Graduate Certificate in Geotechnical Engineering (GE)

There has been a consistently strong demand in Singapore and the region for engineers with advanced knowledge and skills in geotechnical disciplines. The demand for geotechnical professionals is expected to be sustained in the foreseeable future driven by the need for continuous development and upgrade of major infrastructure besides the combat against impacts of climate change. With the increased project complexity and awareness of sustainable development, geotechnical engineering plays an even more crucial role in delivering project goals and achieving sustainability.

Graduate certificate programme in Geotechnical Engineering offers fresh civil engineering graduates and practicing engineers the opportunity to enhance and upgrade their knowledge in key geotechnical disciplines.  The state-of-the-art geotechnical engineering topics covered in the well-designed courses will provide students with combined analytical abilities and practical skillsets imperative to tackle a wide spectrum of geotechnical problems from site investigations, ground improvements, foundation designs, tunnelling and deep excavations.

Click here for programme brochure 

Eligibility

Applications are open to individuals with a Bachelor’s degree with relevant professional experience.

Application

Application for August 2024 intake is scheduled to open on 06 May 2024.

Click HERE to apply.

Deadline

Deadline for application is 5 June 2024.

Please select at least one course.

Period of Candidature

Maximum 2 years.

Award of Graduate Certificate

Upon completion of 12 Units with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.50 out of 5.00.

Admission to Master of Science Programme

  • Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate programme, graduates with overall GPA ≥ 3.00 may apply for a relevant MSc programme, subject to approval by host department.
  • Submission of MSc programme application is required.
  • Successfully completed courses with grade point ≥ 3.00 may be transferred, up to a maximum of 12 Units.
  • Units transfer within 5 years from award of Graduate Certificate.

Course Fee

SGD 1,450 (before GST) per-unit of course

Refund Policy

  1. For 100% refund for course registration cancellation: Cancellation must be made in writing 14 working days BEFORE first day of lecture.
  2. Cancellation request is subject to approval by Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.
  3. Fees paid are non-refundable after the above-mentioned period.

Contact

Ms Carrie Han
Email: carrie_h@nus.edu.sg

OR

Associate Professor Goh Siang Huat
Programme Director
Email: ceegsh@nus.edu.sg

Course Requirements

At least 12 units of courses

CE5104A Tunneling in Soil

This is an advanced course on analysis and design of tunnels in soils. The topics covered include bored tunnelling methods, stability of underground openings, ground movement prediction due to tunnels, effects of ground movements on buildings and structures, instrumentation and monitoring, and stresses on lining. The creation of underground structures to form subways, underpasses, metro stations and other uses is an increasing requirement in major urban areas worldwide. Students are taught the various methods of construction for creating underground space.

CE5104B Tunneling in Rock

This is an advanced course on analysis and design of tunnels in rocks.

The topics covered include tunnelling methods in rocks, construction of caverns, New Austrian Tunnelling Method and stability of underground openings in rocks. The creation of underground structures to form subways, underpasses, metro stations and other uses in greater depths would likely encounter excavation in rocks.

Students are taught the various methods of construction for creating underground space.

CE5106A Ground Improvement – Hydraulic, Vibratory & Chemical

This is a course on the principle of ground improvement techniques, as well as its design, construction and monitoring in geotechnical engineering works. Topics covered include general ground improvement principles and design considerations, techniques of improving granular soils, techniques of improving cohesive soils. Field operation requirement and construction field controls, monitoring, and performance evaluation, specification and acceptance criteria. Case studies on various techniques will be presented and discussed.

This course will focus on hydraulic method for soft clay (PVD with preloading, PVD with vacuum etc), Vibratory method for Sandy soils, and cement treatment method (Grouting and Deep cement mixing etc).

Participants are taught the basic principles of various ground improvement techniques, and how to select the most appropriate ground improvement techniques to be used in specific circumstances.

CE5106B Ground Improvement – Dynamic, Geosynthetic & Inclusions

This is an advanced course on ground improvement techniques for difficult ground as well as its design, construction and monitoring in geotechnical engineering projects. Topics covered include the special requirement for advanced ground improvement techniques, difficult ground (peaty soil, mixed soils in tunnelling, cavity etc), principles and design considerations for various advanced ground improvement techniques (dynamic method, dynamic method combine with PVD, geosynthetics, soil nailing etc), field controls and monitoring, field evaluation – specification, performance evaluation and acceptance criteria, and case study.

