MEng Hons Civil Engineering Design and Construction

What you’ll study
 

• The course is designed around the core themes of the professional accrediting bodies, relating your learning to application in the real world. You'll develop your general understanding of civil engineering, focusing on key core subject areas – geotechnics, and materials and structures.
• You'll develop knowledge and skills in architectural and building technology, computer-aided design, health and safety, the environment, hydraulics, ground engineering and structural engineering. You'll look at creativity and innovation within engineering, gaining a deeper understanding of engineering principles and practice.

Year One

Civil Engineering Design Projects (40 credits)
 

• This module will form an introduction to the construction industry, and the key roles played by civil engineering professionals.

• You'll look at areas such health and safety, environmental and sustainability considerations, legislation, and the role of construction in the UK economy.

• The module will also focus on building your professional communication skills through presentations, an introduction to computer-aided design, and career planning.

Engineering Materials (20 credits)
 

• This module is designed to introduce you to the materials encountered in civil engineering and general construction.

• You'll look at areas such as geology, soil mechanics, steel, concrete, bricks and ceramics, and organic materials. You'll develop an understanding of the materials' properties and applications.

Engineering Surveying (20 credits)
 

• The aim of this module is to introduce you to the basic principles and purposes of engineering surveying. You'll learn the theory in lectures and tutorials, with hands-on seminar and laboratory sessions introducing the practical surveying field skills required by industry.

• You'll learn how to use standard surveying instruments, how to set out and control construction works, and how to measure existing buildings.

Introduction to Structural Analysis and Design (20 credits)
 

• The module aims to provide you with an initial qualitative and quantitative appreciation of the behaviour and design of skeletal structures.

• You'll explore a range of areas including the types of pin-jointed frameworks and their structural idealisation, types of beam structures and loadings, section analysis for direct bending stresses based on elastic theory, combined axial and bending elastic stresses with application to short columns, foundations and pre-stressed concrete and introductory timber design.

Engineering Mathematics and Mechanics (20 credits)
 

• This module will furnish you with a comprehensive range of mathematical techniques, providing you with the foundation for the study of more advanced mathematical techniques in Year Two.

• You'll develop a strong foundation of skills and knowledge, enabling you to solve civil engineering problems.

Year Two

Structural Analysis, Design and Detailing (40 credits)
 

• This module will act as an introduction to the structural behaviour of elements in reinforced concrete and steelwork, looking in depth at their design and detailing.
• You'll also be introduced to a range of new and emerging technologies within the construction industry.

Construction Practice and the Environment (20 credits)
 

• The aim of this module is to improve your knowledge of practice within the construction industry, introducing you to the roles and responsibilities that you may undertake during placement, after graduation, and as you progress in your career.
• You'll look at key areas such as project organisation, procurement, planning, programming, management, and contract and commercial documentation and administration.

Integration of Engineering Applications (20 credits)
 

• This module will introduce you to new and emerging technologies within the construction industry, in relation to Engineering Surveying, CAD and BIM.
• You'll work in a project group with final year students to simulate a work situation where you'll produce, present and defend a scheme design.

Further Engineering Mathematics and Fluid Mechanics (20 credits)
 

• Building on your mathematical skills and knowledge developed in Year One, this module will provide you with the mathematical and fluid mechanics knowledge and techniques required as a civil engineer.
• In this module you'll look at: probability; calculus; vectors and matrices; and fluid mechanics, including dimensional analysis, flow through pipes, and hydraulic machinery.

Ground Engineering (20 credits)
 

• This module will develop your appreciation of fundamental soil and geological properties.
• You'll measure and test different geological and geotechnical materials, allowing you to recognise and investigate ground-related problems and hazards.

• This module will act as an introduction to the structural behaviour of elements in reinforced concrete and steelwork, looking in depth at their design and detailing.

• You'll also be introduced to a range of new and emerging technologies within the construction industry.

Construction Practice and the Environment (20 credits)
 

• The aim of this module is to improve your knowledge of practice within the construction industry, introducing you to the roles and responsibilities that you may undertake during placement, after graduation, and as you progress in your career.

• You'll look at key areas such as project organisation, procurement, planning, programming, management, and contract and commercial documentation and administration.

Integration of Engineering Applications (20 credits)
 

• This module will introduce you to new and emerging technologies within the construction industry, in relation to Engineering Surveying, CAD and BIM.

• You'll work in a project group with final year students to simulate a work situation where you'll produce, present and defend a scheme design.

Further Engineering Mathematics and Fluid Mechanics (20 credits)

• Building on your mathematical skills and knowledge developed in Year One, this module will provide you with the mathematical and fluid mechanics knowledge and techniques required as a civil engineer.

• In this module you'll look at: probability; calculus; vectors and matrices; and fluid mechanics, including dimensional analysis, flow through pipes, and hydraulic machinery.

Ground Engineering (20 credits)
 

• This module will develop your appreciation of fundamental soil and geological properties.

