As a civil engineer, you are building the future. The buildings that you plan and execute will shape our living spaces.
Outline of profession
With the MSE in Civil Engineering, you will acquire specialist skills to take on leading positions in engineering or construction companies, or in administration. You will be an expert in various specialty areas such as bridge engineering, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, tunnel and dam engineering, railroad and road systems, river and hydraulic engineering, maintenance of existing structures, sustainable and energy-efficient construction, and natural hazards.
Profile contents
The course profile in Civil Engineering includes the following subject areas:
- Structural engineering
- Geotechnical engineering
- Hydraulic engineering
- Transport planning and systems
Professional Skills
The MSE in Civil Engineering will enable you to deal with complex current and future challenges in civil engineering, to manage complex projects, and to communicate results professionally.
Entry skills and enrolment process
Specific qualifications are required to enrol in this profile. Students holding one of the following bachelor’s degrees with above-average marks generally fulfil these entry requirements.
- BSc in Civil Engineering
- BSc in Geomatics, major in Construction and Infrastructure (BSc HES-SO)
Assessment of entry qualifications is part of the enrolment process of each school. Students who do not hold one of the above-mentioned bachelor’s degrees will be individually assessed for their suitability by the relevant University of Applied Sciences.
Recommended theory modules
The theory modules comprise 30 out of 90 ECTS. The modules are taught by professors from all over Switzerland at various locations. You will take these modules together with other MSE students. You can find the recommended theory modules for the MSE in Civil Engineering (CE) here.
Additional skills relative to Bachelor of Science
Compared to graduates of a bachelor’s degree course, an MSE in Civil Engineering enables you to deepen your specialist skills and knowledge and further enhance your scientific methods and management skills. Upon completion of your master's degree, you will be able to manage large-scale planning tasks and complex projects and take responsibility for entire processes.
Discover more
Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) offering the Civil Engineering (CE) profile are shown below. Find out more about the courses of study at the individual UASs.
Study language
Specialisation studies in German or French (Biel) or German (Burgdorf), theory modules in English, German or French
Main focus
- Construction in existing buildings and building physics
- Timber and composite construction
- Transport infrastructure
- Geotechnics and natural phenomena
- Hydraulic engineering
- Supporting structures
Study language
Mainly German, some modules in English
Main focus
The MSE in Civil Engineering provides you with the relevant knowledge and skills to become experts and project managers in a wide variety of disciplines:
- Structures in building and bridge construction
- Structural mechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Hydraulic engineering
- Traffic planning and traffic systems
The master's degree at the Muttenz site is strongly influenced by the experimental possibilities of the new FHNW construction laboratory.
Study language
French
Main focus
- prepares future specialists, project managers and/or senior managers in private-sector engineering firms, large corporations and public authorities, working in fields such as infrastructure, geotechnical engineering, hydraulics, transport and mobility, in Switzerland or abroad
- 4 disciplinary fields (Structures, Geotechnical Engineering, Hydraulics and Transport and Mobility
Study language
German
Main focus
- Focus on bridge engineering, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering including tunnel engineering and dam construction, railroad and road engineering, river engineering, hydraulic engineering, maintenance of existing civil engineering structures, sustainable and energy-efficient construction, and natural hazards.
- Planning and construction of building envelopes using modern methods and simulation tools with the focus on interaction between building physics, energy, construction, structural engineering, and architectural requirements.
- Preparation to assume senior positions in various areas in engineering firms, building companies and public institutions.
Study language
German
Main focus
- Construction and building maintenance: conception, project planning and execution planning for new structures (bridges, buildungs etc.); Condition assessment, recalculation and repair of existing structures; Application of BIM; Numerical simulations; Life-Cycle-Asessment;
- Geotechnical engineering, hydraulic engineering and natural hazards: project planning and execution technology for geotechnical structures and hydraulic engineering; Numerical simulations; Natural hazards in alpine regions;
- Concrete technology, innovative building technologies and sustainable building: development, optimization and application of new types of concrete; Experimental tests on innovative building materials and components in cooperation with well-known research institutes; Sustainable building in infrastructure construction and building construction;
Study language
English
Main focus
The MSE in Civil Engineering provides you with the relevant knowledge and innovative skills to become experts in a wide variety of specialization:
- Structural engineering
- Natural hazards and geotechnical engineering, hydraulic engineering
- Sustainable construction and technology
The master's degree at Mendrisio site is strictly connected to the experimental facilities, laboratories and researches developed by the SUPSI Institutes
Study language
German in all courses
Main focus
- Lightweight construction: fiber composites, hybrid construction (concrete, steel)
- Development of new designs (recyclable)
- Teamwork in the specialist group and with architects and industrial partners
- Computer programs: Cedrus, Axis, Statik, Ansys
- Part-time employment (50%) possible and desired