MSc environmental engineering
MSc Environmental Engineering (H2UM), or
... [with Business Management (H2A8)], or
... [with Sustainable Development (H2A9) has been suspended for October 2018 entry]
First established in 1950 as Public Health Engineering, the Environmental Engineering MSc course at Imperial College provides advanced training for engineers and scientists concerned with the control of pollution in the environment and the protection of public health through the provision of services such as water supply, wastewater treatment and municipal solid waste and hazardous waste management. The multidisciplinary nature of the subject is reflected in the staff involved in the course, whose backgrounds include chemistry, biology, statistics, geology, materials and medicine, as well as civil engineering.
MSc in Environmental Engineering (H2UM)
Aims and objectives
The Environmental Engineering MSc Cluster programmes provide for both engineers and scientists a rigorous treatment of the fundamental principles and practices of assessing and protecting the environment and human health. The programme deals with major topics in the provision of environmental services such as water supply, wastewater treatment, municipal solid waste and hazardous waste management, and resource conservation and recovery as applied to both developed and developing countries. The multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Engineering is reflected in the staff involved in the course, whose backgrounds include chemistry, biology, statistics, geology, materials and medicine, as well as civil engineering.
Distinctive features of this programme include its broad coverage of problems and issues concerned with the supply of clean water, sustainable waste management and pollution control; clear focus on providing the underlying science and technology to develop and understand engineering solutions to these problems; and opportunities to carry out research in key areas of environmental engineering as part of national and international research projects.
The MSc Cluster programmes aim to:
- Equip graduates with the skill-base for careers in industry, the public sector and non-governmental organisations;
- Provide, through taught modules and a research-based dissertation, the basis for understanding the major challenges, features and opportunities within environmental engineering or the protection of the environment and public health;
- Develop an understanding of how this knowledge may be applied in practice in an economic and environmentally sustainable manner;
- Foster the acquisition and implementation of broad research and analytical skills related to environmental engineering;
- Attract highly motivated students irrespective of race, gender, background and physical disability, from the UK and overseas;
- Develop new areas of teaching in response to the advance of scholarship and the needs of the community including vocational training;
- Provide an introduction to the subject for students from other relevant disciplines.
Full or part time study options
The full-time programme is taken over 12 months, with a single entry point per year at the beginning of October, part-time options are:
- Two days per week over two years
- Term release
Please note that part-time study is not available to applicants requiring Tier 4 Visas.
Course structure
The year comprises two separate periods. The first, the taught programme comprising lectures, tutorials and individual coursework assignments in the autumn and spring terms, and the second, in the summer term, comprising of a period of independent research towards submission of a research dissertation. The dissertation may be undertaken at College, within a Partner Research Institute or university, or in collaboration with industry. A number of projects have involved a period of data collection or field study abroad in countries including China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Malta, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.
The course maintains a careful balance between the issues affecting developing and the developed countries. Particular emphasis is placed on the selection of appropriate technology regardless of the area of application, based on economics and environmental impact factors as well as the construction and operating skills available in the community.
Assessment
Assessments include individual and group coursework; projects and presentations; written examinations and a research dissertation. To complete the requirements of the degree, all assessments must be undertaken to the appropriate level. Successful candidates will be awarded the MSc degree of Imperial College London and the Diploma of Imperial College (DIC).
Links with industry and other stakeholders
The MSc Cluster programmes in Environmental Engineering are vocational courses so the engagement with industry is of considerable importance at a number of different levels. Links with industry for the benefit of the Cluster programmes are four-fold:
(i) Contributions by industry practitioners bringing specialist expertise to the taught programme from the water utilities, consultants, waste practitioners, government departments, manufacturers and research institutes. In this context, a formal link exists with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who contribute to the course on health aspects of water management in developing countries.
(ii) Hosting of visits to industrial sites and facilities of particular relevance to the taught programme;
(iii) Collaborative research with industry for the Individual Research Projects; and
(iv) Interface with The Chartered Institution of Water & Environmental Management (CIWEM) which holds meetings at the Department and all students are encouraged to attend these and become Members of this Institution and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM). In addition, the British Hydrological Society also holds meetings in the Department. The Cluster programme benefits from its further links with industry through its two Visiting Professors, Prof. David Balmforth (MWH) past-President of the ICE and Prof. David Wilson (Consultant) and President-elect of the CIWM, as well as its long-established links with Atkins; AECOM; Black & Veatch; Jacobs; Thames Water; and The Water Conservation Trust.
Optional add-on modules Business management / Sustainable development
Each of these options comprise 120 hours of study and are taken as an alternative to the modules listed in the syllabus.
