+ 60 ECTS Credits

Master´s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering and Foundations + 60 ECTS Credits

Master´s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering and Foundations + 60 ECTS Credits

Would you like to strengthen your geotechnical and foundation design skills with advanced, practical training? Update your knowledge and apply geotechniques to make informed decisions on complex projects.

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Master´s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering and Foundations + 60 ECTS Credits

Verifiable program data for this master's degree

  • 60 ECTS Credits
  • Faculty of Geotecnia y Cimentaciones
  • Internships at real companies
  • STRUCTURALIA qualification

What will you achieve by completing this master's degree?

Subsoil characterization

Advance your ability to describe and classify soils and rocks with rigorous, project-ready methods.

Groundwater and effects

Understand water behavior, pore flow, effective stresses, and interstitial pressure impacts on the ground.

Advanced consolidation

Deepen consolidation processes and learn how they influence planning and execution of infrastructure works.

Numerical modeling

Use advanced computational simulation to analyze scenarios and support strategic design and execution choices.

Course curriculum

9 modules covering everything from geotechnical engineering fundamentals to advanced material characterization and numerical simulation. Click on each module to see the full content.

01

Module 1. Introduction To Geotechnics. Soil And Rocks

Didactic Unit 1. Description Of Soils

  • Soil. Concept and Formation
  • Soil. Soil types and sedimentary deposits
  • Granular soils. Gravels and sands
  • Cohesive soils. Silt and clay
  • Cohesive soils. Structure, types and properties of clays.

Didactic Unit 2. Properties And Classification Of Soils

  • Elemental properties. Volumes and Weights
  • Elemental properties. Granular soils
  • Elemental properties. Cohesive soils
  • Soil classification. Unified Soil Classification System - ASTM).
  • Soil classification. AASHTO System

Didactic Unit 3. Rock Description

  • The Geological Cycle. Plate tectonics and crustal deformation.
  • Igneous Rocks
  • Sedimentary rocks
  • Metamorphic rocks
  • Rock, rocky matrix and rock massif

Didactic Unit 4. Properties And Classification Of Rocks

  • Rock matrix properties
  • Properties of the rock mass. Discontinuities
  • Geomechanical Classifications. Bieniawski RMR
  • Geomechanical classifications. Barton Q Index
  • The GSI: Geological Strength Index
02

Module 2. Water In The Ground: Effects On Soils And Rocks

Didactic Unit 1. Flow In Porous Media

  • Water in the ground. Types of aquifers
  • Darcy's Law. Hydraulic load and hydraulic gradient. Permeability
  • Mechanics and flow theory in porous media
  • Flow networks
  • Fragment method

Didactic Unit 2. Effective Stresses And Interstitial Pressures. Effects Of Water On Soil And Rock

  • Principle of effective stresses. Application to soils and rocks
  • Stress distribution in the terrain
  • Siphonage, bottom uplift, internal erosion and tubification
  • Filters. Concept, use and preliminary design
  • Effects of water on the rock matrix and the rock massif

Didactic Unit 3. Soil Consolidation

  • Introduction
  • The size of the consolidation entry
  • The evolution of the consolidation entry
  • Parabolic isochrone theory
  • Radial and mixed preloading and consolidation

Unit Didactic Unit 4. Wells And Pumping Systems

  • Well design and construction
  • Well design. Analytical solutions for individual wells
  • Well cluster design. Analytical solutions for well groups
  • Conception and construction of wellpoints
  • Design of wellpoints
03

Module 3. Geotechnical Ground Characterisation And Reconnaissance, Instrumentation And Auscultation

Didactic Unit 1. Field Surveys

  • Previous cabinet work
  • Design and planning of research campaigns
  • Field reconnaissance and preliminary investigations
  • Drilling and sampling techniques
  • In-situ testing for soils and rock masses

Didactic Unit 2. Laboratory Tests In The Geotechnical Field (i)

  • Identification and status testing (I)
  • Identification and status testing (II)
  • Endurance tests (I)
  • Endurance tests (II)
  • Interpretation of the triaxial test

Didactic Unit 3. Laboratory Tests In The Geotechnical Field (ii)

  • Deformability test
  • Interpretation of the edometric test
  • Compaction and reuse tests
  • Rock testing (I)
  • Rock testing (II)

Didactic Unit 4. Auscultation

  • Introduction to auscultation
  • Instrumentation equipment (I)
  • Instrumentation equipment (II)
  • Instrumentation equipment (III)
  • Examples of application to construction sites
04

Module 4. Mechanics Of The Continuous Medium And Constitutive Models: Application To Soils And Rocks

Didactic Unit 1. Mechanics Of Continuous Media And Elasticity

  • The stress tensor: total, effective and interstitial stresses. Mohr's circle in stresses
  • The deformation tensor. Mohr's circle in deformations
  • Problem statement
  • Elasticity equations and parameters
  • Main elastic solutions in soil and rock mechanics

Didactic Unit 2. Theory Of Plasticity

  • Introduction to Plasticity
  • The plasticisation criterion. Types of plastic behaviour
  • Law of plastic behaviour. Plastic creep and plastic potential
  • Main Theorems and Postulates of Plasticity Theory
  • The Mohr-Coulomb elastoplastic model

