Master of Science

The master degree programme in Civil Engineering at ETH Zurich allows graduate students to choose two out of the six specialised courses (majors) available:

• The course in Construction and Maintenance Management covers lifecycle-oriented project and construction production planning and controlling, construction techniques, sustainable construction, project, process and corporate management, maintenance of infrastructures and infrastructure management
• The course in Geotechnical Engineering focuses on Soil Structure Interaction, Environmental Geotechnics, Civil and Underground Engineering, Stability Analysis (soil slopes and rock walls), Modelling and Building Methodology.
• The course in Structural Engineering comprises Engineering Design, Computation, Construction and Maintenance of various structures (buildings, bridges, towers, etc) made of concrete, metal, wood, synthetics, glass or in combined form.
• The module on Transport Systems focuses on their design and operations, but further options addressing planning issues are available. The required and recommended elective courses cover: Transport infrastructures and their maintenance, traffic impacts, simulation of transport systems, public transport system design and operation, transport planning and concepts.
  
• The course in Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management looks at water-power plants, reservoirs, flood protection, river engineering and water resources management.
• The course in Materials and Mechanics is directed towards fundamental understanding of any type of material; the aim is engineering and development of new materials.

A wide range of electives allows graduate students to either specialise further in the direction they have chosen or to broaden their knowledge overall. Graduate students will carry out some project work to strengthen their scientific knowledge and to gain work experience as civil engineers.

Graduate students must have 120 credit points (in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System) having successfully completed all the subjects chosen. A master thesis, carried out over a 16-week period, focuses on one of the specialised courses chosen.
Graduate students, who successfully complete the master degree programme, are awarded the title Master of Science ETH in Civil Engineering.

Most of the lectures will be held in German. Consequently, applicants for the master degree must hold a certificate in German. More information.