Structural Steel Design
Understand the theory and practice of structural steel design.
Understand the theory and practice of structural steel design
Receive training in the analysis, design and assessment of steel and composite structures
Learn to analyse, design and assess steel and composite structures
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MSc
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Duration
1 year, 2 years, 3 years
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Start date
September 2025
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Study mode
Full-time, Part-time
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Fees
£18,500 Home
£42,900 Overseas
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Delivered by
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Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
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2:1 in Civil Engineering, Natural Sciences, Earth Sciences or other numerate subject
Course overview
Develop your skills as a design engineer specialising in steel structures on this one-year Master's course.
You'll receive advanced training in the design, analysis and assessment of steel structures including bridges and buildings. The programme will cover both theoretical background and practical design considerations.
Suitable for both practising engineers with several years' experience and recent graduates, this degree will develop your expertise for a future career in structural design and analysis in industry, the public sector or with non-governmental organisations.
In addition to lectures from College staff, you'll learn from renowned visiting professors and industry experts.
Structure
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
You'll take all of these core modules.
Core modules
Understand the behaviour of steel structures and learn how to design structural steel members and connections.
Analyse the behaviour of structural components and systems that suffer from failure due to geometric nonlinearity.
Gain fundamental insights into structural analysis, including the mechanics of materials and physical behaviour of structural elements.
Examine structural steel physical metallurgy and apply this knowledge to the manufacture of steels.
Analyse the conceptual design of a range of structural framing systems used in the construction sector and issues related to structural form and behaviour.
You’ll choose seven modules from the options listed.
Optional modules
Understand the finite element method for structural analysis and investigate the accuracy and convergence characteristics of various finite elements.
Become familiar with the most basic concepts and principles of dynamics as applied to structural engineering problems.
Familiarise yourself with the design of structures in timber and masonry and apply your knowledge to the design of simple conventional structures.
Discover the systematic procedures for geometric and material nonlinear structural analysis and advance your knowledge of nonlinear analysis software.
Unpick the fundamental concepts and principles required for the seismic design of steel structures and understand the seismic behaviour of steel members, connections and systems.
Understand the behaviour and design of plated steel structures including the elastic buckling and post-buckling of plates under in-plane loading.
Examine the design and construction of bridges, as well as the main construction procedures for short, medium and long span bridges.
Explore the main concepts and principles of structural safety and gain an appreciation for the power of probabilistic methods in structural engineering.
Understand the fundamental concepts and principles of the analysis and design of thin-walled shelled structures.
Evaluate the concepts and principles of structural fire safety engineering and use sophisticated numerical tools to undertake performance-based fire safety engineering computations.
In the summer term, you’ll undertake a design project dissertation with regular guidance from a College supervisor, by private study or by arrangement at your place of employment.
This work will also incorporate a conceptual group project.
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
Key
- Lectures and seminars
- Independent study
- 25% Lectures and seminars
- 75% Independent study
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Tutorials
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Online quizzes
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Computer sessions
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Group exercises
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Design projects
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Research project
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Slide-based presentations
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Programming code
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Summary reports
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Individual research dissertation
Balance of assessment
Key
- Coursework and exams
- Project
- 14% Coursework
- 86% Examinations
Assessment methods
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Individual and group coursework assignments
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Written exams
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Research dissertation or detailed design project
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Group conceptual design project
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Group projects and presentations
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – Round 1 closes on Thursday 16 January 2025
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.
Application rounds
Round 1
- Apply by Thursday 16 January 2025
- Decision by Thursday 6 March 2025
Round 2
- Apply by Thursday 27 March 2025
- Decision by Thursday 1 May 2025
Round 3
- Apply by Thursday 15 May 2025
- Decision by Thursday 17 July 2025
There is no application fee for MRes courses, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a taught Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
- £80 for all taught Master's applications, excluding those to the Imperial College Business School.
- £100 for all MSc applications to the Imperial College Business School.
- £150 for all MBA applications to the Imperial College Business School.
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.
Tuition fees
Home fee
Full-time
£18,500
2 years, part-time
£9,250per year
3 years, part-time
£6,167per 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.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Overseas fee
Full-time
£42,900
2 years, part-time
£21,450per year
3 years, part-time
£14,300per 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.
For courses starting on or after 1 August 2024, the maximum amount is £12,471. The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
Gain the essential engineering skills and knowledge you need for a successful engineering career.
Learn to manage effectively, solve problems, write reports, and model and communicate.
Graduates typically work in industry, government, and non-government organisations.
Further links
Contact the department
- Telephone: +44(0) 20 7594 5932
- Email: cvpgo@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Pinelopi Kyvelou
MSc Courses Director: Dr Anton Köllner
Visit the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering website.
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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