Our department has a distinguished history and a tradition of excellence in teaching, research, and services dating back to 1873. There are three main broad research areas: Solids and Structural Mechanics, Structural Engineering, and Geotechnical Engineering.

Our teaching comprises theoretical, computational and experimental approaches to problems on the behaviour of structures, for different applications, as well as the response of structures (e.g., buildings, bridges, and complex structures), under service and environmental loads (e.g., traffic, wind, earthquake, fire, and waves), in static and dynamic conditions, considering materials characterization and durability, and structure interaction (such as fluid structure, soli structure, to name but a few) with the surrounding environment.
These engineering programmes are now part of a wide range of undergraduate courses allowing students to undertake accredited degree programmes for both the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Architecture.

The Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering strives to educate the next generation of engineers, fully up to date in innovations their field, and have an input into that of architects in the endeavour to understand structural behaviour for architectural designs.  We offer course work, research opportunities, and experience leading a doctorate programmea, Ph.D. in Structural and Geotechnical Engineering. The Department also offers two II cycle masters' courses -  Master in Geotechnical Design (60 credits) and Analysis, diagnostics and monitoring of structures and infrastructures (60 credits). Our graduates are heavily recruited in the building sector, by public bodies, industry, and academia for their academic strengths and their leadership skills

The Department’s facilities at the service of a number of Faculties include state-of-the-art teaching, research, experimental laboratories, computing laboratories equipped with the latest software and a specialised library to support teaching and state of the art research.

Our specialisations may be diverse but they share a common desire to advance the boundaries of scientific and technological knowledge in the mechanical behaviour of civil engineering. A special focus is given to novel application , such as those associated with risk analysis, vibration control, and the creation of new materials for industrial and biomechanical applications. 
A distinguishing feature of the Department is the multidisplinary approach practiced in a collaborative atmosphere that fosters curiosity, the strive for novel applications and empowerment for life-long learning and provide our students with the skills needed to identify and solve standard and non-standard complex problems in structural and geotechnical engineering.

The Department's academic and research activities have attained an international reputation for excellence in areas such as structural dynamics and control, earthquake engineering, risk analysis, full-scale monitoring, behaviour of structural and geotechnical systems (galleries, tunnels), structural analysis and design, smart structures, and the structural reliability of historic buildings and monuments.