Participants are taught the basic principles of various advanced ground improvement techniques, and how to select as well as combine a few ground improvement methods to be used in specific circumstances where soil are difficult or/and the project requirements are very stringent.

CE5107A Pile Foundation Design

This is an advanced course in deep foundation engineering. Topics covered include site investigation for deep foundation, general bearing capacity theorem, overview of pile installation methods, axial pile capacity and deflection, pile load transfer mechanism, and laterally loaded piles as well as group pile issues. Participants will learn how to deal with design and construction issues pertaining to deep foundations under more general and realistic practical situations. Specific learning objectives include performing design calculations for piles and pile groups.

CE5107B Advanced Topics in Pile Foundation Design

This is an advanced course in deep foundation engineering. Topics covered include piles subject to ground movement, piles in difficult ground, special pile foundation, pile driving analysis and dynamic testing, and static pile load tests. Participants will learn how to deal with design and construction issues pertaining to deep foundations under more general and realistic practical situations.

CE5108A Key Principles and Concepts of Earth Retention Systems

Together with “CE5108B Deep Excavations Analysis and Modelling”, this is an advanced course in earth‐retaining structures and deep excavations.

Topics include earth pressure theories, rigid retaining structures, flexible retaining structures, cellular cofferdams, retaining walls for deep excavations, support systems for deep excavations, and field monitoring. Participants are taught to deal with design and construction issues pertaining to a spectrum of earth‐retaining systems from low rigid retaining walls to flexible support systems for deep excavations. They will also learn to apply the methods of limit state, such as BS8002 and Eurocode7, to the design of rigid and flexible retaining walls.

Applications of commercial geotechnical FEM softwares are taught to aid in design of deep excavations to limit ground deformations and satisfy SLS requirements. At the end of the course, participants are taught the application of advanced earth pressure theories, selection of appropriate retaining structures, and verification of capacity and movement requirements, using limit equilibrium and FEM analysis tools.

CE5108B Deep Excavations Analysis and Modelling

This course builds upon the knowledge and skills acquired in “CE5108A Key Principles and Concepts of Earth Retention Systems” to cover the topic of deep excavations related to deep shafts and multi‐strut supported walls.

Participants are taught to deal with design and construction issues pertaining to deep excavations, such as drained and undrained conditions, as well as field monitoring practices.

Applications of commercial geotechnical FEM software are taught to aid in design and analysis of deep excavations to limit ground deformations and satisfy both serviceability requirements as well as Eurocode 7 ultimate limit states.

CE5113A Geotechnical Site Investigation

This course teaches the essential concepts and methodology for the planning, design and implementation of geotechnical ground investigation for infrastructure, underground construction, and built environment construction.

The course will be broadly divided into two parts. The first part covers various aspects of site investigation such as the planning, design, density of bore holes, sampling technology and disturbance. The second part covers various aspects of in‐situ and laboratory testing of soils and rocks.

The course will cover ground investigation concepts and practices according to new Eurocode EC7.

This course enables participants to acquire the knowledge and practical skills through the lectures, case studies and projects.

CE5113B Geophysical Methods & Geotechnical Monitoring

This course teaches the essential concepts and methodology for the planning, design and implementation of geophysical methods for geotechnical site investigation, and ground instrumentation and monitoring programmes.

The course will be broadly divided into two parts. The first part covers the planning and practices of various type of geophysical methods used in geotechnical site investigation. Basic type of geophysical methods: seismic, resistivity and ground radar and others will be covered. The second part covers various aspects of ground instrumentation and sensors for the measurement and monitoring of ground movement, drawdown, excess pore pressures, strut forces, wall deflection and settlement. Concept and practices of the observational methods in geotechnical works will be covered.

This course enables participants to acquire the knowledge and practical skills through the lectures, case studies and projects.

Schedule of Courses

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering reserves the right to make changes to the schedule. In case of changes, all registered students will be informed accordingly, ahead of time.

SkillsFuture Credits and SSG funding are not available.

Registered students will be informed accordingly if there is a change in timetable.