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Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics

  • Level(s) of Study: Short course; Professional
  • Course Fee:

    £1,150

  • Start Date(s): 2 October 2025
  • Duration: Thursday mornings or afternoons (term-time only)
  • Study Mode(s): Part-time
  • Campus: City Campus
  • Entry Requirements: More information
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Introduction:

Course dates:

2 October 2025 - 15 January 2026

Learn the fundamentals of structural dynamics and earthquake engineering.

The course will give you the skills for analysing the seismic response of structures subjected to earthquake excitations using structural dynamics principles.

Background knowledge in engineering seismology including seismic design principles will be covered to provide a comprehensive perspective to the topic and to provide a sound understanding of the rationale behind seismic codes.

What you’ll study

On this course you'll learn about the response of SDOF and MDOF Systems (considering free vibration response, response to harmonic loads, seismic response of SDOF and MDOF using the response spectrum procedure, seismic response of SDOF and MDOF using the time history procedure).

You’ll look at seismology and earthquake ground motions characteristics: Dynamic earth structure, causes and effects of earthquakes, seismic waves, seismic induced hazard, and common mistakes in earthquake resistant design.

Concepts and principles of seismic design will also be covered, looking at design provisions of Eurocode 8, Performance Based Design.

You’ll cover seismic structural analysis: modal analysis, response spectrum, time history analysis and pushover analysis.

Finally, you’ll learn about earthquake mitigation strategies, energy dissipation devices and retrofitting techniques.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

  • develop a sound knowledge of the origin of seismic loads and their effect on building structures
  • analyse the common mistakes in earthquake resistant design and construction of building structures
  • understand different methods of structural analysis under effect of earthquake actions
  • develop a sound understanding  of performance based design  in seismic areas works including the provisions of Eurocode 8 in structural design
  • understand different mitigation techniques that can improve the seismic performance of structural systems such as energy dissipation devices and retrofitting of structures in seismic areas
  • analyse the free and forced vibration response of single-degree and multi-degree of freedom systems
  • carry out mathematical analysis required to solve tutorial problems, manipulation and sorting of computer data, and production of design calculations
  • use online resources related to earthquake data including generating natural and artificial time history accelerations.

A CPD certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the course.

Successful completion can also contribute 15 credits towards a postgraduate award.

How you’re taught

Teaching and learning will take place using a flexible programme of lectures, workshops, computer labs, seminars and tutorials.

Staff Profiles

Ayad Aldeka - Senior Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Ayad Aldeka is a Civil Engineer with a PhD in Earthquake Engineering. He teaches Advanced Structural Design and Structural Dynamics to Undergraduate and Postgraduate Civil Engineering students at NTU.

Campus and facilities

City Campus facilities

Many of your lectures and seminars will take place in the Newton building on our City Campus.

IT resources

Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across our City Campus, with PCs providing access to Microsoft Office, email, web browsing, networked file storage and high-speed online printing services, with a free printing allowance for each student.

Resource rooms are available 24 hours a day.

Books and library resources

Our state-of-the-art Boots library will give you access to an extensive and diverse range of books and periodicals that focus on specialist areas within the built environment. The library's OneSearch system provides access to all our electronic resources, journals and books.

Within the library there is a liaison librarian who has specialist subject knowledge and can offer detailed help in finding and using print and electronic resources, and also with areas such as Harvard referencing and research skills.

Workshops and laboratories

Our Maudslay building boasts a number of industry-standard workshops and facilities. Supported by a team of expert technical staff, we offer woodwork and metal workshops, model-making studios, structural testing equipment, concrete, soil and materials laboratories.

Entry requirements

Level: Professional/postgraduate

Entry Requirements: You should have a minimum of three years’ professional experience and have the support of your employer to integrate study and projects into your day-to-day work.

You will probably be employed on significant infrastructure or building works, with experience of developing and coordinating projects.

If you wish to receive credit, you should also have a 2:2 honours degree in a construction-related subject.

Applicants with non-standard entry qualifications and/or relevant experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Fees and funding

The fee for this course is £1,150.

Payment is due before the course starts.

How to apply

Please read the guidance notes and complete the application form.

You should then email your form to be considered by the academic team.

Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.

Any questions?

Contact the short course team: