Overview
We are proud to be ranked in the top 100 for Civil and Structural Engineering (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024)
Environmental engineers create the infrastructure, technologies and policies that are at the heart of a healthy, sustainable society. You’ll study how to apply scientific and engineering principles to resolve environmental challenges and help protect the environment and public health.
You’ll learn how to:
- sample and analyse water and soils/sediments
- provide clean water, treat wastewater, manage solid waste
- remediate pollution from current and past industrial and agricultural activities
- control air pollution
- design appropriate environmental engineering interventions in low-, middle- and high-income countries
We have a global outlook and train our engineers to help them develop a successful career in the environmental industries. We also want to incorporate the global imperatives of climate change and the circular economy into your thinking and design.
This well-respected course has been running since 1963. Its rich history of teaching and research assure the quality of the experience for you.
Our Environmental Engineering MSc is for both practising professionals and graduates in:
- engineering
- science
- physical geography
- maths
- physics
We have strong industrial engagement. Industry and government policy shape this degree programme. You’ll benefit through:
- industry guest lectures
- study tours
- site visits
- industry and research-focused individual projects
- placements and employment opportunities with added support from the careers service
Our graduates are in high demand. You’ll graduate with the enhanced skills and knowledge preparing you for a wide range of careers.
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Important information
We’ve highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you’ll learn
This course provides you with advanced training and knowledge in:
- investigative methods appropriate to environmental engineering
- core concepts from all scientific disciplines. These underpin pollution control technologies and environmental stewardship
- environmental engineering design principles and project management
- cross-cutting issues and appropriate technologies in low- and middle-income countries
- health and safety issues in environmental engineering
- research methods
- presentation and writing
You’ll benefit from our multidisciplinary approach to teaching. You will have the opportunity to engage with fellow students across all engineering disciplines through lectures, group work and other activities.
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Course content changes
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Environmental Engineering MSc modules
How you’ll learn
You will be required to complete a total of 180 credits throughout the course. Taught modules worth 110 credits are delivered in semesters 1 and 2. A 70 credit individual research dissertation project is undertaken in the third semester. You’ll be taught through a combination of:
- lectures
- tutorials
- practical classes
- online materials
- coursework tasks with individual feedback
- site visits and field trips
You’ll study a variety of taught modules, and work closely with academic mentors on an environmental engineering design challenge, followed by a research dissertation project.
Several modules incorporate extensive laboratory practical experience. These will be carried out through small group teaching and demonstrations in our labs.
Practical training, industrial site visits and field trips are an integral part of the course.
All taught modules provide direct access to course tutors through small group face to face meetings or via alternative online meetings.
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Design or creative project
- Dissertation
- Oral examination
- Practical lab report
- Poster
- Portfolio
- Problem-solving exercises
- Report
- Written examination
- Written exercise
Additional assessment information
Project design work
In the 20 credit Environmental Design module in semester 2, you’ll work closely with academic mentors to develop sustainable solutions to protect the environment and public health.
Group work
In the Environmental Engineering for Low- and Middle-income Countries module and the Environmental Engineering Design module, you’ll work in small teams to find appropriate environmental engineering solutions.
Field trips
Field trips will include guided visits to water and wastewater treatment plants, solid waste management facilities, and contaminated land sites in North East England. You wil have access to Newcastle University’s Urban Observatory, which provides the UK’s largest set of publicly available real time urban data in the UK, and the UK’s National Green Infrastructure Facility.
Dissertation
You’ll put your specialist skills, knowledge, and understanding into practice undertaking a significant individual research project and written dissertation.
Your project might involve you working within one of the School’s world-class research groups. We have well-equipped laboratories and pilot-scale research facilities.
Or you might work elsewhere in collaboration with another academic or industrial partner where we have strong links. Overseas field research may also be possible.
Wherever you work, you will be supervised, throughout your project, by an experienced scientist or engineer. They will also support you on your collection/analysis of data, and will guide you in producing a well-written dissertation.
