Transport Infrastructure: Design and Construction MSc (Eng)

Course overview

Please note: applications for this course open on the 1^st October 2024.

Transport is one of the largest industries in the world, facilitating the movement of everything from people to food, fuel and other essential/non-essential goods we now rely on in society. Without a cohesive transport infrastructure, economies would collapse, which means the demand for qualified specialists who have the acumen in this field is at an all-time high.

Studying our Transport Infrastructure: Design and Construction MSc will give you a holistic view of the design, construction and maintenance of land transport infrastructure, regarded by the construction industry as a key asset in the engineers they need to recruit.

You’ll develop a sophisticated understanding of techniques at the forefront of transport infrastructure, whilst exploring the latest technological developments, advanced materials and what the future holds for monitoring and repairing infrastructure.

The specialist knowledge and extensive skill set you’ll build throughout the course will give you the expertise sought after by key employers in industry, with career opportunities spanning from project managing and planning to engineering and design.

Why study at Leeds:

• Our globally-renowned research conducted right here in our School feeds directly into the course, shaping your learning with the latest thinking in relevant areas like transport investment, railway track design and infrastructure resilience.
• Advance your knowledge and skills in critical areas sought after in industry such as transport infrastructure strategy, bridge engineering, construction technology and railway track infrastructure design.
• Tailor the course to suit your interests with our selection of optional modules that’ll expand your knowledge into different areas like geotechnical engineering and concrete design.
• Conduct your own individual research project as part of your course and gain industry experience in researching and delivering a project that focuses on a real-world problem and explores your specific interests and career ambitions.
• Access specialist facilities including a design studio and laboratory space for structures, materials, public health engineering, building services and geotechnics.
• Experience excellent practical and theoretical teaching delivered by a programme team with a wealth of expertise and industrial experience across many relevant areas, and who are actively engaged in cutting-edge research as part of the Materials and Structures research group.
• Master the most up-to-date practices and techniques recognised in industry on a course that has been directly informed and advised by the Industrial Advisory Committee and the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Join our online taster course

This two-week course in Transport Systems: Global Issues and Future Innovations offers a great taste of studying 21st-century transportation challenges at a postgraduate level. 

Course details

You’ll study a set of core and optional modules that give you a firm foundation in understanding the concepts, information and techniques at the forefront of the design, construction, and operations of land transport infrastructure engineering.

Learn how bridges, highways and tunnels are designed, built, monitored and maintained through modules that look at construction technology, interactions between construction and design, latest developments in structural health monitoring, bridge, road and highway engineering.

You’ll also be trained in techniques at the forefront of design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure and acquire specialist knowledge on the latest technological developments such as accelerated bridge construction, advanced materials like ultra-high-performance concrete and the possibilities of cutting-edge sensing techniques and robotics for the monitoring and repair of infrastructure.

With an emphasis on the construction and maintenance stages and the ‘how-is-it-made’ approach, different construction processes and techniques will be explored in detail, and used as a platform to investigate how they affect (and are affected by) the design process, the selection of alternatives and the implications for the entire service life.

You’ll also gain an understanding of the framework of relevant requirements governing engineering activities such as personnel, health, safety and awareness of risk issues.

Course Structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Transport Infrastructure: Design and Construction MSc (Eng) in the course catalogue

Compulsory modules

Bridge Engineering - 15 credits

You’ll cover conceptual design, bridge deck loading and analysis, types of substructures and foundations, prestressed concrete bridges, steel and composite steel-concrete bridges, footbridges and cable-supported bridges, and design for durability.

Construction Technology - 15 credits

Different construction processes and techniques will be explored in detail, and used as a platform to investigate how they affect (and are affected by) the design process, the selection of alternatives and the implications for the entire service life. You’ll cover: preparatory works, earthworks, excavation, concreting, fabrication and erection, quality control, health and safety, and building information modelling (BIM).

Transport Infrastructure Strategy - 15 credits

This module provides a holistic and systematic approach to the design of transport infrastructure focusing on the alignment and resulting geotechnical structures. It is assessed as an integrated project using teamwork to produce a viable, sustainable and resilient solution.

Deterioration and Maintenance of Pavements - 15 credits

This is a module which is delivered largely by practising engineers. It includes the design of pavements, pavement materials, highway management, forms of deterioration and associated investigative techniques, repair and maintenance and strengthening of pavements.

Monitoring and Maintenance of Infrastructure - 15 credits

Explore the latest technological developments in sensing, monitoring and repair, including the possibilities of cutting-edge sensing techniques and robotics for the monitoring and repair of infrastructure.

Deterioration and Maintenance of Concrete Structures (MSc) - 15 credits

Learn the different forms of deterioration to which concrete structures are vulnerable, the techniques needed to identify and assess deterioration problems and the measures that can be used to combat them.

Railway Track Infrastructure Design - 15 credits

Discover how to design railway track structures and their alignment. In the first part of the module, the concepts of track performance, measurement and behaviour are addressed. The second part of the module concentrates on track improvement methods and track alignment considerations.

MSc Dissertation - 60 credits

Over the summer months, you’ll work with your supervisor to complete research or detailed design projects in any of the areas covered in this programme. It’s a chance for you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you’ve gained, focusing on a real-world problem that explores your specific interests and/or relates to your career ambitions. 

You’ll be given relative flexibility to choose your preferred supervisors and areas of interest. Dual supervision, including co-supervisors from industry, will be encouraged especially in the case of students that wish to align their MSc projects with aspects of relevance to their jobs and employers.

Optional modules

Please note: The modules listed below are indicative of typical options.

Geotechnical Engineering (MSc) – 15 credits

Geotechnical engineering is about ground processes and geotechnical structures including tunnels, pipes, retaining walls, embankments and roads. It covers design and construction using case studies to highlight the issues of dealing with uncertainty.

Advanced Concrete Design (MSc) – 15 credits

You'll investigate the importance of the Serviceability Limit State in the design of reinforced concrete structures, particularly when the load is an indirect load. You'll focus on the link between the performance of reinforced concrete structures at both limit state designs and material performance.

Foundation Engineering (MSc) – 15 credits

Learn about the behaviour of soil to cover the range of foundations available for structures, including shallow foundations such as strip, pad and raft foundations, deep foundations such as caissons, shafts and piles; and composite foundations such as piled rafts and ground improvement.

Road Geometry and Infrastructure – 15 credits

This module will develop your theoretical understanding and practical skills needed for designing safe and efficient highway links and junctions. You'll learn the advantages and disadvantages of different solutions and their appropriateness in different circumstances.

Learning and teaching

Our groundbreaking research feeds directly into teaching, and you’ll be taught by staff who are at the forefront of their disciplines. You’ll have regular contact with the team through lectures, seminars, tutorials, small group work and project meetings.

You’ll also have access to all relevant specialist software required for your studies.

Independent study is also important to the programme, as you develop your problem-solving and research skills as well as your subject knowledge.

Specialist facilities

You’ll have access to our teaching facilities, which include laboratories, a design studio and teaching spaces, supplemented by extensive computing equipment, and specialist facilities, including laboratory space for structures, materials, public health engineering, building services and geotechnics, provide a creative and stimulating learning environment.

Programme team

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including case studies, technical reports, presentations, in-class tests, assignments and exams. Optional modules may also use alternative assessment methods.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in civil engineering or a related engineering, science or mathematical discipline where relevant subject areas have been studied.

Applicants with any of the following will be considered on a case-by-case basis:

• A bachelor degree with a 2:2 (hons) in civil engineering or a related engineering, science or mathematical discipline where relevant subject areas have been studied, with at least one year’s relevant experience.
• Professional qualifications and relevant experience.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information please contact the Admissions Team.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Civil Engineering (6 weeks) and Language for Science: Civil Engineering  (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Application deadlines

Please note: applications for this course open on the 1^st October 2024.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

30 June 2025 – International applicants

12 September 2025 – UK applicants

If you're still unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Civil Engineering

Contact us

Postgraduate Admissions Team

Email: pgcivil@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £14,500 (Total)

International: £33,000 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Career opportunities

Transport is integral to society - and therefore the demand for specialists in this industry will always be high. The extensive knowledge and relevant skill set you’ll learn in the design, construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure on this course will open the door to an exciting array of career options when you graduate.

From design to engineering, consultancy to project management - companies will need the expertise you’ll have to keep the transport sector functioning effectively.

Plus, the University of Leeds is in the top 5 most targeted universities in the UK by graduate recruiters, according to High Fliers’ The Graduate Market in 2024 report.

Careers support

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one. We have a wide range of careers resources - including our award-winning Employability Team who are in contact with many employers around the country and advertise placements and jobs. They are also on hand to provide guidance and support, ensuring you are prepared to take your next steps after graduation and get you where you want to be.

• Employability events - we run a full range of events including careers fairs in specialist areas and across broader industries - all with employers who are actively recruiting for roles. 
• MyCareer system - on your course and after you graduate, you’ll have access to a dedicated careers portal where you can book appointments with our team, get information on careers and see job vacancies and upcoming events.
• Qualified careers consultants - gain guidance, support and information to help you choose a career path. You’ll have access to 1-2-1 meetings and events to learn how to find employers to target, write your CV and cover letter, research before interviews and brush up on your interview skills.
• Opportunities at Leeds - there are plenty of exciting opportunities offered by our Leeds University Union, including volunteering and over 300 clubs and societies to get involved in.

Explore more about your employability opportunities at the University of Leeds.

Find out more about career support.