Fire Engineering Science MSc

Our one-year MSc in Fire Engineering Science will provide you with a deep understanding of the fundamental physical processes of fire behaviour, and their application in engineering.

New technologies and climate change are increasingly introducing new and complex fire hazards into environments that were previously considered low risk. As such a knowledge of fire science and its engineering application is critical for societies across the globe to manage, control and prevent the causes of fire.

The MSc in Fire Engineering Science will teach you how fires burn (fire dynamics), how regulators control fire risks, and how our environment can be changed to mitigate fire risks. You will also benefit from many practical opportunities to learn about how to measure and study fire phenomena through our fire laboratory class.

As part of the dissertation, you will investigate a real-world fire engineering problem. This gives you the opportunity to contribute to enhancing fire prevention and mitigation methods of the future.

How will I learn?

You will study different aspects of fire safety science and engineering. Classes consist of lectures with academic staff, tutorials where you can deepen your problem-solving ability by directly interacting with staff and researchers at the Edinburgh Fire Research Centre. In addition, the laboratory classes offer the opportunity to get hands-on with fire science diagnostics equipment and learn from leading researchers in fire safety science.

You will deepen your knowledge through opportunities to:

• learn from leading experts who are at the forefront of Fire Engineering and whose research informs your teaching
• benefit from the wide-ranging backgrounds of our staff and students, from Engineering, Chemistry to Applied Physics
• gain experience in using industry-standard resources and equipment in our dedicated fire lab and software packages
• Interact with industry through extra-curricular activities.

Accreditation

The degree is accredited as an MSc programme for Further Learning by the Joint Board of Moderators.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, safety engineering, building engineering, architecture, urbanism, spatial planning, or applied physics.

Examples of relevant courses include, but are not limited to, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, structural analysis, engineering/building design project, and the analysis of risk.

We may also consider your application if you have other qualifications or experience, or a background in another field; please contact us to check before you apply.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Internationally, there is great demand for graduates in this field. Expertise in fire safety engineering is particularly relevant as new technologies continue to change the fire hazards presented to people and the environment.

Our previous graduates are in relevant employment, with the majority working in fire teams at engineering consultancies, and others working at research institutions, or pursuing further study.

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