Civil Engineering (ME)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
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Course Overview

The ME programme on its own is a 60 ECTS one academic year course of study. Graduates with an honours degree in a cognate Engineering discipline may be eligible to take the ME. This will be of interest to graduates who wish to study more advanced topics in their core engineering discipline. Applicants wishing to use the ME programme as part of their CEng certification should be aware that professional accreditation is assessed by the Engineering Councils on the basis of the aggregate periods of study (Level 8 + Level 9), and not on the Masters year alone. Candidates need to satisfy themselves that their undergraduate (Level 8) degree meets the relevant standards.

The ME in Civil Engineering at University of Galway is a 60 ECTS full-time taught Masters programme, starting in September and running until early June of the following year. The programme sits at Level 9 in the Irish qualifications system and has been designed to meet the educational requirements necessary for progression to Chartered Engineer status with Engineers Ireland. An application to Engineers Ireland for accreditation is currently being assessed (May 2015). University of Galway has a long tradition of producing high quality graduates from its accredited Level 8 Bachelor degree (BE) in Civil Engineering. This new programme builds on this experience, educating Civil Engineers to even higher standards and accelerating them to positions of leadership in industry.

Accreditation and Chartered Status

The Master of Engineering (ME) at University of Galway is part of an integrated (Bachelors + Masters) 4+1 programme of study, meeting the European Framework Standards for engineering accreditation. Successful completion of this ME course, as part of an accredited 4+1 structure, will allow you to achieve the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng MIEI) status. Applicants wishing to use the ME programme as part of their CEng certification (who are not BE graduates from University of Galway should be aware that professional accreditation is assessed by the Engineering Councils on the basis of the aggregate periods of study (Level 8 + Level 9), and not on the Masters year alone. Therefore candidates need to satisfy themselves that their undergraduate (Level 8) degree meets the relevant standards.

Scholarships Available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

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

The majority of lecturers on this course are from the core Civil Engineering discipline. Additional lecturing support will be provided by expert practitioners from industry and by staff from disciplines that are cognate to Civil Engineering.

The Programme Director of Civil Engineering is:

Dr Myra Lydon, Programme Director for ME in Civil Engineering

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Requirements and Assessment

This programme has an overall weighting of 60 ECTS. The student takes a number of taught modules (40 ECTS) and these are examined at the end-of-semester examinations in December and April and/or through assignments and continuous assessment. The individual project (20 ECTS) runs throughout the year, with a submission date at the end of May. Projects are available across all branches of civil engineering, and the student works with an individual supervisor. The student may also wish to propose a project of their own.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Entry to the programme is open to individuals who have Second Class Honours in a Level 8 engineering degree in a related discipline from a recognised university or third level college.

For all Science and Engineering Taught programmes supporting documentation is required, you can find out more about course-specific required documentation here.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

9 months, full-time

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

Please refer to the review/closing date website.

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

Course code

MENG-MEC

Course Outline

The ME in Civil Engineering, which is a broad design-focussed programme, has three primary elements: (i) advanced core modules in Civil Engineering, (ii) modules on transferrable skills/professional development and (iii) an individual capstone research project. The taught modules amount to 40 ECTS and these will be examined at the end of semester examinations in December and April/May and/or through continuous assessment assignments. The 20 ECTS individual project will run throughout the year with a submission date at the end of May. Projects will be available across all branches of Civil Engineering and each student will work with an individual supervisor. Equally, a student is welcome to propose a project of his/her own.

Core Civil Engineering 5 ECTS modules will include:

Advanced Structures
Design of Sustainable Environmental Systems
Transportation Systems and Infrastructure
Offshore and Coastal Engineering
Energy in Buildings
Computational Methods in Civil Engineering
Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering
Hydrological Modelling
The Built Environment

Students will also carry out an Integrated Design Project (an obligatory core module), drawing on knowledge across the discipline, and this will reflect the strong design ethos of the programme.

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

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Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

This degree programme is ideally suited to the civil engineer with an honours (Level 8) undergraduate degree who wishes to become more competent in advanced civil engineering topics.

From 2013, the ME degree is required to satisfy the educational requirements for progression to Chartered Engineer status. Graduates of the programme will be capable of working in any branch of civil engineering, including consultancy and contracting.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€6,500 p.a. (€6,640 including levy) 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€6,500 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€28,000 p.a. (€28,140 including levy) 2025/26

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.