This paper presents the results of investigation on tunnelling-induced ground surface settlement characteristics in water bearing ground using finite element (FE) stress-pore pressure coupled analysis. Fundamental interaction mechanism of ground and groundwater lowering was first examined and a number of influencing factors on the results of the coupled FE analysis were identified. A parametric study was then conducted on the influencing factors such as rock type, thickness of soil layer, permeability of shotcrete lining, among others. The results indicate that the tunneling-induced groundwater drawdown results in a deeper and wider settlement trough than without groundwater drawdown, and that the Error function approach does not yield satisfactory result in predicting a settlement profile. The results of analysis are summarized so that the relationship between the settlement and the influencing factors can be identified.