Advanced Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure
Learn about the behaviour and characteristics of civil engineering materials in depth.
Gain a deep understanding of the behaviour and characteristics of civil engineering materials
Carry out innovative research in a state-of-the-art materials laboratory
Benefit from industrial visits, bringing your learning to life in a practical context
Course key facts
Qualification
MSc
Duration
1 year, 2 years
Start date
September 2026
Study mode
Full-time, Part-time
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Fees
£19,400 Home
£45,000 Overseas
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Course overview
Obtain the knowledge and skills required to become a future leader in civil engineering materials on this one-year course.
This course will deepen your understanding of the role of materials in resilient and sustainable built infrastructure.
You'll explore why this area of civil engineering has never been more important to the development of most countries, with the UK Government alone investing £60bn/year in new infrastructure.
You will scrutinise key topics including the behaviour and characteristics of civil engineering materials, and the ability to develop sustainable designs for construction.
Delivered in a world-leading Civil and Environmental Engineering department, you'll have access to the new world-class Advanced Infrastructure Materials Laboratory.
You'll also carry out a major research project and benefit from industrial visits as you develop your expertise in this valued area of engineering.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
You’ll take all of these core modules.
Core modules
Explore the field of concrete technology and understand the key processes influencing the behaviour and performance of concrete in service.
Discover the role of materials selection in the design process and learn how to select appropriate materials for different civil engineering applications.
Gain an insight into the fundamental principles of the mechanics of materials and analyse the behaviour of structural components under load.
Learn how to describe rocks and soils and interpret test data. You’ll also examine how the engineering properties of geomaterials influence the behaviour of pavements and structures.
Apply the principles of sustainability to a range of issues relating to the built environment and discover how to carry out a life cycle assessment of infrastructure elements.
Understand the capabilities and limitations of mechanical testing and examine appropriate methods for tackling problems.
Discover why cementitious materials are used throughout the built environment and learn about the chemistry behind them.
Appreciate the development and applications of polymers and polymer composites in civil engineering.
Enhance your knowledge of the use of metals and alloys in civil engineering and deepen your understanding of steel metallurgy.
Explore the principles, applications and limitations of numerical models as applied to infrastructure materials.
Understand the types of masonry, timber and glass available for the construction of buildings and evaluate where the use of these materials is likely to be appropriate or problematic.
Learn how to plan a durability survey to assess the condition of a concrete structure and understand different testing and monitoring techniques.
You'll complete a research project in partnership with academics in the field, with your final work worth one-third of your degree mark.
This project allows you to contribute to an active research area and helps improve your communication, writing, presentation and problem skills.
You may also have the opportunity to undertake an industrial placement as part of your research.
Testimonials
Professional accreditation
This MSc degree is accredited on behalf of the Engineering Council by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), comprising:
- Institution of Civil Engineers
- Institution of Structural Engineers
- Institute of Highway Engineers
- Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation
- Permanent Way Institution
This degree is recognised as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired a partial CEng accredited undergraduate first degree**.
Registering as a Chartered Engineer will improve your career prospects and provide higher earning potential. It will also help to demonstrate your commitment to professional standards, the engineering profession and sustainable development.
Our accreditation agreement with members of the Joint Board of Moderators is renewed every five years. The current accreditation agreement is due to be renewed in 2026.
**Candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited IEng degree or a non-accredited Bachelor's degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.
Teaching and assessment
Balance of teaching and learning
This is a general guide to how teaching and learning are usually balanced across this course. The methods used may change based on the modules you take.
Key
- Lectures and seminars
- Research project
- Independent study
- 11% Title 1 goes here
- 25% Title 2 goes here
- 64% Title 3 goes here
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Seminars
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Case studies
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Experimental demonstrations
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Group work
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Site visits
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Virtual learning environment
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may be different depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Examinations
- Coursework
- Research project
- 47% Title 1 goes here
- 20% Title 2 goes here
- 33% Title 3 goes here
Assessment methods
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Coursework
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Written exams
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Laboratory practicals
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Oral presentations
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Research project
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – Round 2 closes on Wednesday 7 January 2026
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Monday 29 September 2025
- Applications close on Wednesday 7 January 2026
- Decision by Wednesday 4 March 2026
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 8 January 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 11 March 2026
- Decision by Wednesday 6 May 2026
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 12 March 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 29 April 2026
- Decision by Thursday 2 July 2026
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
Unless you are from an exempt nationality, you will need an ATAS certificate to obtain your visa and study this course.
Nationals from the following countries are exempt: Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, USA and EEA members.
Use this information when applying for an ATAS certificate to study this course:
- CAH code: CAH10-03-02
- Descriptor: Materials technology
- Supervisor name: Professor Sandrine Heutz
Get guidance and support for obtaining an ATAS certificate.
Fees and funding
Home fee (CEE 1YFT + 2YPT)
Full-time
£19,400 total fee
Part-time
£9,700per year
Fees are charged by year of entry to the university and not year of study.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee (CEE 1YFT + 2YPT)
Full-time
£45,000 total fee
Part-time
£22,500per year
Fees are charged by year of entry to the university and not year of study.
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering MSc Tuition Fee Scholarship
Value per award
- Partial tuition fee waiver
Who it's for
- All candidates for MSc courses in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Materials experts are highly sought after in various industrial sectors, both in the UK and around the world.
Become a civil engineer and work in government research laboratories and universities.
Infrastructure consultants and contractors are common roles for graduates.
Other potential career paths include materials manufacturers, suppliers, and infrastructure monitoring companies.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44(0) 20 7594 5932
- Email: cvpgo@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Professor Hong S Wong
Visit the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering website.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications