Graduate Studies

As Qatar enters next phase of large scale development, the economical use of construction resources and technologies and the development of sustainable designs and materials will be of prime importance to a sustainable management of Civil Engineering structures. Research opportunities for the graduate study programs offered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, namely, Master of Science (MSc.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.),  are generated by the current faculty research work in the following Civil Engineering subspecialties:

• Civil Engineering Materials; 
• Geotechnical Engineering; 
• Structural Engineering; 
• Transportation Engineering; 
• Water Resources.

Some faculty members of the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering also contribute, through teaching and thesis supervision, in other graduate study programs offered under the umbrella of the college of engineering (i.e., engineering management program and environmental engineering program). Interdisciplinary researches are strongly encouraged.

The structure of graduate studies in Civil Engineering at Qatar University is developed to help the engineers become more effective technical specialists, and strengthens their ability to lead people and projects. Conducting original research is an important goal of the graduate study programs in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Having fully equipped civil engineering laboratories (asphalt testing lab; concrete testing lab; environmental engineering lab; soil mechanics lab; structure lab; and surveying lab) helps in achieving such goal. All laboratories encompass computers, printers, plotters, data-acquisition systems and up-to-date civil engineering software packages.

Research provides a type of education that is not available through classroom teaching. The programs of MSc and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering are designed to enhance students' competencies in contributing to the existing body of knowledge and to innovation and creation of new knowledge. The major emphasis of the programs is to foster a deeper understanding of the engineering research process and learn the professional skills. Students are expected to equip themselves with strong theoretical and methodological foundations and to develop their ability to independently conduct research. The graduate programs prepare students for careers in private and public sectors and for advanced level in research that leads to high scholarly achievements, and advanced knowledge.