Further study in civil and structural engineering
The civil and structural engineering profession relies on specialist skills to make projects a success. Postgraduate study could be your way to get these additional skills and find your way into the area of civil and structural engineering that interests you most.
Postgraduate options in civil engineering
There are a wealth of civil and structural engineering-related masters courses to entice you to study for another year, from hydrology and steel structures to engineering management systems.
'Why do postgrad?
'Postgraduate degrees can be useful if you are considering entering a highly specialist area of civil and structural engineering.'
Tom Aldridge, technical director, Fugro Ltd
If you want to scratch a research itch, a traditional PhD isn’t your only option. You could also investigate the engineering doctorate (EngD), which is growing in recognition. The EngD is predominantly industry-based and the research is focused on actual commercial projects. Research engineers also spend time studying courses related to business management and professional skills at an academic centre. Find out more from the Engineering and Physics Research Council.
Should I do postgrad study in civil and structural engineering?
There are benefits...
‘Postgraduate degrees can be particularly useful if you are considering entering a highly specialist area of civil and structural engineering,’ says Tom Aldridge, technical director at Fugro Limited. ‘For example, as a specialist geotechnical engineering organisation we find that graduates who have completed a masters in geotechnics can have an edge over graduates straight from a civil and structural engineering degree. As well as gaining a higher level of knowledge, the extra effort they have made demonstrates a real interest in this area of work.’
Many courses are developing their content to provide engineers with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle topical issues in the UK and further afield, such as earthquake engineering and disaster management; and transport planning. You should therefore learn about cutting-edge developments, which could help you in your future career
If you have a BEng undergraduate degree, a masters-level qualification can also add to it to allow you to start working towards charteerd engineer status when you start work.
But...
Postgraduate degrees in civil and structural engineering can be costly and they take a lot of work. You need to ensure that your postgraduate degree is an investment in your career – either in academia or industry, and it's not just an excuse to put off job hunting. Are you suited to postgrad life?
Choosing your postgrad course
When exploring your course and research options, Tom’s advice is to ‘try to find a university or department that has good links with employers in the industry’. This gives doctoral and masters students the opportunity to work on real projects and use techniques that are relevant to industry.
Make the most of postgrad life
Even with a postgrad degree, you still need to show employers you' have the skills to make a good engineer. Use the extra time at university to polish your organisation and planning, communication, teamwork, presentation skills and commercial awareness.
For example, Tom’s organisation works with a university research department that is exploring novel foundation techniques for offshore wind farms. Projects like this are not only interesting, but also give postgraduates the opportunity to understand the dynamics of commercial engineering, which will be helpful when you join the industry.
Use postgrad to boost your employability
Even with a postgraduate qualification under your belt, you can’t rely on specialist skills alone to woo employers. ‘Postgraduates have to make the grade on basic employability skills,’ says Tom. He highlights that you will need to be able to ‘communicate confidently and present your ideas and solutions with clarity’.
While you study, think ahead to what will make you a good catch for an employer. Use the extra time at university to brush up skills such as organisation and planning, communication, teamwork, presentation skills, commercial awareness and writing. Make the most of your university’s facilities while you have access: network at conferences, teach undergraduates and master some basic business software skills at the computing centre. A postgraduate qualification can add extra value to your CV, but if you make the most of an additional year or three at university it will be worth far more.
Find funding for postgraduate engineering courses
In the UK, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the biggest funder of engineering-related postgraduate study, particularly PhD and EngD studentships. The studentships provided by the EPSRC are allocated to university departments and not to individuals. You need to apply to the department, which then decides which successful applicants are put forward for funding awards. The university itself may also have schemes to provide financial help for postgraduate study: typically scholarships or bursaries. Your university’s careers service will have directories of funding organisations and will be able to provide you with more information on funding for postgraduate study. As with applying for jobs, the early bird catches the worm so apply early to increase your chances of securing funding.
