Structural Integrity (Asset Reliability Management) MSc

NSIRC Scholarships are normally offered. Information on any future funding will be available soon.

Brunel University London provides this world-leading MSc degree with scholarships available to support development of the next generation of structural integrity engineers. 

You will be taught by industry and internationally recognised academic experts who will support and mentor your dissertation project.  Every aspect of the course is undertaken at Granta Park, the Cambridgeshire home of the National Structural Integrity Research Centre (NSIRC) and The Welding Institute (TWI).

NSIRC is a unique state-of-the-art postgraduate engineering facility established in conjunction with Brunel University London and managed by structural integrity specialist TWI.  NSIRC sponsors include BP, Lloyd's Register and TWI, who commit significant funds annually to support research and development at the forefront of this field. 

The aim of this MSc course is to develop you into a highly sought after industry-ready engineer with in-depth knowledge in the theory and practice of the science and technology of structural integrity, including state-of-the-art methodologies and techniques in inspection.

Brunel’s Structural Integrity (Asset Reliability Management) MSc degree is accredited by

• The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
• The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3)
• NAFEMS Composite Finite Element Analysis training

Comprising of eight modules and an industry-supported dissertation, the course has been designed for full-time students, as well as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) delegates. In parallel with your degree, you can work towards the internationally recognised Certification Scheme for Welding Inspection Personnel (CSWIP) Plant Inspector Level 2 qualification. 

 Download the course brochure here.

Being taught in an industrial focused research and development environment makes this programme unique in the UK, as you will study on a site where major projects are undertaken for large global companies. 

We will teach you about materials evaluation, structural assessment using finite element analysis, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), inspection and failure investigation, which includes risk management and mitigation strategies. 

Your dissertation project is highly valued, as you will be mentored by both an industrial and academic supervisor on the latest engineering challenges. This experience in undertaking your dissertation within industry is highly valued by employers and greatly enhances your employability. 

You’ll be invited to attend and also present your MSc project in a dedicated poster session, by contributing to the two day NSIRC Annual PhD Conference to leading industry experts. Once you’ve graduated, your dissertation will be made publicly available through TWI, or published in journals and conferences where possible, emphasising the industrial relevance of this degree.

Recent projects titles

This course can be studied 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time, starting in September.

The course has an Industrial Advisory Committee with senior members from major UK companies, who meet annually to review and advise on the course content and delivery to ensure our graduates have the knowledge and skills demanded by industry. 

The committee includes:

• Amec Foster Wheeler plc
• Subsea 7
• BAE Systems - Maritime Services
• Lloyd's Register
• EDF Energy

The programme produces engineers who can quickly make a contribution to achieving and assuring structural integrity in industry. Key skills and knowledge include materials testing, structural analysis using finite element analysis, inspection and fitness-for-service assessment that conforms to international codes and standards – valuable skills that distinguish you for recruitment by a diverse range of companies and organisations globally. 

Our industry ready graduates are in high demand and have either gone back to their company sponsors, or found direct employment nationally and internationally, such as: TWI Ltd, Mott MacDonald, PTT Global Chemical, Network Rail.

In addition, we actively encourage our graduates to continue onto a doctoral training programme (PhD) within NSIRC.

• A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification in Mechanical, Civil, Structural, Physics, Electrical and Electronic, Material Sciences or Industrial Engineering.

A non–related subject with good grades in core modules in Stress Analysis or Strength in Materials, Electronics, Material Processing and Manufacturing or Production Technology may be considered.

Entry to this programme requires all students who are not nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) and have temporary immigration permission to remain in the UK to obtain an ATAS certificate.  If you are made an offer to join this course and you are not an EEA national, you will be required to obtain an ATAS certificate as a condition of your offer.

Applicants who will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate: This course is now closed to new applications for September 2021 from visa requiring applicants who will need an ATAS certificate to study the course. This is because there will not be enough time to obtain the ATAS certificate and apply for a student visa before the start of the course. If you would like to apply for this course, you should apply for the next entry point after September 2021.

• IELTS: 6 (min 5.5 in all areas)
• Pearson: 59 (59 in all sub scores)
• BrunELT: 58% (min 55% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 77 (min R18, L17, S20, W17) 

Combining lectures, seminars and lab sessions (computational and experimental), the learning environment is varied, with a strong emphasis on application of knowledge. 

You are provided with a Brunel laptop and can access licensed engineering software online. This means as a ‘mobile learner’ it allows you to carry out guided self-study outside of teaching contact time, helping you study on your terms and achieve more of a work-life balance.

You will be taught by a range of Brunel’s leading academics in structural integrity, in addition to technical specialists from TWI, allowing you to gain both academic knowledge and industrial experience.

Teaching team

You will benefit from access to joint testing facilities across Brunel and NSIRC, which includes mechanical and fatigue testing under different environmental conditions, robotic welding, additive manufacturing, NDT inspection and material evaluation (through 4D tomography and microscopy facilities). There is a dedicated NSIRC technician to support individual dissertation projects, which includes on-site machining, instrumentation and component testing.

You also have access to a dedicated high performance computing (HPC) facility to support computational research projects. Theoretical and applied training in commercial software packages is provided, SIMULIA Abaqus and MATLAB, as well as industry standard assessment codes developed by TWI, including CrackWISE (fracture and fatigue assessment) and IntegriWISE (fitness-for-service assessment for ageing equipment).

Assessment is through individual and group-based case studies, oral and poster presentations, examinations and your dissertation project. Video lecture capture is also used to support learning where appropriate. You'll receive individual feedback to guide your development throughout your degree studies.