Business Management | Sustainable Development [This add-on module has been suspended for 2018/19 entry] |
---|---|
These options also have some entry requirements, to find out more see the Business Management page. |
These options also have some entry requirements, to find out more see the Sustainable Development page. |
Syllabus for Business Management and Sustainable Development |
Further resources for this course
Type | Document |
---|---|
Pdf Document | Student Handbook - Environmental Engineering Cluster 2017-2018 |
Webpage | Syllabus and modules |
Webpage | Programme Specification - Environmental Cluster |
Webpage | Term release options |
Webpage | Entry on the College Prospectus |
Resources for this course |
MSc Application Information
Funding opportunities
Award | Sponsor | Eligibility and number of awards | Value |
---|---|---|---|
Departmental MSc Scholarships | The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | All candidates who have indicated their wish to be considered for available funding at the application stage. Awards will be based on academic excellence and relevant experience. Number of awards: tbc Application Deadline: 31 March 2018 |
Full or partial tuition fee waiver |
Geotechnics MSc Industrial Bursaries | A consortium of Geotechnical employers | Bursaries are awarded to successful applicants to the Geotechnics Cluster MSc courses on excellent academic and professional records, supported by relevant references and a strong personal statement. Priority is given to UK-Based applicants. Number of awards: 5-10 Deadline to apply: 31 May 2018 |
Typical contributions of £5,000 to £10,000 towards the course tuition fees and in some cases, subsistence |
Rees Jeffreys Road Fund Bursaries Transport cluster |
Rees Jeffreys Road Fund | Bursaries are awarded to students who obtained a first degree of at least 2.1 standard or equivalent and who wish to pursue a masters course in a subject directly related to highways and transportation Apply through the Department. Number of awards: Up to 2 Deadline to apply: 30 June 2018 |
£10,000 each |
Brian Large Bursary | Brian Large Bursary Fund | Bursaries are awarded to full-time, UK resident, applicants, who have obtained a first degree of at least 2:1 standard or equivalent and who wish to pursue a masters course in a subject directly related to transport. Number of awards: Up to 3 Deadline to apply: 30 June 2018 |
£6,500 each |
These are the only sources of funding available within the Department. For European and Overseas applicants there are many foundations and organisations who can help with and advise on funding, including the British Council, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Society for Underwater Technology (Geotechnics). Enquiries should be directed to the relevant organisation. |
Departmental contact for | Name, email and phone number |
---|---|
MSc and Scholarships | Fionnuala Donovan, Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 5929 |
Geotechnics MSc Industrial Bursaries | Sue Feller, Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6077 |
Rees Jeffreys Road Fund Bursaries Brian Large Bursary |
cts.admin@imperial.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6100 |
Contacts |
- College Awards and information: Santander MSc Scholarships (availability TBC for 2018/19 entry), College Funding Information
- ScottishPower Foundation Scholarships (MSc studies in Energy and Environment in the UK. Apply by: 7th April 2018
www.scottishpowerfoundation.com
Minimum academic entry requirements
- A good Upper Second or First Class Degree result (or International equivalent), in engineering or another numerate discipline, or Masters level degree qualification
- Good mathematical skills
- Relevant Postgraduate industrial experience is favoured.
- English Language qualification (where relevant)
Applicants for whom English is not their first language will be required to present an English language qualification, passed at the appropriate level. This may follow the application if not available at the time of submission. Please see the College English language requirements for postgraduate applicants for information. Please also check that your previous study meets the minimum academic requirements by country index.
Note: The Department may set higher requirements than those specified by the College as minimum entry requirements and that places are not guaranteed for any applicant. Relevance of degrees and eligibility can be checked with the Department.
The application process and essential information
When to apply
The application cycle opens in early November for entry in the following October. Early application is recommended, in order to ensure that any scholarship application deadlines are met. We receive the bulk of applications in December/January, and offers for places are normally issued after that time.
We do not have an official application deadline for application, we close to applicants when we have made sufficient offers to fill the available places. Application before the end of March of the year of entry is advised.
Before you apply:
- Prepare transcripts of study, which you normally request from your University. These should include all modules you have undertaken and the marks you have been awarded in each. If you are still undertaking your degree studies, please provide a list of the modules you are undertaking in your final year. If they are not in English, please include a translated copy. Always ensure that you include a copy of the University Marking Scheme.
- If English Language is a requirement, please ensure that you have familiarised yourself with the English Language qualifications accepted by the College and the expected level of achievement in each. If not available at the time of application, the English Language qualification information can follow.
- Identify two individuals to act as referees on your behalf. Ensure that they are in a position to write a letter of support appropriate to the application which you are submitting, and that they are familiar with you, your abilities, your achievements and your potential for postgraduate study. Reference letters are confidential and must come direct from the referee to the College, not via the applicant. The letters must be recent, relevant and dated.
- Prepare an up-to-date CV-Resume and a Personal Statement (or letter of motivation).
Notes:
When completing the online form please ensure that you include:
- Brief details on Secondary Level education; how you propose to fund your studies (if via scholarship, please ensure that you provide details of those you have applied to and the date you will expect a response); as well as the expected or final outcome of your degree(s) of study.
- Highlight your mathematical qualifications and capabilities.
