Course details

Summary

Earthquake Engineering encompasses a broad range of activities that seek to minimise the damage and disruption communities suffer when hit by an earthquake. The subject includes:

• Assessing the tectonic and fault mechanisms that generate earthquaker to estimate when they will occur and how large they will be.
• Understanding how the earthquake energy transmits through the ground.
• Quantifying the likely ground surface responses at a specific site throughout the life of a structure.
• Assessing the liquefaction potential of soils at specific sites.
• Designing structures and lifeline services (electricity, gas, transport, water and wastewater) to minimise the damage and disruption during and after an earthquake.
• Planning for emergency response and post-earthquake recovery
• Preparing communities for earthquakes

This endorsed research degree is completed by coursework and a thesis. It aims to provide a research focused learning environment in which students can develop their independent problem solving skills through supervised research.

Study in a number of advanced Engineering courses will provide each student with key technical knowledge to enhance and support their research activities.

The Master of Engineering (ME) includes a thesis of 120 points and up to 45 points of coursework. ME students can complete in 16 months or a maximum of three years full-time. For part-time study the duration can vary between 30 months to four years.

Further study

Students can study a Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering, Chemical and Process Engineering, Civil Engineering, Earthquake Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering at UC.

Career opportunities

Postgraduate study can bring many career benefits eg, specialist skills and enhanced knowledge, entry into specific occupations, higher starting salary/progression rates, research capability/achievement and evidence of high academic attainment/self-discipline.

Entry criteria

Candidates must normally have completed one of the following:

• Bachelor of Engineering with Honours with first or second class honours
• Bachelor of Science with Honours with first or second class honours, in relevant subjects
• Postgraduate Certificate in Engineering with a GPA of 5 or more.

Students wishing to enrol in postgraduate study must have completed both the academic and non-academic requirements of the prerequisite degree. This includes practical work days, work reports, a workshop training course and a first aid certificate. The programme of study must be approved by the Dean.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.