Course Summary
- MEng in Geotechnical Engineering with Structural Engineering
- MEng in Structural Engineering with Geotechnical Engineering
This part-time online MEng provides postgraduate training for Level 8 degree qualified professional and graduate Civil Engineers who require up-skilling and higher education in the areas of Geotechnical and Structural Engineering. The programme is also attractive to experienced Civil Engineers who are seeking to move from a different area of expertise into the Geotechnical and /or Structural Engineering domains.
Graduates of the programme can work as design or site engineers in the areas of Geotechnical / Structural Engineering at a level of responsibility appropriate to the increasingly complex and technical roles currently required by industry.
The programme has two primary aims:
- To provide upskilling to existing civil engineers working or intending to work in the Geotechnical / Structural Engineering domains,
- To provide a means for graduate engineers to meet the educational requirement for Chartered Engineer membership of Engineers Ireland, while at the same time developing advanced skills in Geotechnical and Structural Engineering. This is particularly relevant to Level 8 Civil Engineering graduates already in employment who wish to become Chartered Engineers.
The programme is delivered part-time online over two stages.
Stage one of the programme consists of six taught modules, delivered over one academic year (September to May). The taught modules examine key aspects of Geotechnical Engineering and Structural Engineering. A particular focus of the taught modules is on soil – structure interaction and the use of numerical methods in Geotechnical and Structural Engineering.
Stage two consists of a research project which is designed to develop a real and tangible research project, relevant to academic requirements, the student’s career aspirations and/or their employer’s needs. The student can choose to complete Stage 2 of the programme over one or two academic years. Students will be able to propose their own project areas, subject to agreement with their supervisor. Work related projects are encouraged, again, subject to agreement with their supervisor.
On completion of the programme the student will be awarded an MEng in Geotechnical Engineering with Structural Engineering if their research thesis is primarily focused on Geotechnical Engineering or an MEng in Structural Engineering with Geotechnical Engineering if their research thesis is primarily focused on Structural Engineering.
The proposed programme is unique in so far as:
- It is the only part-time online MEng in areas of Geotechnical and Structural Engineering in the country,
- It is part-time and delivered online, and therefore attractive to engineers in full-time employment,
- It has a major research component that will enable learning while undertaking a project of direct interest to the student, their employer and clients.
POTENTIAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Sligo Chamber Skillnet may be able to partially fund programme fees for you or your employees - for further details please contact gcourtenay@sligochamber.ie
Key Course Information
OTHER PROGRAMME OPTIONS IN GEOTECHNICAL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
The online Level 9 Certificate in Geotechnical & Structural Engineering is a one academic year (September – May) programme consisting of the taught modules (Stage one) from the MEng. Graduates from the Certificate are eligible to progress to the thesis component of the MEng.
The MEng can also be undertaken full-time over one calendar year (September – September):
- MEng in Geotechnical Engineering with Structural Engineering,
- MEng in Structural Engineering with Geotechnical Engineering.
POTENTIAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Sligo Chamber Skillnet may be able to partially fund programme fees for you or your employees - for further details please contact gcourtenay@sligochamber.ie
Application Closing Date : 15th August 2025
Entry Requirements
The minimum entry requirements are a second class honours (2.2) award in a professionally accredited (Engineers Ireland Chartered Engineer with further learning or equivalent) Honours degree (Level 8) in Civil or Structural Engineering.
Applicants with other qualifications and with relevant work experience may also be considered through ATU Sligo’s Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) process. RPL is a process that may allow you to gain admission to a programme or to receive exemptions / credit from some parts of a programme based on demonstrated learning that you may have achieved through another programme of study or through your work and career. Further information is available through www.atu.ie/recognition-of-prior-learning which our dedicated RPL portal or by contacting our admissions team at admissions.sligo@atu.ie.
Graduates of the online Level 9 Certificate in Geotechnical & Structural Engineering are eligible to progress to the thesis component of the MEng.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the programme work as design and site engineers in the area of Geotechnical / Structural Engineering at a level of responsibility appropriate to the increasingly complex and technical roles currently required by industry.
Did you know?
The MEng in Geotechnical/Structural Engineering joint programme is unique in so far as:
- It is the only part-time online MEng in areas of Geotechnical and Structural Engineering in the country,
- It is part-time and delivered online, and therefore attractive to engineers in full-time employment,
- It has a major research component that will enable learning while undertaking a project of direct interest to the student, their employer and clients.
Programme Fees
Academic Year 2024/25 Fees
Total Programme Fee: €9,000
POTENTIAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Sligo Chamber Skillnet may be able to partially fund programme fees for you or your employees - for further details please contact gcourtenay@sligochamber.ie
To help make the payment of fees more manageable for students who are self-funding their studies, tuition fees can be paid through payment instalment plans at ATU Sligo. For further information on instalment plans, please visit our Fees and Funding webpage.
If you apply and are approved for an online course at ATU Sligo, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of €250 to secure your place. Your deposit will then be credited against the course fees once you are registered as a student. Students at ATU Sligo are also eligible to claim tax relief at the standard rate for tuition fees.
For further information and guidance about Fees and Funding for online and part-time courses at ATU Sligo, click here.
If you are seeking to take your exams online, and you meet the eligibility criteria (overseas students and those with extenuating circumstances), an additional examinations fee will apply. For further information, please visit our Examinations webpage.
Course Format
Semester 1
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Geotechnical Engineering I | 05 |
| Design of Building Structures | 05 |
| Soil - Structure Interaction | 05 |
| Geotechnical Engineering II | 05 |
| Design of Bridge Structures | 05 |
| Research Methods | 05 |
Semester 2
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| MEng Research Thesis, Mode 3 Full-time | 60 |