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You’ll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You’ll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Professor of Environmental Sustainability
Areas of expertise:
- policy and institutional analysis in sustainable water, land use and energy management
- socio-technical or socio-natural issues both in the UK and internationally
- sustainability, engineering ethics and public policy
- water policy and river basin management
Professor of Environmental Engineering
Areas of expertise
- science and technologies required for the treatment of water and wastes
- biological treatment systems
- experimental and theoretical microbial ecology
- wastewater treatment in developing countries
- waste tabilisation ponds
- microbial Fuel Cells
- pathogens and pathogen removal
Professor of Engineering for the Environment and Human Health
Areas of expertise:
- understanding the fate, especially biodegradation, of chemicals in natural environments and engineered biological treatment systems
- the development and application of molecular-based techniques for the quantification of bacteria, especially in relation to key functions
- the application of ecological theory, molecular measurement techniques and mathematical models to understand, predict and manipulate microbial communities in engineered treatment systems
Professor of Ecosystems Engineering
Areas of expertise:
- the transmission, fate and impact of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment resulting from human activity
- energy minimization in water, wastewater and solid waste management systems
- the microbiology and ecology of greenhouse gas suppression and production in geochemical settings, especially in Polar regions
- water and environmental quality in the developing and emerging world
Senior Lecturer
Areas of expertise:
- climate change adaptation and mitigation
- urban planning and infrastructure systems
- environmental, resource and waste management
- life cycle assessment and costing
- standardised management systems
Professor of Hydrogeochemical Engineering
Areas of expertise:
- source, transport and fate of metals in freshwaters
- development of sustainable systems for the treatment of metal-contaminated waters
- point and diffuse source pollution dynamics
- legacy industrial waste management
Envirnomental Systems Modelling
Areas of expertise:
- field methods for water quality surveying, including portable next generation sequencing
- innovative use of sorbents for water treatment and environmental restoration
- minimize water wastage in the built environment
Lecturer in Environmental Engineering
Areas of expertise:
- mechanisms of interaction between microorganisms, plants, soil particles, and contaminants in the environment
- methods of mimicking natural processes to solve current and future environmental problems
Your development
Professional skills
At the end of the course you’ll be able to:
- apply environmental engineering technologies appropriate for urban and rural situations in low-, middle-, and high-income countries
- use laboratory analytical techniques for standard analysis of water and wastewater samples
- calculate and express experimental data in standard units, assess experimental uncertainty and test the statistical significance of treatment effects
- select and design appropriate water treatment unit processes
- source relevant reference data and water quality standards, make comparisons with analytical data, draw relevant conclusions, and prepare technical laboratory reports
- use initiative in acquiring and using information from a wide range of sources
- effectively communicate with a range of stakeholders
- implement a strong health and safety culture, including risk assessment
- understand scientific principles to develop sustainable solutions to practical problems
- successfully plan and execute research projects
- use advanced instrumentation and methods for chemical and microbial analysis of environmental samples
- use IT tools such as programming, air pollution models and instrumental software
Your future
Graduate destinations
More than 1000 alumni from our course are now working across the world, many in senior governmental, academic and scientific positions. Our MSc in Environmental Engineering enables those seeking careers in:
- water companies
- engineering companies
- environmental consultancies
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- environment agency and other authorities
- academia
Graduates on this programme are in high demand from employers in the UK and internationally. Graduate destinations include:
- Atkins
- Citelum Groupe
- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
- DustScanAQ
- Environment Agency
- Forschungszentrum Neu-Ulrichstein
- Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies
- Future Biogas Ltd
- Haigh Workman Ltd
- Mott MacDonald Bentley
- Northumbrian Water
- Southern Water
- UNICEF
- World Bank
- WSP
- Yorkshire Water
Our MSc also provides a route into further study at PhD level.
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024Â
Professional accreditation and recognition
Chartered Engineer (CEng)
This course is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates with an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) or an Accredited IEng (Full) BEng/BSc (Hons) degree.
Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)
This course is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)
Joint Board of Moderators (JBM)Â
This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the academic requirement for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). To hold accredited qualifications for CEng registration, candidates must also hold a Bachelor (Hons) degree that has been accredited as partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.Â
*It should be noted that candidates completing the MSc who hold an underpinning accredited Bachelor degree accredited for IEng only or a non-accredited bachelor degree will need to apply for an academic assessment to determine whether they will meet the educational base for CEng registration.
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
The School of Engineering has an exceptional range of laboratories equipped with a wide range of analytical instrumentation supporting our research, teaching and contract research projects.
These include:
- Chemical and Biological Research Laboratories
- Geotechnics and Structures Research Laboratories
- Water hydraulics Laboratory
- Computing Laboratory
Stephenson Building
The Stephenson Building is a £110 million investment in world-class education, research and collaboration across Engineering. It’s a place for future engineers, researchers and designers to collaborate and tackle global challenges, together.
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:2 honours degree, or an international equivalent, in subjects such as:
- engineering
- science
- physical geography
- maths
- physics
We will also consider applicants on an individual basis with lower or non-standard qualifications if they have at least two years of relevant experience.
