Postgraduate Studies
1.0 PREAMBLE
The School of Civil Engineering is a well-established and modern multi-disciplinary departments and has a long tradition of providing postgraduate research opportunities in a very wide range of topics across the spectrum of civil engineering activities and has been widely recognised for the high quality of its provision. The School is strongly committed to continuous improvement and development of this work, which represents an important part of every academic area across the institution. The Department regularly attracts research students from industry, institutions and government departments. The graduates not only develop a career as high-quality practicing engineers, but are sought by top companies for their potential in management, finance, consulting and other senior professional positions.
The School is active in both basic and applied research, the latter supported by strong links with industry. Much of the research is funded by government agencies a proportion is carried out in collaboration with, and financed by, industry. Almost all academic staff are having Ph.D. degree and have degrees and have served many years in teaching/research/consultancies. All areas of research in the School are supported by well-founded laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment and fully networked computing facilities with highly trained personnel.
2.0 MODES OF GRADUATE PROGRAMME
The School of Civil Engineering USM offers two modes of the graduate programme as follows:
(a) By Research
(b) By Mixed Mode Programme (Coursework and Research)
2.1 Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy by Research:
2.1.1 Mode of learning
Graduate students in the research mode may choose any topic in their specific area of study. They will be under the supervision of the main supervisor or co-supervisor. In some cases, field supervisors are appointed by the university to assist the graduate. At the end of their study, the students have to submit a thesis to be examined. The graduate may be required to pursue prerequisite courses (if necessary) with or before undertaking the research activities. Applications and registration for research-based programmes are open throughout the year. The research can be undertaken on both a full-time and part-time basis.
2.1.2 Period of Candidature
The periods of candidature for the masters and doctoral programmes for both part-time and full-time candidates are shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Period of Candidature
| Master's Degree | Doctor of Philosophy | |||
| Min | Max | Min | Max | |
| Full Time | 12 months | 36 months | 24 months | 60 months |
| Part-Time | 24 months | 72 months | 36 months | 90 months |
| Residential Requirement | Full-time (12 months/year) Part-time (15 days/year) |
Full-time (12 months/year) Part-time (15 days/year) |
||
2.1.3 Area of Research
Specific areas of studies for the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy Degree by Research are as follows:
Environmental Engineering
(Kejuruteraan Persekitaran)
Landfill Technology, Compositing, Water and Wastewater Treatment, Industrial Wastewater Treatment, Solid Waste Management, Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA), Air Quality & Water Quality Studies, Sludge Management, Noise Pollution Control, Water Quality Modelling.
Geotechnical Engineering
(Kejuruteraan Geoteknik)
Slope Stability [Soil/rock], Soil Improvement, Reinforced Soil, Landslide Risk Management and Application of Geosynthetics, Rock Mechanics, Blasting & Vibrations, Foundation Engineering, Land Reclamation & Rehabilitation, Geotechnical Assessment, Piling Vibrations.
Water Resources Engineering
(Kejuruteraan Sumber Air)
Water Supply, Urban Stormwater Management, Hydrological Modeling, Flood Forecasting, River Engineering, GIS Application in Water Resources, Land Use Hydrology, Urban Hydrology, Sediment Transport, Modelling of Pump Station, Ecohydrology.
Highway & Transportation Engineering
(Kejuruteraan Lebuh Raya & Pengangkutan)
Pavement Engineering, Asphalt Technology, Traffic Engineering, Road Safety, Intelligent Transport System, Public Transport Studies, Highway Capacity Studies, Travel Behaviour Studies, Sustainable Transport.
Structural Engineering
(Kejuruteraan Struktur)
Concrete Technology, Masonry Engineering, Concrete Repair Materials and Techniques, Wind Engineering, Earthquake Engineering, Timber Engineering, Tensioned Structures, Shell & Spatial Structures, Computational Mechanics and Advanced Structural Analysis.
Geomatic and Management
(Geomatik dan Pengurusan)
Monitoring Systems, Global Positioning System (GPS), Spatial Decision Support System (GIS), Geo- Information Science (GIS), Digital Mapping and Imaging, Engineering Survey, Spatial Statistics, Stress Management, Emotional Intelligence and Engineering Entrepreneurship.
2.2 Master of Science by Mixed-mode:
2.2.1 Mode of learning
The mixed-mode programme (coursework and research) is a structured programme whereby students are required to attend lectures, sit for examinations, write a dissertation and be orally examined. The programme is run based on a semester system and offered on a full-time basis. The Minimum duration is 1 year. However, the actual duration for graduation is very much dependent on the initiative and performance of individual candidates. The title of the research project will be mutually agreed upon between the candidate and his/her supervisor. For the award of the Masters degree, a candidate has to accumulate 40 units (including a dissertation).
