Engineering

MEng (Hons) Civil Engineering

Length: 4/5 years
UCAS code: H201 MEng/CEn
Typical offer: individualised offer following an interview or 280 tariff points

Please note: this course is for 2011 entry onwards.

Civil engineering involves the development and application of the design, analysis, construction and management methods necessary for the building and maintenance of the infrastructure on which modern society depends. This can include domestic and industrial buildings, highways, bridges, tunnels and flood protection measures. This course aims to provide you with the broad range of civil engineering knowledge and skills which today's employers want. Through a variety of traditional and contemporary methods, you'll study key aspects of civil engineering, ranging from the design of small and large structures to the management of major civil engineering projects. The course aims to both broaden and deepen your learning to help you develop your powers of analysis and reasoning.

What you study

In Year 1 you're introduced to civil engineering and given the fundamentals of the subject. You will be introduced to group working and encouraged to develop your career plan and aspirations. In Year 2 you will progress to more advanced analysis through tuition by experts in relevant fields. Year 3 allows you to develop your skills set at a higher and more specialist level. You will spend a significant amount of this Year working on an individual research project allowing you to deepen your understanding of a specialist subject of your interest. The Final Year includes modules which you will study at master’s level and will be highly specialist. You have a choice of options in Year 3 and the Final Year.

How you learn

You will have a range of lectures, tutorials, group work, hands-on practical sessions, field courses and site visits. Part of your course will also involve a substantial research-based project.

The course has been designed to provide a number of contact teaching and assessment hours (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratory work, projects, examinations), but you are also expected to spend time on your own, called ‘self-study’ time, to review lecture notes, prepare coursework assignments, work on projects and revise for assessments. Each year of full-time study consists of modules totalling 120 credits and each unit of credit corresponds to ten hours of learning and assessment (contact hours plus self-study hours). So, during one year of full-time study you can expect to have 1,200 hours of learning and assessment.

How you are assessed

Your course will involve a range of types of assessment including coursework assignments and examinations.

Professional placements

We recommend that you take the five-year sandwich course with your third year spent on placement in the civil engineering industry. This provides the opportunity to gain relevant professional experience to enhance your technical knowledge and can improve employment prospects. Some find employment with their placement company after graduating.

Professional accreditation

It is expected that this course will receive accreditation by the Institution of Civil Engineers towards full CEng membership.

Career opportunities

Typical roles include careers with consulting engineers, civil engineering research, construction project management, local authorities or government agencies.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally invited for an interview which enables them to see our excellent facilities and meet the staff and students. Each applicant will receive an individualised offer following an interview. In cases where an interview cannot take place, the typical offer will be 280 tariff points from at least two A levels or equivalent, one of which should include a significant content of an appropriate science or mathematics. Equivalent level qualifications in design and technology, engineering or construction may also be accepted.

Applications from suitably-motivated mature students and those with other equivalent qualifications are warmly welcomed.

For additional information please see the standard University entry requirements.