Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering

In order to gain admission to the Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering the following requirements must be met.

• University degree
  • Holders of an official bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Public Works Engineering or Environmental Engineering
  • Holders of an official bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences or Geology.
  • Holders of an official diploma or former undergraduate degrees in Civil Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Public Works Engineering or Geology.
  • Students on double-degree programmes that include the Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering under the continuity system.
  • Holders of other qualifications, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2.3 of Order CIN/309/2009, dated February 9^th

Students pending obtaining the degree that gives access to the master's degree

UPC undergraduate students who, despite not having obtained the bachelor’s degree, have pending the TFG and, at most, up to 9 ECTS (including credits pending recognition or transfer) or who have completed their studies, but are waiting to achieve, if possible, transversal competence in a third language. Under no circumstances will students who access this route be able to obtain a master's degree if they have not previously obtained a bachelor's degree.

Candidates from other universities who are enrolled in all the credits to complete the studies that give access to the master's degree can apply for access. Acceptance will be conditioned to the fulfillment of the general and specific access and admission requirements at the time of formalizing the registration.

You will find all the information about the general Access requirements to UPC master's programs here.

The following factors or parameters are considered for admission to the Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering:

• Weighted average mark factor or parameter (40%)
  It is the result of summing the values obtained by multiplying the marks of the courses passed by the number of credits in each of them and dividing it by the number of credits passed (as stated in the UPC's regulations).
• CV adequacy factor or parameter (50%)
• Additional former education factor or parameter (10%)
  Adequacy to the academic or professional competencies established in the Master's Degree is advisable.

You can check the results of the evaluation and selection of the applications for admission resolutions for the current academic year here.

Check here the general admission requirements for UPC masters and information on pre-registration: calendar, how to apply for admission, how to reserve a place if the resolution is favourable, etc.

The Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering aims to train professionals and academics at the highest level in field engineering, underground hydrology, geophysics and seismic engineering. From a professional point of view, it seeks to respond to the growing demand for experts associated with the increase in the construction of infrastructures closely related to the field, with the interest in knowing about water resources and how to manage them, as well as in the behaviour of pollutants with regard to the soil. It also aims to train specialists in the field of geophysical and seismic engineering, so that they are able to evaluate, predict and reduce seismic risk.

Graduates of the master's degree are generally employed as managers or as experts working on teams in areas and activities related to geotechnical engineering.

• Management and planning of geotechnical works.
• Management and planning of water resources.
• Modelling, assessment and management of geological resources.
• Assessment and reduction of seismic risk.
• Assessment and reduction geological risk.
• Assessment and reduction of hydrogeological risk, including soil contamination.
• Land survey campaigns.
• Energy resource prospecting campaigns.
• Planning and management of waste storage solutions.
• Civil engineering, geotechnical, geological and seismic consulting.
• Hydrology and hydrogeology consulting.
• Doctoral studies in civil, geotechnical, geological and earthquake engineering.
• Doctoral studies in hydrology and hydrogeology.

Generic competencies

Generic competencies are the skills that graduates acquire regardless of the specific course or field of study. The generic competencies established by the UPC are capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship, sustainability and social commitment, knowledge of a foreign language (preferably English), teamwork and proper use of information resources.

Specific competencies

On completion of the master's degree, graduates will be able to:

• Apply scientific and technological concepts in analysing and solving problems.
• Characterise the geological environment and its interaction with civil works.
• Interpret laboratory tests and field observations to identify the mechanisms responsible for the Earth's response.
• Plan laboratory experiment programmes.
• Make, use and interpret models in analysing and solving problems.
• Observe, interpret, quantify and mathematically model the various processes that govern the Earth's response.
• Perform, present and defend, to a university examination board, an original, individually prepared exercise consisting of a study or project in the field of geotechnical engineering that brings together the competencies acquired in their education, adopts advances and new developments in the field and contributes innovative ideas.

Specialisation in Geotechnical Engineering

If they specialise in this area, they will be able to:

• Apply their knowledge of soil and rock mechanics in the study, design, construction and operation of foundations, embankments, slopes, tunnels and other structures.
• Apply advanced scientific and advanced technological concepts in analysing and solving complex geotechnical engineering problems.
• Carry out studies of land and urban area management, including the construction of tunnels and other underground railway infrastructure.

Specialisation in Groundwater Hydrology

If they specialise in this area, they will be able to:

• Evaluate and manage the environmental impact of waste storage and soil and subsoil contamination.
• Calculate, evaluate and regulate surface water and groundwater resources.
• Plan and implement hydraulic installations, including transport, distribution and storage facilities for solids, liquids and gases and water treatment and urban, industrial and hazardous waste management plants.
• Environmentally evaluate projects, plants and facilities.
• Evaluate and manage geological resources, including groundwater and mineral and thermal springs.

Specialisation in Earthquake Engineering and Geophysics

If they specialise in this area, they will be able to:

• Apply their knowledge of soil and rock mechanics in the study, design, construction and operation of foundations, embankments, slopes, tunnels and other constructions over or through land, whatever their nature and state and whatever the purpose of the work.
• Design civil structures considering seismic loads.
• Design remedial solutions.
• Assess seismic risk. Consider and design risk reduction measures.
• Identify all types of structures and materials.
• Design, plan, implement and maintain civil structures and buildings.
• Analyse structures by applying software design and advanced structural design methods.
• Assess structural integrity.

Specialty courses

Students enrolled at UPC for the Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering can access the following information:

Since the 2025-2026 academic year the Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering (2016 program) will become extinct and will no longer accept new students. Students enrolled in these programs in extinction will have two choices:

1) To continue with their current Master's program in Geotechnical Engineering following the extinction time table below:

2) To undergo an adaptation to the new Master's Degree in Geotechnical Engineering (2025 program) following the adaptation table below:

Choose the subjects you want to study and simulate how your schedule will be:

Wednesdays from 12:00 to 14:00 there are no classes and these periods can be used for cultural activities (culture period).

The Master's Thesis is an original exercise to be done individually and presented and defended before a university panel consisting in a project in the sphere of the specific geotechnical engineering technologies synthesising and integrating the competences acquired on the course.

These are the master's theses currently scheduled for public presentation: