Overview
This master’s course will teach you how to apply cutting-edge technology and tools such as machine learning and AI to solve a range of flood and coastal engineering problems. Particular emphasis will be given to the challenges of climate change and to the introduction of modern techniques such as sustainability assessment, data analytics and machine learning. These will give you a range of sought-after skills and substantially increase your employability within the flood and coastal engineering sector.
The programme of study has been designed with close reference to the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with several modules focused directly on the impact of climate change. It’s an approach that matches both the Engineering Council’s AHEP4 accreditation requirements, and the position adopted by all the major Engineering professional bodies.
You’ll have access to our custom-designed technical facilities, and the latest industry standard engineering software packages are available for you to use in the purpose-built computer laboratories.
Through the Visiting Professors Scheme your learning is enhanced via a series of specialist lectures on industry practice. In addition, guest speakers from leading industrial partners provide a valuable insight into flood and coastal engineering and you will also benefit from site visits to flood schemes (Thames Barrier and Jubilee Flood Relief Channel).
At the end their final year, engineering and maths students are invited to showcase their project work at Brunel Engineers +, an event that both celebrates their achievements and gives them the chance to network with industry figures and employers. This video shows some of the projects exhibited at the 2024 Brunel Engineers + event, with explanations by the students themselves.
Brunel’s Flood and Coastal Engineering MSc is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship: You may be eligible for a full tuition fee waiver, as well as a range of other financial incentives, on this course. Find out more.
British Council Scholarship for Women in STEM: In partnership with the British Council, we are offering five fully-funded scholarships for female students from the East Asia region (eligible countries only). The deadline to apply for this scholarship in 2024 will be confirmed shortly – find out more.
You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.
Course content
Compulsory
- Civil Engineering Dissertation
The dissertation aims to provide experience in defining and organising, executing and evaluating a substantial individual in-depth investigation into a topic related to the appropriate Civil Engineering MSc programme and presenting the information in the form of a dissertation.
- Hydrology and HydraulicsThis module aims to develop competence in the principles and theories of applied hydraulics and hydrology and its application in sustainable civil engineering, and to interpret and apply the above concepts and theories to simple engineering systems.
- Flood and Coastal Asset Management
This module enables students to deepen knowledge of flood and coastal defence assets and their management. The students will develop ability to formulate development plans covering the whole lifecycle of flood and coastal infrastructure engineering projects.
- Smart and Resilient Food and Coastal Engineering
This module aims to develop students ability in the use of engineering mathematics, a critical understanding of the use of data in flood and coastal risk management, and an advanced technical skills for the critical analysis of geospatial data. The students will develop understanding of the role of modelling, data management and programming in flood and coastal engineering, to develop appropriate technical competence in modelling and analytical methods.
- Project Management
This module will develop deeper understanding of the roles of various engineering professionals involved in engineering and construction project delivery, deeper understanding of management science as applied to engineering and infrastructure projects, and wider appreciation of the role of the Engineer in society and in sustainable project development.
- Sustainable Infrastructure Project
This module enables students to build a deep and systematic understanding of project management principles and its interrelationship with sustainable infrastructure project development. The student will develop deep understanding of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular: SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
- Research Methods and Professional Development
This module aims to instill principles of good research practice and enable students to acquire skills to conduct scientifically-robust research with due consideration of engineering quality issues and environmental and health and safety risks, and to develop understanding of how research and development drives innovation in a business context and the mechanisms to protect intellectual property.
- Flood and Coastal Risk Management
This module aims to develop student’s ability in the critical understanding and management of flood and coastal defences, critical understanding of the use of site data in flood and coastal risk management, and advanced skills in using appropriate software for analysis.
- Climate Change and the Environment
Aims: To build understanding of climate change science and associated threats to society and the environment, with knowledge of options for adaptation and mitigation in the civil engineering sector; to promote innovative design solutions to challenges involving climate change and natural resources, such as sustainable water resources engineering, with recognition of contributions across all SDGs but SDG 13 (Climate Action) in particular; to promote holistic engineering practice through life cycle analysis of complex infrastructure systems.
