
For information on Fees/Student Grants/Scholarships and Financial Assistance, please click here
What is Structural Engineering?
Structural Engineering is the science and art of designing civil engineering facilities so that they can safely resist the forces to which they may be subjected. All structures from bridges to buildings, harbours to airports, must be able to meet these requirements. Structural Engineers aim to design these structures with safety, economy and elegance.
About the Course
CR109 Course Location: MTU, Bishopstown Campus, Cork.
The course is taught primarily through lectures, practicals, and tutorials. A significant emphasis is placed on project and experimental work with site visits and field trips making up an integral part of the coursework. There is a continuing regional, national and international requirement for structural engineers with a knowledge of construction.
Work Placement
Formal work placement (minimum of ten weeks) is an integral element of the course and takes place in Year 4.
The work placement will familiarise the student with work practices and procedures and provide him/her with the opportunity to observe the practical application of theoretical knowledge gained on his/her programme. The placement is supported by a member of academic staff in MTU, Bishopstown Campus, together with a workplace mentor. The aim of the industrial placement is to introduce the student to structured employment in a relevant work sector and to develop the student's understanding of the organisation, its procedures and technology.
ARUP Trust Scholarship
The Arup Scholarship will be awarded to a first year student who registers on the programme and will comprise an award of €2,250 for each of the four years of the programme.
Scholarship applications may be made at https://cse.cit.ie/Scholarship
Please note the closing date: 21st March.
Accreditation
The BEng (Hons) in Structural Engineering is fully accredited by Engineers Ireland at the Bachelor (Honours) Level 8 educational standard. Further learning is required to meet the educational standard for Chartered Engineer. The taught MEng in Structural Engineering and the taught MEng in Civil Engineering (Environment and Energy), available in the Department as one year follow on courses, are fully accredited by Engineers Ireland as meeting the educational standard for Chartered Engineer.
Engineers Ireland represents all engineering disciplines in Ireland and is a member of Federation Europeene d’Associations Nationales d’Ingenieurs (FEANI) through which Irish engineers are recognised in Europe. Engineers Ireland is a signatory to the Washington Accord through which Irish engineers are recognised in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Africa, and UK.
Further Studies
For details, please visit https://cse.cit.ie/
At the end of Year 3, subject to a minimum of a H2.2 standard achieved in Year 3, students may elect to transfer to an integrated Masters (level 9) programme comprising 2 further years (4 semesters) of study; currently, integrated MEng programmes are available as follows:
> MEng in Structural Engineering (Taught)
> MEng in Civil Engineering (Environment & Energy) (Taught)
Students may of course choose to remain on the BEng Honours programme and complete their studies to level 8 in the final (Year 4) of study.
Work Placement is a strong feature of both the BEng Hons and MEng programmes in Year 4
Research
Suitably qualified graduates in Civil, Structural or Environmental Engineering may proceed to a research programme leading to a Masters or PhD level.
Question Time
What is the difference between Structural Engineering and Civil Engineering?
Civil Engineering is the professional engineering discipline which deals with the design, construction and maintenance of the physical infrastructure of the built environment. This includes works such as buildings, roads, bridges, water and wastewater treatment and supply and harbour and coastal engineering works. In addition to the technical skills required for the above work a Civil Engineer will also have competencies in related fields such as project and asset management & health and safety.
Structural Engineering is a specialist discipline within Civil Engineering which deals with design, construction and maintenance of structures such as buildings, bridges, culverts, towers, masts and foundations. This course provides graduates with the skills to work as a Civil Engineer, however, an additional emphasis is placed on Structural Engineering studies thus giving the graduates enhanced skills in this area.
What level of drawing is required for this course?
Prerequisite drawing studies are not required. Drawing skills are addressed in the programme modules on the assumption that the students have no prior knowledge or skills in the area.
Graduate Profiles
Anna Pietrzak
Structural Design Engineer
Anna graduated with BEng (Hons) in Structural Engineering in 2016. She is currently employed with Arup Consulting Engineers as a Structural Design Engineer in its Cork Office. Anna is involved in a number of Irish and international projects working on structural analysis and design of new buildings, surveys of existing structures and infrastructure solutions where structural knowledge and problem solving skills are essential.
“My studies in CIT allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge to practical application. Use of the analysis software for my final year project provided a quick transition to the software used in a professional environment.”
Kieran McGrath
Graduate Internship
Kieran graduated with a BEng (Hons) in Structural Engineering in 2014. He is currently employed with ESB International as a Graduate Engineer in their Dublin office. Kieran is involved in a variety of projects, e.g. the structural assessment of the safe load capacities of existing bridges and road alignment surveys, and wind and hydro energy power generation infrastructure, where structural, environmental, energy and other engineering expertise is required.
“My studies in CIT not only gave me all the necessary analysis and design skills required to be a structural engineer, but also the necessary skills required to work in the related civil, environmental and energy engineering industries. This is a great strength of the course.”