Didactic Unit 3. Constitutive Models For Soils

  • Rheological models
  • Hardening Soil Model
  • Model Hardening Soil Small
  • Jardine model
  • Cam-Clay model

Didactic Unit 4. Constitutive Models For Rocks

  • Hoek and Brown's constitutive model
  • Barton - Choubey constitutive model for joints and discontinuities
  • Viscosity, viscoelasticity and viscoplasticity
  • Extension of rheological models
  • Visco-elastic and visco-elastic constituent models
05

Module 5. Earth Pressures And Earth Retaining Structures

Didactic Unit 1. Theory

  • Classical Theory of Earth Thrusts (I).Coulomb
  • Classical Theory of Earth Thrust (II) Rankine, Terzaghi
  • Classical earth thrust theory (III). Coefficient of earth thrust.
  • Classical earth thrust theory (IV). Winkler model
  • Other calculation methods: Numerical models and equivalent fluid theory.
  • Theory. Seismic considerations.

Didactic Unit 2. Rigid Walls

  • Gravity walls
  • Reinforced earth walls
  • Breakwater walls
  • Masonry walls, prefabricated segmental walls, Berlin wall.

Didactic Unit 3. Flexible Walls

  • Gabion walls and screen walls
  • Reinforced earth walls
  • Continuous screens
  • Pile screens
  • Anchorages on screens
  • Other excavations: Trenching. Sheet piles

Didactic Unit 4. Design Considerations

  • Construction procedures.
  • Ground movements and monitoring.
  • Problem areas
  • Selection of cross-sections and filtration network.
06

Module 6. Slope Analysis And Stability

Didactic Unit 1. Slope Stability Analysis Generalities

  • Classification of slope movements
  • Geotechnical concepts needed to address a slope stability problem
  • General information on slope stability in soils
  • General information on rock slope stability
  • Rock slope stability based on geomechanical indices

Didactic Unit 2. Slope Stability In Soils

  • Classical methods of slope stability calculation in soils
  • Use of abacuses for the calculation of slope stability in soils
  • The slicing method
  • Stabilising and supporting measures for slopes on soils
  • Finite element calculation of slopes in soils

Didactic Unit 3. Kinematic Analysis Of Rock Slopes

  • Stereographic projection
  • Kinematic analysis of a rock slope failure due to flat landslide
  • Kinematic analysis of a wedge rock slope failure
  • Kinematic analysis of overturning rock slope failure
  • Kinematic analysis of rock slope failure in a rock massif

Didactic Unit 4. Slope Stability Analysis Of Rock Slopes

  • Factor of safety of a rock slope due to a flat landslide failure
  • Factor of safety of a rock slope due to wedge failure
  • Factor of safety of a rock slope due to overturning failure
  • Stabilising and sustaining measures for rock slopes
  • Finite element computation of slopes in rocks
07

Module 7. Surface Foundations

Didactic Unit 1. Determinants And Study Of Failure Modes

  • Introduction and design determinants
  • Stress distributions under rigid footings
  • Verification of ultimate limit state failure modes (other than subsidence)
  • Sinking and bearing capacity
  • Correction factors for the general formula

Didactic Unit 2. Additional Notes On Bearing Capacity

  • Some particular cases of bearing capacity
  • Sinking pressure from in-situ tests
  • Particular soil considerations
  • Bearing capacity in rock (I)
  • Bearing capacity in rock (II)

Didactic Unit 3. Serviceability Limit States

  • Definitions and concepts
  • Stress distributions in the soil
  • Estimation of settlement in granular soils
  • Estimation of settlement in cohesive soils
  • Other methods and other deformations

Didactic Unit 4. Slabs, Shafts, Dynamic Aspects And Offshore Environment

  • Slabs
  • Semi-deep foundations or foundation pits
  • Dynamic aspects. Foundations for vibrating machinery
  • Dynamic aspects. Foundations in seismic zones and soil properties.
  • Surface foundations in the maritime and offshore fields
08

Module 8. Deep Foundations. Pilots

Didactic Unit 1. Basic Concepts And Column Piles In Soils

  • Typology of deep foundations
  • Definitions
  • Design basis for deep foundations
  • Basic formulation
  • Calculation of soil resistance to vertical actions in soils
  • Tip resistance in granular soils.
  • Analytical Solutions Tip resistance in cohesive soils
  • Analytical solutions Tip resistance in soils by in-situ testing

Didactic Unit 2. Floating Piles In Soils, Rock Piles And Pile Groups

  • Shaft resistance in granular soils
  • Analytical solutions Shaft strength in cohesive soils
  • Analytical solutions Shaft strength in soils by in-situ testing
  • Resistance of the ground against vertical actions on rocks Resistance of a pile group

Didactic Unit 3. Working Loads And Seating In Piles

  • Safety against subsidence
  • Safety coefficient
  • Structural stop on piles Seats on piles
  • Pile Pullout Resistance Pile Driving Formulas

Didactic Unit 4. Choice Of Piles And Infrequent Situations

  • Piles subjected to lateral loads Negative pile friction Negative pile friction
  • Pile load tests
  • Selecting the pile type
  • Geotechnical calculation of micropiles
09

Module 9. Numerical Modelling In The Field Of Geotechnics. Applications With Plaxis 2d

Numerical Modelling And Its Application In Geotechnical Engineering. Introduction To Plaxis 2d

  • Introduction to numerical modelling.
  • The finite element method.
  • Numerical modelling in geotechnics.
  • Introduction to Plaxis 2D. General.
  • Organisation and structure of Plaxis 2D. The user interface.

