Geological Engineering
Explore geological processes and behaviour of soils and rocks through laboratory testing and fieldwork, to assess geological hazards and support the design of resilient infrastructure.
Course key facts
Qualification
MSc
Duration
1 year, 2 years
Start date
October 2027
Study mode
Full-time, Part-time
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
2:1 in Civil Engineering, Natural Sciences, Earth Sciences or other numerate subject.
Course overview
Examine core engineering science and recent research findings on this one-year, MSc course, designed to deepen your understanding of geotechnics.
You'll explore key concepts and principles of soil mechanics before specialising in aspects of engineering geology.
A major focus of this programme is to help you find solutions to engineering problems connected with the study of geological factors, such as soil, rock, groundwater and other natural conditions.
You'll enhance your technical and research skills working in modern, purpose-built laboratories, and carry out an extensive research project.
This degree will also enable you to forge strong links with industry and enhance your fieldwork skills on a series of trips to areas of geological and geotechnical interest in the UK and abroad.
Our Geotechnical and Geological courses
We also offer two other courses:
- Geotechnical Engineering, with specialisms in Advanced Geotechnical Engineering, Geoenvironmental Engineering, Earthquake Engineering, and Data Science.
- Geotechnical Engineering with Offshore Renewables: Study geotechnical engineering principles and apply them to offshore renewable energy infrastructure.
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
Understand the problems associated with contaminated land that have arisen from the unmanaged release of pollutants into the environment.
Learn from experts in industry on current developments in the field and explore present prominent projects from all over the world.
Liaise with an industrial client in groups to develop, design, and assess a solution for an offshore renewable energy project. You'll apply interdisciplinary knowledge to tackle real-world challenges in offshore renewable energy, develop practical skills for designing structures resilient to dynamic offshore conditions, cultivate teamwork and project management skills, and communicate complex design proposals effectively.
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.
Develop your geotechnical skills in the natural environment on three separate field trips spaced through the academic year. Gain first-hand experience of real world rock/soils, geological setting, geohazards and construction projects.
Explore a wide range of geotechnical processes through case studies and learn techniques for monitoring surface and subsurface displacements.
Apply a range of advanced microscopic and spectroscopic techniques and examine appropriate methods for characterising building materials.
Assess key concepts in hydrogeology related to the movement, storage and quality of groundwater and derive models to explain the behaviour of groundwater.
Analyse the design of rigorous geotechnical laboratory testing programmes, and develop the critical skill and ability to recognise and assess experimental errors.
Become familiar with the principal concepts and techniques used in engineering rock mechanics and apply theory to practical real world engineering problems.
Develop your understanding of the flow of water in soil strata under both steady state conditions (seepage) and transient conditions (consolidation).
Gain an in-depth understanding of site investigation techniques and learn how they can be used within the context of the geological and geomorphological setting to reduce uncertainty in the subsurface.
Build upon basic principles of soil mechanics to establish modern frameworks for describing the behaviour of clays and sands under a variety of loading conditions using Critical State Soil Mechanics theory.
You’ll also undertake a specific piece of independent research.
This could take the form of a critical review, a laboratory- or field-based experimental investigation, or a modelling/numerical analysis project.
Your project and results will be reported in a research dissertation.
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
- Independent study
- 20% Title 1 goes here
- 80% Title 2 goes here
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Tutorials
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Laboratory practicals
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Computer sessions
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Field trips
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Site visits
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Virtual learning environment
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Research project
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
- Coursework
- Examinations
- 40% Title 1 goes here
- 60% Title 2 goes here
Assessment methods
-
Coursework
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Group projects and presentations
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Field trip notes and presentations
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Written exams and e-examinations
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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
Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 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 Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 6 January 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 3 March 2027
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 7 January 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 10 March 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 5 May 2027
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 11 March 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 28 April 2027
- Decision by Thursday 1 July 2027
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.
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
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs. This includes MRes and PhD combined (1+3) courses with the Centre for Doctoral Training.
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.
An ATAS certificate is not required for students applying for this course.
Fees and funding
Home fee (CEE 1YFT + 2YPT)
Full-time
Not set total fee
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £19,400.
Part-time
Not setper year
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £9,700 per 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 £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that 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
Not set total fee
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £45,000.
Part-time
Not setper year
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £22,500.per 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 £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that 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 scholarshipsHow will studying at Imperial help my career?
Develop the essential core knowledge and skills for a career in Geological Engineering.
Build strong links with industry through guest lectures, industrial bursaries and our annual Geotechnics Careers Fair.
Further your learning on study field trips in the UK and abroad.
Each year, a number of our MSc graduates are recruited directly by companies participating in our Industrial Bursary Scheme.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44(0) 20 7594 5929
- Email: cvpgo@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Ken Vinck
Visit the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering website.
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Request info
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Events, tasters and talks
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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