Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, MSc

Programme description

Structural and geotechnical engineering is concerned with the design, assessment, and optimisation of the built environment. From high-rise buildings and bridges, to underground infrastructure and foundations, engineers must understand how different structures and materials respond in different physical locations. This programme emphasises the critical relationships between structures and the environment and conditions where they lie.

You begin by focusing on the fundamentals, in structural engineering, geotechnics, advanced building materials, sustainability, and numerical methods. You will explore topics such as soil-structure interaction, material-oriented design, and finite element modelling. From here, you develop your understanding of how engineering decisions continue to affect structures through their entire lifespan.

Project-based learning is a central element of your studies. Working on projects based on real industrial input, collaborating with students from fields like architecture and civil engineering is common. On top of that, you will get a chance to engage with external industrial partners. These projects and professional exposure will prepare you for exactly the kind of scenarios you will work on in your future career.

With major projects including waterfront urban development at Älvstranden, the new Hisingsbron bridge project, and extensive new road and rail connections, Gothenburg is a city undergoing massive urban transformation. This makes it a perfect urban canvas where you can explore how infrastructure is being transformed in practice.

Sustainability is also a key theme throughout. You will study ways to reduce the environmental impact of new construction, as well as how existing structures can be adapted and improved in a changing climate. You will also look at new production methods, such as green steel and concrete, and resource-efficient design, materials choice, and life-cycle thinking. Digitalisation is also a central consideration, with opportunities to work with advanced simulation methods, parametric design, and AI-supported engineering tools.

You can later deepen your expertise, either by following a set specialisation, or through combining elective courses after your own interests.

Job opportunities

After graduation, you will be well-prepared for advanced roles within structural and geotechnical engineering, infrastructure development, consulting, construction, and research. Chalmers has developed the programme in dialogue with public and private organisations across the Swedish construction and infrastructure sector.

Swedish employers often look favourably on candidates with some language skills, and Chalmers offers you the chance to take Swedish language courses alongside your studies.

Relevant employers include the Swedish Transport Administration and the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, as well as industrial partners like WSP, AFRY, Skanska, Peab, Sweco, and more. These organisations contribute through project work, guest lectures, and opportunities for master’s thesis collaboration. These connections ensure the programme is up to date, and informed by current industry practice.

The integration of both structural and geotechnical expertise is particularly valuable in large-scale infrastructure projects where bridges, tunnels, transport systems, and other critical infrastructure are all developed together. The programme’s focus on sustainability also addresses a growing demand for engineers with skills in climate adaptation, sustainable construction, resource efficiency, and the renewal of ageing infrastructure. The breadth of the work also provides an ideal pathway to further studies at doctoral level in many relevant fields within structural and geotechnical engineering.

Research

The wider research environment at Chalmers directly shapes the content of lab work, courses, and projects throughout your education.

Research areas relevant to the programme include steel and concrete structures, timber engineering, sustainable building materials, and applied mechanics. Other topics include structural health monitoring, assessment of existing structures, advanced modelling techniques, and soil-structure interaction.

You will benefit from access to state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities, such as the Building Services Engineering Lab, the Geomechanics Lab, and the Structures Lab. You will also have close collaboration through your studies with research groups at the department and industrial partners. Master's thesis projects, for example, are frequently carried out in collaboration with researchers and external organisations, providing valuable experience of how research contributes to innovation and engineering practice. This experience also provides a natural pathway into doctoral studies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in: Civil Engineering, Architectural engineering, Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or the equivalent

Prerequisites: Mathematics (at least 24 cr. including Linear Algebra, Multivariable Analysis, Mathematical Statistics, Numerical analysis), Structural mechanics 6 cr, Environmental Science/Sustainability Science 6 cr.

At least 24 cr. including; Solid Mechanics, Building Materials, Geotechnics, Structural Engineering.

Preferable course experience for the specialisation Geostructures: Geotechnical engineering and/or Engineering geology

English language requirements: Prove your English proficiency

How to apply