Curtin University

What you'll study

The MPhil in Civil Engineering is a research degree centred on an original thesis. Rather than attending a fixed set of taught modules, you will define a research question in consultation with your supervisors and carry out a program of work that may include experimental testing, fieldwork, numerical modelling, design optimisation, life‑cycle or risk assessment, or policy and systems analysis depending on your topic.

Typical components and activities include:

• Research proposal and literature review to establish context and methodology.
• Laboratory and field experimentation where relevant (materials testing, geotechnical sampling, structural testing, hydraulic trials, sensor deployments).
• Computational modelling and data analysis using industry-standard and research tools (finite element modelling, CFD, geotechnical software, GIS, statistical packages).
• Regular progress milestones such as candidature confirmation, ethics approvals, and progress reports.
• Scholarly activities including presenting at seminars and conferences and preparing manuscripts for peer‑reviewed journals.
• Preparation and submission of the thesis and an oral examination (or other assessment as required by the faculty).

Supervision and support

You will be assigned a principal supervisor and at least one co‑supervisor from Curtin’s civil, environmental and mining engineering academic staff. Supervisory teams often include industry or government partners for applied projects. Research training workshops and candidature development programs are provided to build research and professional skills.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a relevant engineering qualification with demonstrated research capability. Typical pathways include a bachelor degree with first‑class or upper second‑class honours (or equivalent) that included a substantive research component, or a master's degree with a research thesis. Applicants without a substantial research background may be considered if they can demonstrate strong professional experience and a clear research proposal.

Required application materials usually include a CV, academic transcripts, a research proposal or statement of research interests, names of proposed supervisors or requests for supervisor matching, and references. International applicants must meet Curtin’s English language requirements for research degrees; evidence of prior tertiary study in English may also be acceptable.

Career prospects

Graduates of the MPhil in Civil Engineering pursue a variety of careers depending on their research focus. Common pathways include:

• Continuing to a PhD and an academic or research career.
• Research and development roles in engineering consultancies and large infrastructure firms.
• Technical specialist or senior design roles in structural, geotechnical, transport, water resources or environmental engineering teams.
• Positions in government agencies and regulators responsible for infrastructure planning, asset management and safety standards.
• Industry R&D and innovation roles in construction materials, monitoring and sensor technologies, and sustainability practices.

The degree equips graduates with skills in problem framing, research methods, technical communication and project management that are valued across industry and government sectors.

Why study at Curtin University

Curtin has a strong applied focus in engineering research and close ties with industry and infrastructure partners, which benefits civil engineering researchers working on real‑world problems. The university provides well‑equipped laboratories, field testing facilities and access to computational resources used in contemporary civil engineering research.

School staff include academics with expertise across structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transport, water and environmental engineering, and construction management, enabling interdisciplinary supervision and collaborative projects. Curtin’s research centres and industry links help students gain exposure to practical deployment, stakeholder engagement and pathways into professional practice or further research.