This specialist Master’s course is designed to prepare students with a background in civil engineering or engineering geology for a career as a tunnelling engineer. It is endorsed and supported by the British Tunnelling Society and the International Tunnelling Association, with 30% of teaching delivered by guest lecturers from industry. You will develop the knowledge and skills you need to carry out and manage tunnelling projects through their lifecycle. This starts with geological investigation and ground characterisation, then follows through steps including: feasibility study and selection of construction method; analysis and design; to health, safety and environmental risk assessment; construction programming and project risk management.

Core Modules

• Geological Investigation and Ground Characterisation
• Underground Construction Methods
• Communication and Leadership
• Rock Mechanics
• Tunnel Design
• Finite Element Methods for Tunnelling
• Health, Safety and Environmental Considerations in Tunnelling
• Construction Management
• Project

There are no optional modules for this course. Postgraduate Diploma, Certificate and Award entry options are also available. Please refer to the course website for more information.

Teaching

The MSc is made up of 8 taught modules and a project (total 180 CATS). Contact time for the taught modules is in one-week blocks (Monday to Friday). This enables part-time students to continue working while doing the MSc.

Contact Hours

Candidates for the MSc in Tunnelling and Underground Space are required to take 180 credits of modules.

For full-time students, all modules are taken in one academic year. The course is structured such that delivery of the theme modules (excluding the project) is normally by week-long blocks of contact time. These blocks are preceded by preparatory reading and assignments and followed by further reading, tasks and often a formal examination. The typical workload for a 15-credit module is 150 hours, of which a major part is self-study. Full-time students undertake a Group Design Project in the summer term and should expect to contribute 450 hours of work each to the team over a three-month period.

Part-time students take the modules over two years. The course is structured such that delivery of the theme modules (excluding the project) is normally by week-long blocks of contact time. These blocks are preceded by preparatory reading and assignments and followed by further reading, tasks and often a formal examination. The typical workload for a 15-credit module is 150 hours, of which a major part is self-study. Part-time students undertake an Individual Project, during either the second year or third year of the programme, and should expect to contribute 450 hours of work to the project.

Class Sizes

Class sizes for lectures, practical laboratory sessions and seminars vary depending on the number of students taking the module.

Assessment

A combination of coursework and written examinations.

Minimum requirements 2:ii undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a related subject

English language requirements Band A
IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0

Maths requirement: All applicants will be expected to know the prescribed mathematical concepts shown here. The onus is on the individual to ensure that they understand the required material in order to cope easily with the course. We are looking for competence in the majority of mathematics that is taught in the first and second year of an undergraduate Engineering or Physics course. We reserve the right to request that you undertake a short online test assessment.

International Students
We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information please visit the international entry requirements page.

For up-to-date information concerning fees, funding and scholarships for Home, EU and Overseas students please visit Warwick's Fees and Funding webpage.

Additional Course Costs

This course may also include additional costs.

Graduates from these courses have gone on to work for employers including: AECOM, BAE Systems, BT, Morgan Sindall, Mott MacDonald, Proto Labs, TSP Projects and Volvo Cars Corporation. They have pursued roles such as: business, research and administrative professionals; civil engineers; design and development engineers; mechanical engineers; quality control and planning engineers.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Options in Engineering
• Meet an Engineer
• Engineering, Science and Technology Fair
• Considering a PhD in the STEM Subjects
• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year

There are a number of different ways to visit the University of Warwick throughout the year. We host bespoke PG visits, where you can talk directly with your chosen department and explore our campus through a personalised tour. Some departments also host their own events and open days, where you can learn more about your department or course of study. To find out more about all of these opportunities, visit our Postgraduate Visits page.