Didactic Unit 2. Applications With Plaxis 2d - Construction Of The Geometry And The Finite Element Mesh

  • Definition of the geometry and structure of the terrain.
  • Geometric elements, loads and imposed displacements in Plaxis 2D.
  • Definition of ground behaviour. Constitutive models.
  • Structural elements in Plaxis 2D.
  • Definition of the finite element mesh.

Didactic Unit 3. Applications With Plaxis 2d - Calculation, Water And Analysis Of Results

  • Definition of calculation phases.
  • Types of calculations in Plaxis 2D.
  • Water in Plaxis 2D.
  • Calculation scheme and control parameters.
  • Visualisation and analysis of results.

Didactic Unit 4. Applications With Plaxis 2d - Case Studies

  • Study of a shallow foundation.
  • Analysis of slope stability.
  • Modelling of an excavation between screens.
  • Construction of an embankment and consolidation.
  • Study of water flow in the field.

Teaching faculty

Teaching team with professional experience in Master´s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering and Foundations + 60 ECTS Credits.

AR

Adrián Rodríguez Porres

Faculty of Gestión de Proyectos en Arquitectura

metodología BIM

VG

Vidal Gascón Culebras

Inteligencia Artificial aplicada

JM

Julia Molina Virués

Faculty of Gestión de Proyectos en Arquitectura

arquitectura sostenible

Charo Rey Zabalza

Charo Rey Zabalza

Faculty of Medioambiente y Sostenibilidad

economía circular

ÁS

Ángel Sanz Bernabé

control de calidad

Isabella Sánchez Bermúdez

Isabella Sánchez Bermúdez

Faculty of Dirección de Proyectos e Innovación Tecnológica

comunicación estratégica

Rogelio Delgado Mingorance

Rogelio Delgado Mingorance

Faculty of Ingeniería Industrial

gestión y dirección de proyectos

Miguel Ángel Aparicio Jiménez

Miguel Ángel Aparicio Jiménez

What jobs could you get?

With this master's degree you could apply for roles such as:

  • Geotechnical project consultant
  • Foundations and underground works manager
  • R&D engineer in geotechnical solutions
  • Director of R&D in infrastructure
  • Senior specialist in complex geotech analysis
  • Geotechnical risk advisory consultant

Methodology

Our teaching methodology

Equipo diverso de ingeniería trabajando con portátiles en un laboratorio maker con impresoras 3D
Learn whenever you want

Progress at your own pace, from wherever you are,
with close support.

Realistic

The EDUCA LXP methodology avoids excessively theoretical knowledge and inefficient practical methods. The combination of constantly updated content with personalized guidance throughout the learning process makes EDUCA LXP a unique methodology.

Student First

The EDUCA LXP methodology and EDUCA EDTECH Group's training place the student at the center of the learning experience, drawing on their feedback. Their feedback drives our continuous improvement.

Artificial Intelligence

Personalized learning would not be possible without a precise combination of academic experience, technology research, and Artificial Intelligence. That is why we rely on in-house AI tools, tailored to each school in the group.

Active industry professionals

Our teaching team, besides being specialists in their field, has specific training in the technology tools that make up the EDUCA EDTECH ecosystem.

Rankings and recognitions

Assessed by independent online higher-education organizations.

Organization of American States (OAS)

Since 2010, Structuralia has run a scholarship program for master's degrees in Spanish and English together with the Organization of American States (OAS), aimed at outstanding professionals from the Americas as part of the Partnerships for Education and Training Program (PAEC), which has already benefited more than 3,500 students from the region.

APICE

Structuralia and the Pan-American Association of Educational Credit Institutions (APICE) offer a specialized training scholarship program for professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean in master's degrees specialized in the STEM sector.

Educa Edtech

The Educa Edtech Foundation was created to foster personal and professional growth while championing knowledge transfer as a way to change the world, overseeing the rollout of solutions and granting aid to those who deserve it.

Financial Magazine

This outlet's 2025 Ranking has included up to 10 Structuralia master's programs across several categories, among them: Data Science, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Urban Planning, Energy and the Environment.

Mundo Posgrado

In the latest edition of its regular annual rankings, Structuralia's master's programs made the Top 10 best master's degrees in Spain in the Renewable Energy and Integrated Management Systems categories.

Escudo Digital

The Master's program in Cybersecurity and Information Risk is included in the Top 25 best cybersecurity training programs according to "Escudo Digital".

Our numbers

92%of our students would recommend us
30+countries with active students
60%of our faculty are active industry professionals
15 yearstraining specialists in engineering and architecture

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