In the profile Civil Engineering within the Master of Science in Engineering, our students have the opportunity to combine different fields of interest from Natural Sciences and Engineering. You will be able to further improve your analytical and holistic competences to become one of the future leaders in your industry.
With possible focal points ranging from Bridge and Structural Engineering, Tunnel and Dam Construction, Road and Railway Construction, River and Hydraulic Engineering, Maintenance of Civil Engineering Structures, Sustainable and Energy-efficient Construction, Natural Hazards and Building Envelopes, students are afforded additional flexibility within their chosen specialization and areas of interest. In the Bridge and Structural Engineering major, students deepen their understanding of statics and construction, while the major in Geotechnical Engineering revolves around the modeling of foundations and supporting structures and the major in River and Water Engineering focuses on issues such as natural hazards. The Major in Road and Railway Construction mainly covers traffic planning and management.
As a consecutive degree program, the Master of Science with specialization in Civil Engineering requires solid competences in Natural Sciences and Engineering. Applicants are also required to hold one of the Bachelor’s degrees listed below:
- BSc in Civil Engineering
- BSc in Geomatics, Major in Construction and Infrastructure (BSc HES-SO)
The teaching language in the profile Civil Engineering is German. Therefore, all applicants without German as mother tongue need to provide an official German language certificate on level C1 or above to be accepted for this profile.
Applications by prospective students with a different academic background will be considered under certain conditions.
As a Civil Engineering graduate, you will have a wide range of career options, both in Switzerland and abroad. In the areas of Bridge and Structural Engineering as well as Geotechnical Engineering, you will be able to assume positions in the conception, planning and realization of load-bearing and supporting structures. In the fields of River and Hydraulic Engineering and Road and Railway Construction, you will be considered for roles in specialized engineering companies and in the public sector.
How has your MSE degree influenced your professional career?
«I could gather a huge knowledge especially in Earthquake Engineering and Dynamics, which is very useful now as projecting Engineer. As well the handling with FE-Programs, which I deepened in my Masters, is very useful in my daily business. Generally one has a deeper knowledge in many aspects like monitoring of existing buildings or statics or statistics.»
What advice do you have for current or new MSE students?
«Do the Master Degree and combine it with working! I learned so many things, that I could directly apply or link in my office and my daily working business.»
What's your favorite MSE study memory?
«The theory modules in Zurich together with good friends of the Bachelor Degree and as well the very interesting discussions with my advisor. The moment when I could link a FEM-Program with my Matlab Code was probably the moment where I was happiest and as well proud of me.»
In which areas were you able to develop the most through your MSE studies?
«I learned a lot in programming and in FE-Modelling. As well I could widen my knowledge in statistics and re-calculation of existing structures.»
What were your main reasons for choosing the MSE programme?
«I was very interested in the theory modules and in a specific topic like probabilistic design of existing buildings and earthquake engineering, which was very good to deepen with my advisor.»
Timon Zeder, MSE Graduate
