Postgraduate Diploma - Geotechnical Engineering

The Geotechnical Engineering PGDip is designed for recent graduates or experienced professionals, The programme is ideal for civil engineers and geologists seeking to extend their professional scope or specialise in geotechnical engineering.

Modern structures, such as buildings, embankments and dams, must satisfy exacting stability and deformation criteria, and they may have to be sited on weak or compressible ground. It is the responsibility of the geotechnical engineer to plan and direct the necessary ground investigations and laboratory testing, interpret the results, and propose methods of design and construction to overcome difficulties caused by inadequate ground.

The long-term performance of the structure must be predicted, and instruments may have to be installed to check the prediction. This needs a sound knowledge of engineering geology, soil and rock mechanics, current civil engineering design, and of construction management and practice.

The Geotechnical Engineering PGDip programme is designed to support high-level training and enhance both technical and managerial skills. With an excellent reputation across the industry, the course focuses on essential aspects of the subject, including: physical, chemical and mechanical properties of soils and rocks; ground investigation; field and laboratory testing; engineering geology and site investigation; analysis, design and construction of foundations, retaining walls, tunnels, embankments and slopes including methods of ground reinforcement and improvement.

Students will develop a sound knowledge of soil and rock mechanics, current civil engineering design, and construction management and practice. The research project allows for detailed study into a particular area of geotechnical engineering and can focus upon laboratory testing, numerical modelling or management of geotechnical processes/applications.

This will support students' career as a geotechnical engineer, enabling them to plan and direct ground investigations and laboratory testing, giving students the basis for interpreting results and proposing the optimum methods of design and construction.