Geotechnical & Geological Engineering MSc
The Geotechnical & Geological Engineering MSc responds to the global demand for specialist engineers across the construction, environmental and energy industries. It contributes to the development and sustainability of infrastructure and natural resources worldwide.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2025
Overview
Our MSc gives you a thorough understanding of the principles and practices of geotechnical and geological engineering. You’ll study topics including:
- the engineering behaviour of soils and rocks
- slope stability and retaining structures
- site investigation and interpretation
- construction practice
- data-centric engineering
This course meets the growing need for skilled geotechnical and geological engineers across the construction, environmental and energy industries. The course provides you with:
- advanced conceptual understanding
- detailed factual knowledge
- specialist technical skills
- an awareness of responsibilities to society and the environment
We maintain strong industrial engagement. Our degree programmes are shaped by industry and government policy.
You can choose from one of two specialisms on this course:
- the geotechnical specialism includes the application of state-of-the-art computational tools in design
- the Engineering Geology specialism covers groundwater modelling and climate change impacts and adaption
This course is for both practising professionals and new graduates in:
- earth sciences
- civil engineering
- geological science
- geology
- geophysics
- maths
- physics
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Important information
We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you'll learn
The course provides you with an advanced knowledge and understanding of:
- hazard assessments and risks arising from natural and man-made phenomena
- applied rock engineering
- construction practice and awareness of safe operation
- design of reinforced slopes, retaining structures and tailing dams
- engineering geology principles and applications
- geotechnical design
- climate change, vulnerability, impacts and adaptation
- site investigation, testing, interpretation and reporting
- soil mechanics and ground characterisation
- statistical modelling and image analysis
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Additional compulsory modules
All students specialising in Engineering Geology will study:
- Climate Change: Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (10 credits)
- Fundamentals of Conceptual and Numeric Ground Water Modelling (10 credits)
- MSc Project and Dissertation in Engineering Geology (60 credits)
All students specialising in Geotechnical Engineering will study:
- Soil Modelling and Numerical Methods (10 credits)
- Foundation Design (10 credits)
- MSc Project and Dissertation in Geotechnical Engineering (60 credits)
How you'll learn
Assessment is by formal written examinations, coursework and oral presentations. You'll write up your research project as a dissertation. Teaching methods on this course typically consist of:
- computing workshops
- fieldwork
- formal lectures
- group projects
- laboratory work
- lectures
- open learning
- seminars
- site visits
- tutorials
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Case study
- Design or creative project
- Dissertation
- Professional skills assessments
- Oral examination
- Report
- Written examination
- Written exercise
Group project
You'll work in groups for various modules in which you'll tackle a practical engineering problem. Working in a multidisciplinary team will help you develop your communication and teamwork skills. You'll benefit from a broad spectrum of geotechnical geological/engineering perspectives.
Dissertation
You'll put your skills, knowledge, and understanding into practice by undertaking an individual research project and written dissertation. This may be theoretical, experimental or the development of a computational model of a geotechnical structure.
Recent examples include:
- seismic analysis of monopile foundations for offshore wind turbines
- the effect of slope geometry on the development of desiccation cracking in clay embankments
- investigating the hydrological performance of SuDS and Green Infrastructure
Your project might involve you working within one of the School's world-class research groups. Alternatively, you might work in collaboration with one of our industrial partners, such as:
- Network Rail
- Arup
- Atkins
- AECOM
- Belfour Beatty
- Cundall
- Global Maritime
- Jacobs
You'll be supervised throughout your project by an experienced academic. Your supervisor will provide advice on the approaches and methods that are best suited to your research problem. For your collection/analysis of data, they will help guide you to producing a well-written dissertation.
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Reader in Computational Geomechanics
Areas of Expertise:
- constitutive modelling
- numerical methods
- performance-based design
Professor of Geotechnical Engineering
Areas of Expertise:
- geotechnics
- slope and tailing dam assessment
- discrete element modelling
Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering
Areas of Expertise:
- geotechnics and engineering geology
- multi-phase analysis
- Hygro-Thermal-Mechanical modelling
Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering
Areas of Expertise:
- image-based geotechnics
- particulate soil mechanics
- Numerical modelling
Senior Lecturer in Engineering Geology
Areas of Expertise:
- engineering geology
- rock engineering
- ground gas in the near surface
Dr Ross Stirling
Senior Lecturer in Geotechnical Infrastructure
Areas of Expertise:
- geotechnics
- numerical modelling of desiccation cracking
- slope monitoring
Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering
Areas of Expertise:
- Geo hazards
- climate change adaptation
- net-zero carbon infrastructure
Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering
Areas of Expertise:
- landslide mechanics
- hillslope hydrology
- development of environmental models
Your development
Our degree programmes are shaped by strong engagement with industry. They have been developed to equip you with the professional and technical skills crucial in this field.
You'll benefit from our multidisciplinary approach to teaching. You'll have the opportunity to engage with students from civil engineering, geological and other scientific backgrounds. Typically this is through lectures, group work and other activities, providing a rich and diverse learning experience.
Once you have graduated you'll be able to:
- identify, generate and interpret data relevant to an engineering scenario
- employ numerical methods for modelling and analysing problems
- select and apply ideas, concepts and data to generate innovative designs
- evaluate the quality of data through testing and measurement equipment in field and lab
- present and summarise data and critically appraise its significance, using numerical techniques
- formulate and test key hypotheses using logical and consistent quantitative or qualitative arguments
Your future
Graduate destinations
Our close links with industry and our graduates provides you with a network allowing you to enhance your employability.
We'll prepare you for a wide range of careers across the globe in construction, environmental and energy sectors. Our close industry links and strong graduate community have seen graduates go on to destinations including:
- AECOM
- Arup
- Cundall
- Jacobs
- Atkins
- Milestone
- PTV
- Systra
Our degree programme also provides a route into further study at PhD level.
Industry links
During your studies you'll typically benefit from:
- industry guest lectures
- study tours
- site visits
- projects
- placements and employment opportunities (with added support from our Careers Service).
Recent contributors to the MSc programme include visitors from:
- AECOM
- Balfour Beatty
- Land and Minerals Consulting
- Cundall
- Atkins
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Visit our Careers Service website
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
The School of Engineering has an exceptional range of laboratories equipped with a wide range of analytical instrumentation supporting our research, teaching and contract research projects.
Find out more about our Geotechnics and Structures Research Laboratories.
You'll also have access to a student common room based in Cassie Building; this resource facility and study space is perfect for group working.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Find out more about:
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding
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Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
How to apply
Using the application portal
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If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.
Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.
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School of Engineering
School Admissions Team
Email: soe.admissions@ncl.ac.uk
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