- Include in your application the email contact details of your referees. These must be professional email accounts, we do not accept reference letters submitted from private accounts (gmail, yahoo, etc...). Please ensure your referees are aware of this requirement. Where the referee does not have a professional email account, then a standard reference letter on original official letter-headed notepaper will be an acceptable alternative. These should be sent direct to the College.
- As a rough guide - if you are yet to graduate, two academic references are appropriate. If you have been out of education for more than two years, and in full-time relevant employment, then two professional references would likely be more appropriate. Other applicants should consider nominating one professional and one academic referee. If we require further references we will advise you following receipt of the references from your nominated referees.
- Following submission of the online application:
- You will receive an email acknowledgment that your application has successfully submitted.
- Within a few days you will receive a reference number, this is an 8-digit number starting with 0, is called your College Identifier Number (CID), and must be quoted in all correspondence.
- You will be able to track your online application until it is forwarded to the Department. Your online e-service account from then read "with Department" until a decision on your application is returned. You will, however, receive notifications by email when your referees submit their letters of support online.
Application documentation [guidance]:
Admission is very competitive and the admissions panels will pay close attention to all aspects of your application, the following is provided for guidance:
- Academic reference letter: will outline your academic strengths, achievements and suitability for the programme to which you have applied. This includes any information on your relative performance within your cohort, any other pertinent information, including personal knowledge of you, the applicant, and any activities in which you have engaged that might highlight your non-academic activities or personal qualities.
- Work reference letter: [for those currently or previously in employment] will outline the nature and duration of your relationship with the referee. It will inform your industrial/professional experience and abilities, and explain how further training [MSc specific] would enhance your personal development, skills and contribution to the industry or company.
- Personal Statement: will show clearly defined career path including short and medium-term goals, outline personal achievements and motivations, and highlights from your CV-Resume. This is your opportunity to personalise your application, to show you as an individual, setting yourself apart from other applicants. Ensure that it is interesting, relevant and concise.
- CV-Resume – should be clear, concise and easily legible.
- Transcripts – where available, include complete transcripts containing final degree outcomes and marking schemes. For applicants in the final year of study, partial transcripts are fine but should be accompanied by a list of final year modules and project/dissertation title. These should be provided in English.
- Outcome of Degree – this should be included in all cases, whether actual or predicted. The addition of marking schemes is also useful.
- Additional documentation – please include if relevant, but do not clutter the application. We will come back to you to request items if we feel that they are relevant or necessary.
Notes:
Your application should be complete, clean, relevant, include all relevant information and be interesting to the reader – approach it as you would a professional job application. Choose your referees carefully and ensure that they are aware of what information should be included in support of your application.
The following additional tools may be used as part of the decision-making process:
- Interview [in-person or Skype] and/or
- Video submission responses to questions and/or
- Additional mathematical, language or other tests as appropriate.
Code | Title |
---|---|
H2A2 |
MSc Concrete Structures |
H2A3 | MSc Earthquake Engineering |
H2A1 | MSc General Structural Engineering |
H2U5 | MSc Structural Steel Design |
H141 | MSc Engineering Fluid Mechanics for the Offshore, Coastal and Built Environments |
H2UM | MSc Environmental Engineering |
H2A8 | MSc Environmental Engineering with Business Management |
H2A9 | MSc Environmental Engineering with Sustainable Development [suspended for 2018/19 entry] |
H2UP | MSc Hydrology and Water Resources Management |
H2B1 | MSc Hydrology with Business Management |
H2B2 | MSc Hydrology with Sustainable Development [suspended for 2018/19 entry] |
H2U3 | MSc Soil Mechanics |
H2A4 | MSc Soil Mechanics with Business Management |
H2A5 | MSc Soil Mechanics with Sustainable Development [suspended for 2018/19 entry] |
H2U4 | MSc Soil Mechanics with Engineering Seismology |
H2UN | MSc Soil Mechanics with Environmental Geotechnics |
H2UR | Intercollegiate MSc Course in Transport |
H2B3 | Intercollegiate MSc Course in Transport with Business Management |
H2B4 | Intercollegiate MSc Course in Transport with Sustainable Development [suspended for 2018/19 entry] |
Programme Codes |
The Departmental Process:
Your online application is received in the Postgraduate Office of the Department, where it is held until it is considered complete. It is then subject to preliminary screening before forwarding to individual clusters for consideration. Please note that some applications do not pass preliminary screening, and it is possible for a decision to be returned to the College at this stage.
For candidates who have cleared preliminary screening, a completed application ready for forwarding to the MSc clusters will include:
- Both of your reference letters, it is your responsibility to ensure that these are received - you can check this via your e-service account.
- Transcripts, partial or complete, of all degrees you have undertaken, or are currently undertaking.
- Personal Statement.
- CV-Resume.
The MSc Cluster Admissions Panels consider applications, and in some cases interview applicants or request further information, before decisions are made. We aim to process completed applications within 2-6 weeks of receipt by the relevant Admissions Panel.
Decisions are informed to, and processed by, the College Admissions Office, notifications are sent to the email address on record.