Full time students will study the taught modules in the first two terms and then spend four months working on their dissertation. The dissertation is an advanced piece of research and is assessed through a final 20,000 word submission. It can be carried out in collaboration with industry and could focus on an environmental challenge or be based on smart technology. Modules in the drop-down below are illustrative of full time study. For details of how modules are sequenced across part-time modes please contact the course director Dr Pedro Martin-Moreta (pedro.martin-moreta@brunel.ac.uk).
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Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
A Flood and Coastal Engineering degree from Brunel will equip you with the knowledge and skills for a successful career in the flood and coastal industry, managing flood and coastal engineering projects.
The flood and coastal engineering sector offers a range of career opportunities in the fields of flood risk management, flood and coastal protection, flood and coastal asset management, hydrology, river and coastal engineering, monitoring of rivers, water bodies and coastal erosion and other areas.
Our graduates have roles with public and private water utilities responsible for flood and coastal management, environmental agencies, flood and coastal engineering consulting firms, construction companies carrying out flood and coastal defences engineering works, and government departments.
UK entry requirements
2023/4 entry
A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification in a directly related subject including Civil Engineering, Flood And Coastal Engineering, Water and Drainage Engineering, Geo technical Engineering, Environmental Engineering
Alternatively, we will happily consider applicants with the following profiles but may need to refer these to our academic department to review as well.
A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification in a non-directly related subject including Surveying; Physics; Maths; Geography, Geology, Environmental Sciences, Marine Biology with Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics modules with good grades and any relevant work experience
OR
A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree or an equivalent internationally recognised qualification in other subjects without evidence of Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics but with relevant work experience
Please note: relevant work experience could include time spent working in water and environmental organisations and companies (e.g. Thames Water, the Environment Agency, Canal and River Trust). However, if you have any relevant work experience and would like to be considered for the course you should apply and we will review your application.
EU and International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6 (min 5.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all sub scores)
- BrunELT: 58% (min 55% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 77 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2025/26 entry
UK
£14,435 full-time
£7,215 part-time
International
£24,795 full-time
£12,395 part-time
UK Staged Master £4,580 per stage.
International Staged Master £7,870 per stage.
More information on any additional course-related costs.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
Lectures/Tutorials/Seminars/Workshops
These will be delivered in-person on campus. Laboratory sessions (computer labs and physical experiments) will also all be delivered in-person on campus.
Site visits (and/or field work)
These will take place physically at the designated venue.
Support resources
All on-campus teaching and learning sessions will be recorded and made available to students via the University Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Supporting learning materials will be made available to you on the VLE prior to and/or after teaching sessions.
Assessments
These will be run using a variety of formats, including on-campus in-person exams, on-campus presentations, and written reports with on-line submission. On-line presentation might be used in instances where this would be deemed appropriate.
- All the recorded sessions will be made available to you to enable those who could not attend to catch up on missed contents. The recordings will also benefit you as and when you need to clarify or strengthen your understandings of contents of teaching’s sessions covered. Learning materials made available in advance will help them prepare well for up-coming sessions, and also support their self-directed and independent learning activities.
- You will have opportunities for active learning, including in-group activities on campus for laboratory sessions, discussion-based sessions in seminars, etc.
- The teaching/assessment approach will be balanced, so as not overload you or staff with intense clusters of assessments and deadlines.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
Our flood and coastal engineering degrees are delivered by an internationally recognised teaching staff. There will also be guest lectures from our industry partners who provide a valuable insight into real world civil engineering.
Study will combine lectures in class sizes of around 12 students, tutorials, seminars, practical laboratory sessions, field work, and individual and group research projects. A significant amount of independent learning is also expected.
You will receive your timetable in advance of the course starting.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
Your progress will be assessed via assignments, presentations, technical and laboratory reports, design and research projects, exams and your dissertation.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.
