore Engineering  (5 ECTS)
  • CE4103 Geotechnical Engineering Design (5 ECTS)
  • CE471 Project Management (5 ECTS)
  • CE6113 Energy in Buildings (5 ECTS)
  • CE5102 Timber Engrg and Design of Timber Structures (5 ECTS)
  • CE6103 Design of Sustainable Environmental Systems II (5 ECTS)
  • CE6120 Hydraulic Modelling (5 ECTS)

There is an extensive list of transferrable/professional skills available.

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Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

There is a global shortage and demand for highly-skilled Civil Engineering professionals. The MSc Civil Engineering will equip students with the required knowledge and skillset to meet the needs of industry. Graduates of this program can avail of diverse career pathways in a variety of exciting fields in various areas of Civil Engineering. Graduates from Civil Engineering at the University of Galway have an excellent international relationship and many are leaders in industry, government, non-governmental organisations, utilities and research/academia. This program will prepare graduates with the skills necessary to undertake complex, innovative and impactful work with significant benefits to society and the environment.

Our goal is to foster a learning environment that encourages creativity, teamwork and innovation. There will be an emphasis on “hands-on” and “design-led” learning activities, and the assessment structure will reflect this. Students will also be encouraged to bring their own project ideas, particularly if they are pertinent to current/previous employment. The programme integrates industry feedback and direct industry contact into its structure and individual modules (e.g. the integrated design project which involves industry partners at all stages of the project).

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€8,890 p.a AY2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€8,750 p.a AY2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 AY2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€28,000 (€28,140 including levy) p.a AY2025/26


For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2025/26).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here

Find out More

Victoria Mossman 
ENG-1046 
Alice Perry Enginering Building 

E: civilengineering@universityofgalway.ie  

www.universityofgalway.ie/civileng/