The Master of Applied Science (MAS) in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure (SRI) at Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology (MBUST) is a two-year, research-based postgraduate program concerned with infrastructure safety, disaster resilience, sustainable construction, and community-oriented development.
The program combines engineering, science, planning, and development policy, with particular attention to infrastructure challenges in Nepal. Its research areas include rural building structures, construction materials, structural resilience, risk-sensitive land use planning, and rural tourism infrastructure.
Students undertake coursework, electives, and supervised thesis research, allowing them to develop specialized knowledge through investigation of infrastructure problems. The program is offered at MBUST's campus in Chitlang, Makawanpur District, Bagmati Province.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Program | Master of Applied Science (MAS) in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure |
| University | Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology (MBUST) |
| Academic Level | Master's |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Academic Structure | 4 semesters |
| Total Credits | 51 |
| Study Mode | Full-time, research-based |
| Major Areas | Structural engineering, construction materials, settlement planning, building design, and disaster resilience |
| Research Component | Supervised thesis |
| Location | Chitlang, Makawanpur, Bagmati Province, Nepal |
The MAS in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure examines how infrastructure can be planned, designed, maintained, and improved to withstand natural hazards while considering environmental and community requirements.
Its academic coverage extends beyond structural engineering alone. The program connects engineering design with the needs of sectors such as tourism, housing, transportation, water supply, and rural development.
Nepal's exposure to earthquakes, landslides, flooding, and difficult terrain gives the program a specific area of application. Research considers the structural condition of existing buildings, the use of locally available construction materials, infrastructure access, settlement planning, and disaster risk reduction.
Rural tourism is an initial area of emphasis. This includes research concerning accommodation structures, walking and trekking routes, traditional settlements, and infrastructure connected with rural livelihoods and cultural heritage.
The MAS is organized around coursework and supervised research. Students study scientific and engineering principles before concentrating more extensively on a selected research problem.
The program distinguishes research-based postgraduate education from study primarily concerned with applying established technical methods. Its research component addresses engineering problems that require investigation, testing, analysis, or adaptation of existing knowledge.
Students develop their academic specialization through their thesis topic. Elective courses support the chosen research direction rather than requiring every student to follow an identical technical specialization.
This arrangement allows research to concentrate on different aspects of infrastructure, including building structures, materials, settlement planning, and construction-related design.
Research on rural buildings examines structural safety, performance, and methods of improving existing construction.
Areas of investigation include:
Resilience of stone and brick masonry buildings
Structural behavior of bamboo and timber buildings
Structural health monitoring of existing structures
Low-cost retrofitting methods
Sustainable and resilient homestay buildings
This research area connects building engineering with construction methods and materials used in rural settlements.
Construction materials research examines alternatives to conventional materials and methods of improving existing construction products.
The research covers sustainable material alternatives, material improvement, and nanotechnology applications in construction.
The subject also connects with the program's emphasis on locally adapted materials and construction methods appropriate to particular building and infrastructure requirements.
Rural transportation research includes infrastructure associated with hiking and trekking trails.
The program also considers resilient access routes and the infrastructure requirements of rural tourism facilities. These areas connect engineering design with transportation access, visitor movement, and the physical requirements of tourism-related development.
This research area addresses the relationship between infrastructure, settlement planning, disaster exposure, and community needs.
Its principal subjects include risk-sensitive land use planning in traditional settlements, socioeconomic studies of rural tourism, and strategies supporting local recovery through sustainable infrastructure practices.
The MAS in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure consists of four semesters carrying 51 credits.
The first semester establishes the coursework foundation. The second combines electives with initial thesis work, while the third and fourth semesters concentrate on thesis research.
| Semester | Courses and Academic Components | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| I | Sustainable and Resilient Development Principles and Practices; Fundamentals of Tourism; Research Methodology, Scientific Communication and Data Mining; Development Policy | 12 |
| II | Thesis; Elective II; Elective III; Elective IV; Entrepreneurship and Leadership (non-credit) | 13 |
| III | Thesis | 13 |
| IV | Thesis | 13 |
| Total | Four-semester MAS program | 51 |
Students complete four core courses, each carrying three credits:
SRI-CR-501: Sustainable and Resilient Development Principles and Practices
SRI-CR-502: Fundamentals of Tourism
GC-CR-502: Research Methodology, Scientific Communication and Data Mining
GC-CR-501: Development Policy
These courses connect infrastructure principles with tourism-sector requirements, research methods, scientific communication, and development policy.
The second semester includes four thesis credits and three elective courses carrying three credits each.
Entrepreneurship and Leadership (GC-NC-551) is also included as a non-credit course.
Elective selection supports the student's chosen research topic and intended area of specialization.
The third and fourth semesters each allocate 13 credits to the thesis under course code SRI-TH-699.
Across the program, thesis work accounts for 30 of the 51 credits. This allocation reflects the substantial research component of the degree.
Students develop their specialization through thesis topic selection and related elective coursework.
The identified areas include structural engineering, advanced construction materials, settlement planning, and building design.
These areas are research pathways within the MAS rather than separately identified degree titles. A student's particular academic concentration depends on the selected thesis topic.
Applicants must have completed a four-year Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or Technology with a minimum CGPA of 2.75 out of 4.0, or an internationally equivalent qualification.
The undergraduate academic background provides the foundation for postgraduate study involving engineering principles, scientific investigation, and infrastructure research.
MBUST's Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure research facilities include laboratories concerned with materials, structural engineering, computation, and infrastructure planning.
The identified facilities are:
Material Testing Laboratory
Computational Structural Engineering Laboratory
Structural Engineering Laboratory
Infrastructure Design and Planning Laboratory
These laboratory areas correspond with the program's research subjects, including material performance, structural behavior, engineering analysis, and infrastructure design.
The SRI academic area also includes doctoral study, placing master's and PhD research within the same broad disciplinary field.
Through coursework and thesis research, students study methods used to assess infrastructure safety, analyze disaster risks, investigate construction materials, and examine settlement and infrastructure planning problems.
The program emphasizes the relationship between engineering decisions and the physical, environmental, economic, and cultural characteristics of the communities served by infrastructure.
Depending on their research topic, students may develop more specialized knowledge of structural assessment, materials investigation, risk-informed planning, or rural infrastructure.
The MAS provides advanced academic preparation related to infrastructure engineering, construction materials, structural research, disaster risk reduction, and settlement planning.
Its research structure is relevant to graduates seeking further academic study or research involving these subjects. MBUST also offers a PhD in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure as a separate doctoral program.
Professional applications depend on each graduate's prior qualifications, thesis specialization, technical competencies, and the requirements of the relevant occupation or institution.
It is a research-based master's degree addressing infrastructure safety, sustainable construction, disaster resilience, engineering materials, and infrastructure planning.
The program lasts two years and consists of four semesters.
The MAS requires 51 credits, including 30 credits allocated to thesis research.
Applicants need a four-year Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or Technology with a minimum CGPA of 2.75 out of 4.0, or an internationally equivalent qualification.
Research covers rural building structures, construction materials, rural transportation and tourism infrastructure, risk-sensitive settlement planning, and community resilience.
Yes. Thesis work begins in the second semester and continues through the third and fourth semesters.
Students develop their specialization through thesis selection and supporting electives. Identified areas include structural engineering, construction materials, settlement planning, and building design.
