Structural Analysis of Monuments & Historical Constructions (SAHC)

Specific admission requirements

Students coming from the following degrees may apply to the Master's Degree in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions:

• Degrees in the field of Civil Engineering
  • Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering
  • Bachelor's Degree in Public Works Engineering
  • Bachelor's Degree in Geological Engineering
  • Degree in Civil Engineering
  • Degree in Public Works Engineering
  • Degree in Mining Engineering
  • Degree in Geological Engineering
• Degrees in the field of Industrial Engineering
  • Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Technology Engineering
  • Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • Degree in Industrial Engineering with concentration in Mechanics or Building
• Degrees in the field of Architecture
  • Bachelor's Degree in Architecture
  • Bachelor's Degree in Architecture Studies
  • Bachelor's Degree in Architectural Technology and Building Construction
  • Degree in Architecture
  • Degree in Technical Architecture
• Other degrees

  Should the applicant have another degree different from the listed above, the Academic Commission will analyse the academic records so as to determine their potential access to the master's program and, for each case, the additional training needed.

Above all, applicants must have a good academic record in Civil Engineering or equivalent. Architects planning to apply to this master's program must have solid knowledge on structures. Generally, prospect students should have a 4 to 5-year higher education degree in the field of Engineering or Architecture.

The teaching language, as well as that of the exams is English. All course materials and counselling is also in English.

Therefore, students from non English-speaking countries must have one of the following certificates:

• Paper Based TOEFL (minimum score: 525)
• Internet Based TOEFL ((minimum score: 72)
• IELTS Academic (minimum score: 6.5)
• Other English-language proficiency certificates

Applications that do not include proof of English-language proficiency in time for pre-enrolment, will still be considered. In this case, applicants will be encouraged to present the certificate as soon as possible.

Applicants are also encouraged to take a course in the language and culture of the country (Portuguese, Spanish, Italian or Czech) they plan to attend.

Admission criteria

Admission is subject to approval of the Master's Degree's Board of Directors and is based on the capability and motivation of the applicants, their letters of recommendation and their language proficiency in English.

Ranking of applicants

Eligible applicants will be ranked following the criteria bellow:

• Previous higher education studies and quality of the institutions
• Relevant work experience
• Letters of recommendation
• Motivation and draft of future thesis
• Additional information (publications, awards, etc.)

Application

To enrol for an inter-university master’s degree coordinated by a university other than the UPC, you must enrol through the coordinating university, that is through Universidade do Minho (Portugal).

There are three application calls: in January, May and July.

Objectives

The aim of the International Master's Degree in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions is to train highly specialised experts in the study and conservation of the structures of monuments and historical buildings. Starting from a multidisciplinary and highly technological vision, and combining both technical knowledge and considerations of a humanistic and artistic nature, the master's degree aims to train highly qualified experts who can effectively contribute to the study and conservation of the world's architectural heritage.

The master's degree is aimed at students from all over the world and is taught entirely in English. It should be noted that the master's degree includes subjects and knowledge that, despite their importance, are not taught in any other undergraduate studies of civil engineering or architecture (neither in Spain nor in the rest of Europe or, as far as we know, the world).

Overall, the 39-credit courses correspond to topics closely related to the structural aspects of monuments and historical buildings, including structural analysis using classical and advanced techniques, seismic behaviour, materials, geophysical inspection techniques and instrumentation and technologies for conservation and reinforcement. In all these courses, the training provided focuses on the needs of the structures of monuments and historical buildings. This training is reinforced by the completion of a final dissertation, always focused on the study and research related to the conservation of historical structures. In this sense, the content of the master's degree can be considered fully consistent with the title denomination, which makes explicit reference to structural analysis and historical constructions.

Professional opportunities

• Professionals of the analysis of the structural security and of the resistant problems of the monuments and the historical constructions.
• Institutions or companies specifically related to the conservation and restoration of heritage.
• Consulting companies.
• Direction of works of marked historical or monumental character.
• Construction companies.
• Administrations and public companies with activities associated with structural analysis and the resistant behaviour of historical heritage.
• Technological and research centres and universities.
• Self-employed professionals.

Regulations

Academic procedures

Course guide

Related links

• Thesis submitted to the Global access to UPC knowledge site (UPCommons)
• Portal Camins

Institutional information

• Data on the degree
• Data on the faculty
• System of Guarantee of Degree Quality

Contact

• Secretariat:
  secretariat@msc-sahc.org
• Information enrolled students:
  masters.camins@upc.edu
• Official website:
  http://www.msc-sahc.org