Master of Science in Engineering MSE, Profile Civil Engineering
With your bachelor's degree, you have acquired professional qualifications in all areas of civil engineering. With the master's degree, you are now laying the foundation for deepening your knowledge as a future expert in your chosen basic discipline. This will enable you to work on complex questions in one of the basic disciplines.
Key data
Degree
Master of Science FHNW in Engineering, Profile Civil Engineering
Study mode
Master
ECTS points
90
Next start
2 x per year (week 8 and week 38)
Studying mode
Full-time (3 semesters) or part-time (5 semesters)
Teaching language
German / English
Place
Muttenz und Zürich
Application fee
CHF 200
Semester fee
Residence at the start of studies in Switzerland: CHF 700, residence at the start of studies in the EU/EFTA: CHF 1000
The MSE in Civil Engineering equips you with the necessary knowledge and skills to become an expert for complex tasks and issues and/or to take on leading positions in engineering offices or construction companies. Due to the knowledge and experience that you have deepened in your master's degree, the future basis for working as an expert and project manager in the following disciplines is laid: structures in building construction and bridge construction, geotechnics including tunnel and dam construction, railway and road construction, river and hydraulic engineering.
Competencies
With the MSE Civil Engineering you are able to deal with the complex issues of current and future challenges in civil engineering, manage demanding projects and analyze the results in depth and check their plausibility.
Differentiation from Bachelor's studies
In the master's program you will expand your specialist skills, deepen your scientific knowledge and have the opportunity to work on complex tasks independently. The FHNW construction laboratory, which is equipped with modern equipment, makes it possible to support studies with results from experimental tests. Therefore, after completing your master's degree, you will be able to provide competent answers to complex technical questions and deal with demanding project planning tasks.
The study profile "Civil Engineering" comprises the following four specialization areas with the descriptions provided below:
Structural Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering
Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management
Transportation Planning and Traffic Systems
Specialization in Structural Engineering / Concrete Construction
All topics within the realm of concrete and prestressed concrete construction are possible. Emphasis is placed on earthquake analysis and structural monitoring.
Specialization in Structural Engineering / Structural Mechanics
The focus lies on advanced methods of structural mechanics and mechanics of materials, including both concrete and steel structures. Specializations in stability and plasticity theory, earthquake analysis, concrete/prestressed concrete, and bridge construction are possible. Development of sophisticated structural concepts and their implementation into executable designs while considering static and dynamic requirements.
Specialization in Geotechnical Engineering
Analysis and assessment of natural events as well as planning, designing, and supervising structures and measures in geotechnical engineering. In-depth fundamentals of soil mechanics establish the basis for applying numerical methods and advanced constitutive laws, as well as describing the behavior of partially saturated soils. Specializations in deep foundation engineering, ground improvement, geosynthetic applications, and rock mechanics provide the prerequisites for tackling project-oriented tasks.
Specialization in Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management
The study addresses future challenges such as climate change and its effects on high and low water levels of rivers and the water balance of catchment areas, substance transport in surface and groundwater, and ecology, revitalization, and sustainability in water management. Additionally, hydrological and hydraulic (2D, 3D) modeling, eco-hydraulics, and sustainable building materials and techniques are covered.
Specialization in Transportation Planning and Traffic Systems
The focus areas include traffic engineering and traffic control, traffic concepts, public transportation systems, as well as transportation planning in the overall context of mobility requirements.
The Master's program in MSE CE is designed as a consecutive course following the Bachelor's program in Civil Engineering. It builds on the foundational content of the Bachelor's degree, primarily targeting individuals with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.
Admission Requirements:
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (ECTS grade "A" or "B")
Degree as Diploma Engineer FH (overall grade "good" to "very good")
Or admission based on suitability assessment by the program director
The Master's program, totaling 90 ECTS credits, is divided into the following three main parts:
Core Modules (30 ECTS credits) Zürich
Specialization (30 ECTS credits) Muttenz
Master's Thesis (30 ECTS credits) Muttenz
In contrast to the content-defined foundational studies, the Master's program aims to allow for a flexible structure tailored to individual preferences. The goal is to create a study plan customized to your personal preferences. The framework of the study structure is visualized in the following graphic.
To enlarge the image, click on it.
The MSE program can be studied full-time in three semesters or part-time in five semesters. In the case of part-time study, additional employment at an engineering firm or at the Institute of Civil Engineering is possible.
Full-time study
Part-time study
One-third of the program consists of courses offered centrally for all German-speaking universities of applied sciences in Zurich (Lagerstrasse 41). A total of 11 modules, each worth 3 ECTS credits, must be completed, covering theoretical foundations, specialized knowledge, and context. An overview and description of all modules can be found in the appendix of the MSE Examination and Study Regulations and on the MSE website.
The specialization takes place at FHNW and includes the completion of two specialization projects, the master's thesis, as well as participation in supplementary seminars and events. The Master's program at the Muttenz campus is heavily influenced by the experimental capabilities of the modern construction laboratory at FHNW. Please refer to the following impressions of the construction laboratory.
