| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year full time 2 or 4 years part time |
| Entry year | 2025 |
| Campus | Penryn Campus |
| Discipline | Geology |
| Contact |
| Typical offer | 2:2 honours degree |
|---|---|
Overview
- Gain knowledge in rock engineering, site investigation, data capture and data analysis required to understand the issues facing engineers excavating increasingly ambitious and complex underground spaces.
- Delivered by staff with strong research interests directly related to the topics covered, modules involve a broad range of activities and teaching delivery methods.
- Camborne School of Mines (CSM) has a world-class reputation and excellent alumni network, allowing our graduates to prosper in their respective fields in all corners of the globe.
- Take advantage of workshops using the latest industry relevant computational tools, practical activities and group and individual exercises.
- Blend of rock engineering and geotechnical data analysis modules this programme is highly vocational and specifically aimed at career opportunities for postgraduates.
Top 15 in the world for Mineral and Mining Engineering
QS University World Subject Rankings 2024
3rd in the UK for Geology
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
Leading research facilities include £2 million analytical mineralogy labs and an automated QEMSCAN scanning electron microscope
Multidisciplinary expertise in mining and minerals engineering, geology and surveying
Top 15 in the world for Mineral and Mining Engineering
QS University World Subject Rankings 2024
3rd in the UK for Geology
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
Leading research facilities include £2 million analytical mineralogy labs and an automated QEMSCAN scanning electron microscope
Multidisciplinary expertise in mining and minerals engineering, geology and surveying
Accreditations
This degree has been accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree. See www.iom3.org for further information.
Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). Accreditation is awarded for a maximum of 5 years under each assessment exercise. The dates applicable to the current accreditation of this degree programme can be viewed on the Engineering Council list of accredited degrees. See www.engc.org.uk for further information.
Entry requirements
A good honours degree from a recognised university (typically a 2:2 or higher) in a science, earth or environmental science, engineering or maths based subject.
Students applying with Turkish Government sponsorship/funding need to include their project topic as part of the application.
Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
Course content
The programme is delivered through a mix of lectures, workshops, tutorials, practical activities, case studies, industry visits, computer simulations, project work and a dissertation. Field visits and practical field-based assignments are used, where appropriate, to emphasise key areas within each module.
The taught part of the programme is structured into two semesters and a three-month project/dissertation takes place over the summer vacation.
The programme is modular and flexible, carrying 180 credits in total and offering flexibility in choice of modules studied.
MSc Geotechnical Engineering consists of three core modules totalling 90 credits, which includes the 60-credit research project.
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSMM118 | Project and Dissertation | 60 |
| CSMM130 | Excavation and Geomechanics | 15 |
| CSMM131 | Health and Safety in the Extractive Industry | 15 |
| CSMM135 | Economics, Processing & Environment | 15 |
| CSMM137 | Hydrogeology | 15 |
| CSMM140 | Surface Excavation Design | 15 |
| CSMM153 | Mine Planning and Design | 15 |
| CSMM187 | Underground Excavation Design | 15 |
| CSMM444 | Soil Mechanics with Mine Tailings Engineering | 15 |
Optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSMM904 | Professionalism | 0 |
Fees
2025/26 entry
UK fees per year:
£14,300 full-time
£7,150 part-time (where available)
International fees per year:
£28,600 full-time
£14,300 part-time (where available)
Scholarships
We invest heavily in scholarships for talented prospective Masters students. This includes over £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*.
For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.
Teaching and research
The programme is delivered through a mix of lectures, workshops, tutorials, practical activities, case studies, industry visits, computer simulations, project work and a dissertation. The taught part of the programme is structured into two semesters. Field visits and practical field-based assignments are used, where appropriate, to emphasise key areas within each module.
A research and practice-led culture
We believe every student benefits from being taught by experts active in research and practice. You will discuss the very latest ideas, research discoveries and new technologies in seminars and in the field and you will become actively involved in a research project yourself. All our academic staff are active in internationally-recognised scientific research across a wide range of topics.
Students are encouraged to undertake projects directly linked with industry, which may result in industrial placements for their project period.
Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability
You will become part of Exeter's Graduate School of Environment & Sustainability - a vibrant and supportive postgraduate community based here on our Penryn campus in Cornwall. The Graduate School brings together experts from across the spectrum of earth and life sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences and business. You will interact with students from other MScs and have the opportunity to explore issues from a range of perspectives, benefiting from a truly interdisciplinary experience. All our programmes are designed with a focus on developing solutions to global challenges and creating a better future for our planet and its people.
Careers
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Reputational and networking benefits
A unique benefit studying at Camborne School of Mines is the community and relations you will gain both during, and after your studies. Camborne School of Mines has a world-class reputation and excellent alumni network, allowing our graduates to prosper in their respective fields in all corners of the globe:
“I have worked in many places around the world and have yet to visit a country where I could not find at least one CSM graduate. In fact, there are normally several and they can often be found in influential positions.”
Tim Henderson, CSM graduate and current Technical Director at Glencore
Graduate skills and destinations
In addition, a degree form Camborne School of Mines will teach the necessary technical skills and theoretical knowledge required, as well as additional complementary skills relating to communications, teamwork and problem solving. We have excellent rates of graduate employment, with many postgraduates working overseas.
Graduates of this programme have gone on to enjoy careers as geotechnical engineer, rock mechanics engineer, geologist, design engineer and tunnelling engineer. Our graduates have gone to work for some exceptional companies such as Cross Rail and Bam Nutthallt. This information has been taken from the
Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Survey (2011-2016). Please note that, due to data protection, the job title and organisation do not necessarily correspond.
Support and opportunities
The Career Zone (CAS) at our Cornwall Campus provides high-quality careers information and guidance to students of all disciplines. Our experienced careers team can give you individual support whilst you are at the University and after you have graduated.
Services include talks, confidential careers interviews and an extensive careers library of reference books, magazines and journals. A new computer suite is also available for accessing online careers information, vacancy services and specialist software on, for example, sources of funding for courses and worldwide volunteering.
The CAS can help you to identify attractive jobs, careers paths and employers and assist with your CV, interview technique and identifying work experience placements
