Civil Engineering (Degree Apprenticeship) BEng (Hons)

This module introduces the range of mathematical skills that are relevant to an engineering degree. You revisit and develop your knowledge of the fundamentals of algebra, trigonometry and basic statistics. The central ideas of vectors, matrices, complex numbers, and differential and integral calculus are also examined.

Throughout the module you develop a range of mathematical skills and techniques fundamental to the solution of engineering problems. You also advance your skills in selecting and applying mathematical techniques.

This module is delivered through a combination of lectures and tutorial sessions.

You work in project teams to produce a design for a client in the construction industry. You are expected to commence the development of essential design and employability skills needed in a professional setting, such as problem-solving, time management and presentation in a technical context.

You explore the importance of geological processes and the properties of soils and rocks in civil engineering. You perform laboratory practical’s in soil and rock description and geological map interpretation. You learn about instrumentation and observation procedures used in modern engineering surveying practice and learn how to measure large objects in three-dimensional space using various techniques and equipment and identify the associated errors.

Develop academic skills, work-based learning strategies and personal resilience for both the workplace and academic studies. Explore an area of engineering that influences your professional practice.

Investigate the philosophy, theory and key concepts of sustainable development in engineering. Explore the environmental and social impacts of engineering artefacts across their entire lifecycle – from design and construction, to use and disposal. Build essential professional and transferable skills through real-world experience in workplace teams, on-site training activities and simulated laboratory sessions.

You explore construction methods and components for building foundations. You extend your knowledge of house construction and larger substructure and superstructure construction activities including ground remediation, deep basements, retaining walls, multi-storey structures and bridges.

This module introduces common types of structure used in engineering, assesses the types of loads they must resist and provides you with the analytical skills necessary to design the components that make up the structure.

Specific areas of study include: basic concepts of force, stress and strain; properties of materials and sections; analysis of frames, beams and columns; equilibrium conditions and statical determinacy; beam bending movement, shear force and deflection; and lightweight cables.

Lectures will introduce each major topic on the module with tutorials used to practise calculations. Laboratory practicals are used to investigate the properties of construction materials and develop a deeper understanding of structural theory.

The module is assessed by in-course assignment and an examination, comprising calculations and short answer questions on the module indicative content.

You develop mathematical knowledge in differential equations and numerical methods and extend your base of techniques to solve a variety of problems which arise in engineering domains. The emphasis is on developing competence in the identification of the most appropriate method to solve a given problem and its subsequent application.

You develop academic skills, work-based learning strategies and personal resilience for both the workplace and your studies, exploring an area of engineering that influences professional practice.

Gain an understanding of construction management techniques relevant to projects at the design and production stages with regards to scheduling, estimating, cost and time control, quality issues, ethical issues in construction, and health and safety. You cover essential practical and transferable skills by evidencing your skills in your job role – with workplace teams and on-site training activities.

This module further develops your understanding of earth materials and their impact on civil engineering. You will analyse soils and examine how they interact with structures and how they behave under load.

The module will also extend your knowledge of construction materials to include Bituminous materials, Glass, Plastics, Non-ferrous metals, Composites, Smart and Energy-saving materials. These materials will be discussed with respect to their engineering properties and selection criteria for the design and construction of civil engineering structures.

Explore an area of theory that influences your practice, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to become an effective higher education work-based learner. Foster personal insight into learning and development, critically reflecting on your professional practice.
Document work-based evidence to demonstrate teamwork and develop key skills needed to plan and manage a project relevant to your role, focusing on various areas of the infrastructure required in today’s society.

Gain employability skills such as project management, presentation of work, research, and commercial awareness to support problem solving in a technical engineering context. You also develop a holistic approach to engineering practice, becoming critical of the potential impacts of designing and constructing engineering artefacts. Integrate environmental, social and economic considerations, as well as health and safety concepts, in your project proposals. Apply some of the construction management principles and techniques you learn in the Construction Management and Professional Skills module to a typical civil engineering project.

The basic properties of water at rest and in motion are introduced and used to investigate problems related to the storage of water in bulk and to its conveyance in known quantities through pipelines, rivers and open channels. Consideration is given to the natural water cycle (hydrological cycle) and how man has interacted with it to produce the hydrosocial cycle for his own use and benefit. Rainfall is a major component of the hydrological cycle and the module gives an insight into rainfall types, rainfall losses and rainfall runoff. Water and wastewater treatment are introduced.

The module will develop your ability to analyse structures and produce designs. You will extend your knowledge to solve elastic statically indeterminate systems and learn how to design common structural elements in accordance to appropriate National and European Standards.

Explore an area of theory that influences your practice, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to become an effective higher education work-based learner. Foster personal insight into learning and development, critically reflecting on your professional practice.

Gain the knowledge and skills you need to become an information manager, or Building Information Modelling (BIM) manager, in your future career. Learn how to manage digital BIM-based projects for the construction and engineering fields following the ISO 19650 standards.

Manage the different aspects of information including 3D model, time and cost to create, and coordination of construction projects within the BIM collaboration platform using software like Revit and Naviswork.

In this module the design process is examined together with the various techniques used in practice. The concepts and methods are applied to a variety of foundation types. The interaction of the structural forces with the ground is considered in addition to the design of ground support and associated earthworks. Lectures will be used to outline the concepts and techniques augmented with in class discussion/seminars of case studies. Seminars and assignments will be used by the students to gain skills in applying the techniques to designs. Assessment will be in the form of a design report (30%) and an examination (70%).

You complete the End Point Assessment (EPA), following the assessment methods set out in the Degree Apprenticeship standard:

• Project
• Professional discussion

You carry out a technical project in line with the EPA plan and PSRB requirements. You must submit a project report (around 10,000 words) and supporting presentation materials by the end of week 24 of the EPA period. Independent assessors then assess your work through a presentation with questions.

You also take part in a professional discussion based on your portfolio of evidence, submitted earlier as part of the Preparation for Gateway module. Two independent assessors conduct this discussion.

You prepare for the End Point Assessment (EPA) gateway required for Integrated Degree Apprenticeships. You gain a clear understanding of the gateway requirements, compile a portfolio of evidence aligned with the Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs), and formally agree your EPA project’s title and scope in collaboration with your academic supervisor, employer and the End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO).

The module develops the structural engineering application of analysis and design concepts and procedures in a range of materials to provide the student with the knowledge required to carry out the design of structural elements and systems. Appropriate European and/or National Standards will be used for the design of structural components of different materials.

Building on the detailed knowledge of construction materials developed in previous modules, students will gain an appreciation of several of the more significant recent changes in the fields of metals and alloys, concrete technology and cement-based composites. Development of new and emerging materials will be explored, including responses to concerns regarding service lifetimes, durability and sustainability.

The module considers elements of flood risk management, water resources management and natural and man-made infrastructure. It introduces natural watercourses and concepts of their response to rainfall events, including flooding and consideration of flood protection/mitigation methods. The module develops the concepts involved in the design and operation of elements of water supply and wastewater systems, from the estimation of water demand and the evaluation and use of water resources, to the collection and transport of foul and storm water and their eventual discharge to natural watercourses.

The module will also consider climate change and mitigation in relation to water.

Module content is delivered via lectures, seminars and practical sessions.