2.2.2 Degree Offered
The school is offering MSc Degree Programmes by Mix Mode (full time only) in the following areas:
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING
2.2.3 Course Structure
Course Structure for Master of Science in Structural Engineering
| TYPE OF COURSES | NAME |
|
UNIT | SEMESTER |
| CORE (4/4) | Advanced Structural Mechanics | EAS661 | 4 | 1 |
| Structural Retrofitting Technology | EAS662 | 3 | 1 | |
| Dynamic and Stability of Structures | EAS663 | 4 | 1 | |
| Principle of Structural Design | EAS664 | 3 | 1 | |
| Science and Engineering Research Methodology | EKC500 | 3 | 1 | |
| ELECTIVES (1/2) | Bridge Engineering | EAS665 | 3 | 1 |
| Engineering Management | EUP501 | 3 | 1 | |
| TOTAL UNIT FOR SUBJECT | 20 | |||
| RESEARCH PROJECT | 20 | 2 | ||
| TOTAL UNIT | 40 |
Course Structure for Master of Science in Environmental Engineering
| TYPE OF COURSES | NAME |
|
UNIT | SEMESTER |
| CORE (4/4) | Water Supply Engineering | EAP581 | 4 | 1 |
| Wastewater Engineering | EAP582 | 4 | 1 | |
| Environmental Impact Assessment | EAP584 | 3 | 1 | |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | EAP585 | 3 | 1 | |
| Science and Engineering Research Methodology | EKC500 | 3 | 1 | |
| ELECTIVES (1/2) | Air and Noise pollution control | EAP583 | 3 | 1 |
| Engineering Management | EUP501 | 3 | 1 | |
| TOTAL UNIT FOR COURSES | 20 | 1 | ||
| RESEARCH PROJECT(EAA605-DISSERTATION) | 20 | 2 | ||
| TOTAL UNIT | 40 | |||
Course Structure for Master of Science in Fire Safety Engineering
| TYPE OF COURSES | NAME |
|
UNIT | SEMESTER |
| CORE (4/4) | Materials Behaviour in Fire | EAF522 | 4 | 1 |
| Fire Protection Technology | EAF523 | 4 | 1 | |
| Fire Disaster Management | EAF524 | 4 | 1 | |
| Structural Design for Fire Safety | EAF525 | 4 | 1 | |
| Fire Behaviour | EAF526 | 4 | 1 | |
| UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENT (1/1) | Science and Engineering Research Methodology | EKC500 | 3 | 1 |
| TOTAL UNIT FOR COURSES | 20+3 | 1 | ||
| RESEARCH PROJECT(EAF555-DISSERTATION) | 20 | 2 | ||
| TOTAL UNIT | 40+3 | |||
2.2.4 Medium of Instruction
The medium of instruction is English.
3.0 TECHNICAL FACILITIES
The School has various laboratories equipped with basic as well as sophisticated equipment and instrumentation. Most of the sophisticated equipment is computer-assisted with fully automatic data logging for high accuracy testing. There are 12 main laboratories in the School:
Heavy structures laboratory
Light structures laboratory
Concrete laboratory
Environmental laboratory
Geotechnical laboratory
Highway laboratory
Traffic laboratory
Hydraulics laboratory
Geomatics instrument portal
Drawing room/studio
Computer laboratory
Fabrication workshop
4.0 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Master's Degree
Applicants for courses leading to the award of a Master's degree should possess a Bachelor's degree, preferably with a Second Upper Honours Division (equivalent to a CGPA of 2.75) from a recognized university. A candidate who has none of the above qualifications could be considered for admission based on relevant and suitable research experience.
Doctoral Degree
Applicants for admission to PhD courses should ordinarily have obtained a Master's degree from a recognized university or equivalent qualifications acceptable to the Senate of this University. In exceptional cases, the Senate may admit those in possession of a good Bachelor's degree.
5.0 FEES STRUCTURE
Details of fee structure are available at http://www.ips.usm.my
6.0 ADMISSION PROCEDURE
Application is accepted omline. Procedures for application are available at http:www.ips.usm.my. Registration for graduate studies by research is open throughout the year. application for MSc (Mixed-Mode) program is open throughout the academic year. However, apllication received after the deadline specified by USM for a current academic session intak ewill be processed for subsequent academic session intake. Registration for mixed-mode program follows the normal academic calendar of USM.
(http://www.usm.my/index.php/en/portals/current-students - Academic calendar)
Candidates pursuing course work and mix-mode degree programmes will be accepted for registration once a year, i.e. at the commencement of the University's academic year which normally starts in October. Overseas applicants are advised to submit their applications as early as possible to facilitate the Immigration process.
Application (for research degree programmes) and registration of candidates are conducted throughout the year and there is no closing date for applications. However, registration done based on the semester system. A research proposal should be attached with the application form. It should cover teh title, introduction and problem statement, objectives, methodology, research plan, expected outcome, and any special request on certain equipment or software.
The university provides financial assistance to eligible local and international post-graduate students in the form of scholarships or a fee exemption. Financial assistance is also available to students in the form of a research grant, to attend a conference or research attachment locally or abroad. Details of the benefits of the respective financial assistance/ awards are available at http:www.ips.usm.my
8.0 ACCOMMODATION
The University has a limited number of students hostels/housing. Students are advised to contact the Student Affairs Department upon receiving the offer letter. Details are available at http://www.ips.usm.my
9.0 MAINTENANCE AND LIVING EXPENSES IN MALAYSIA
It is estimated that a foreign student would require US$4,000.00 per year for food, accommodation, books and other expenses. Details are available at http://www.ips.usm.my
10.0 VISA
Foreign students who are offered admission to this University are advised to contact the Malaysian Embassy for further details pertaining to their visas before their departure for Malaysia. Details are available at http://www.ips.usm.my
11.0 ENQUIRES
For further information, please contact:
Dean,
School of Civil Engineering,
Engineering Campus,
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Seri Ampangan,
14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang
MALAYSIA
Tel. No: +6 (04) 5996201
Fax No : +6 (04) 5996906
Email : dean_civil@usm.my
URL: http://www.ips.usm.my (for admission information)
Application forms and details of the admission can be downloaded from http://www.ips.usm.my/, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia.
Graduate Prospectus (Master of Science) Mixed-mode Programme
The ACEPRO is the body that represent the postgraduate student in the School of Civil Engineering.