Civil Engineering HNC

Explore the role of professional civil engineers, focusing on their essential involvement in constructing and maintaining earthworks and substructures, as well as the key technologies they apply. You learn about earthwork activities, temporary and permanent dewatering procedures, substructure construction methods and techniques, and the common hazards, technical problems and solutions in modern civil engineering.

You are introduced to the importance of geological processes, and the properties of soils and rocks in civil engineering. You learn to analyse and evaluate modern geotechnical methods and apply these skills and knowledge to the initial design of infrastructure.

You apply the skills and knowledge that you developed in other modules of the course (and where possible experiences from work) within a major piece of work that reflects the type of performance expected of construction technologists. 

You develop your ability to identify, define, plan, develop and execute a successful project by working through a clear process. You develop a project brief, outlining a problem that requires a solution, as well as a project specification, the specific requirements of which the final outcome must meet.

You research the problem, undertaking a feasibility study, and consider a range of potential solutions using critical analysis and evaluation techniques to test, select and contextualise your preferred solution. You also provide a work and time management plan, keeping a diary of all activities, reflecting on their process and their learning throughout the project.

This module develops your underpinning mathematical knowledge and techniques relevant to studies in construction and civil engineering. You are introduced to mathematical methods and statistical techniques in order to analyse and solve problems within a construction engineering context. It has been designed to enable you to develop your knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, calculus, statistics and probability, for the analysis and solution of realistic construction problems.

You study common types of structures used in engineering, assess the types of loads they must resist and develop the analytical skills you need to design structural components. Explore key areas including the basic concepts of force, stress and strain; material and section properties; analysis of frames, beams and columns; equilibrium conditions and statically determinacy; as well as beam bending moment, shear force, deflection and structural design.

You are introduced to scientific principles and gain foundational knowledge of the material properties essential for successfully completing the other core and specialist modules. Analyse, apply, investigate and evaluate scientific properties and the behaviour of materials in construction-related situations.

Develop your skills in surveying, a critical function throughout a construction project’s lifecycle – from initial data collection and control network setup, to construction positioning and post-build verification. Learn to use modern surveying equipment, perform setting out procedures, communicate results, and analyse errors and mitigation techniques commonly encountered in the field.

You explore the composition and impact of the construction industry on the environment and society. By examining the roles and relationships of individuals and organisations within the construction sector, you gain an overview of how the industry works both organisationally and personally to improve the built environment, minimise environmental impact and maintain economic sustainability and growth.