• You'll measure and test different geological and geotechnical materials, allowing you to recognise and investigate ground-related problems and hazards.

Year Three and Four

Sandwich placement year
 

• In your third year, you'll have the opportunity to take a year-long full-time placement. This year in industry will offer you hands-on experience, adding invaluable knowledge and skills to your CV. Many students return to their placement company after graduation, having developed a useful network of contacts within the industry.
• Recent placement destinations have included VolkerFitzpatrick, BAM Nuttall, Buckingham Group, APR Services and Arcadis. Our civil engineering placement roles have historically all come with a salary, with some students earning over £20,000 for their year.
• Successful completion of the placement year leads to an extra qualification – the Diploma in Professional Practice.

Study abroad
 

• If you're studying on our sandwich route you can also opt to study abroad for a full academic year, or for a semester, during Year Three. This is an optional and additional period of study that complements your degree at NTU as an alternative to taking a work placement.
• This is an exciting opportunity to experience a different national culture, teaching and learning styles and subjects in an international environment. The destination university must be a year abroad / exchange partner of NTU or member of a formally recognised scheme such as the International Student Exchange Programme (ISEP).
• Our NTU Global and student mobility team will support you in finding the right opportunity from one of the many international partners available around the world.
• Successful completion of a period of international study will earn you a standalone award – an International Study Certificate (minimum six weeks) or the International Study Diploma (minimum 36 weeks).

Final Year

Core modules

Major Design and Construction Project (40 credits)
 

• This module provides the opportunity for you to develop abilities in undertaking a design project that is large scale and / or complex in character. It is intended to be a capstone to many of the modules studied through the course, especially over the last two years of study.

• Working in a group, you'll develop high-level team working skills, and have the resource available to undertake an ambitious project, culminating in a final presentation and exhibition.

Infrastructure Engineering 2 (20 credits)
 

• This module will build upon the broad introduction given in Infrastructure Engineering 1.

• You'll use standards, codes of practice and design and construction methodologies to look at pavements and light rail infrastructure, as well as water and energy systems, in analytical detail.

• You'll study these topics in the context of sustainable developments, looking at key elements of environmental legislation.

Strategic and Operational Management (20 credits)
 

• This module is intended to provide prospective civil engineers with an understanding of the complex political, cultural, economic and financial environments within which civil engineering, architectural design and construction organisations operate. You'll look at both the strategic organisational level and the individual project level.

• You'll explore the civil engineering environment, project and risk management, and a range of different management philosophies and techniques.

Optional modules

At the moment there are no optional modules available, and alongside the core modules you'll take:

Simulation and Modelling in Civil Engineering (20 credits)*
 

• In this module, you'll evaluate the Finite Element Method (FEM) for its application to obtain an approximate solution for the analysis of complex structural problems. You'll be introduced to the theory behind FEM, how to derive the governing differential equations and how to apply the method in sample structural problems.

• This module will provide you with the intellectual tools necessary to use proprietary FEM software to produce computer models of various complex structural problems in order to obtain approximate (numerical) solutions. You'll learn how to use the advanced post-processing capability of the software to produce reports.

• You'll be required to produce solutions for two small projects and these solutions will be assessed for your ability to apply, refine and develop computer models to solve structural problems and to generate reports supported with the appropriate graphs and data.

Sustainable Concrete Technology (20 credits)*
 

• This module will provide you with an appreciation of the rheology of fresh and hardened concrete at an advanced level, the properties of its component materials and how these influence durability and performance.

• You'll explore the fundamental principles of durable concrete for civil engineering structures, including the micro structure of concrete, admixtures and cement and the hydration process.

As student numbers grow, it's anticipated that other modules, such as those below, may be introduced alongside Simulation and Modelling in Civil Engineering and Sustainable Concrete Technology to provide genuine option choices.
 

• Geospatial Engineering

• Geophysical and Non-Destructive Investigation

• Advanced Structural Mechanics and Computer Applications

*As things currently stand, these two modules will be delivered as core, i.e. no options will be offered.

Available options will be confirmed at the start of each academic session on an operational basis.

Entry requirements

UK

128 UCAS Tariff points

What are we looking for?
 

• A-levels – ABB, including Maths and excluding General Studies (A-level Maths grade C will be accepted, providing the overall Tariff points are met); or

• BTEC Extended Diploma – DDM, and A-level Maths grade C; or

• BTEC Extended Diploma - DDM, including merit grades in Maths for Technicians and Further Maths for Technicians units; or

• 128 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications including an A-level grade C equivalent in Maths and excluding General Studies
  
  and
   

• GCSEs – English and Maths grade C / 4.

International
 

• A-levels – ABB, including Maths and excluding General Studies (A-level Maths grade C will be accepted, providing the overall Tariff points are met); or
• BTEC Extended Diploma – DDM, and A-level Maths grade C; or
• BTEC Extended Diploma - DDM, including merit grades in Maths for Technicians and Further Maths for Technicians units; or
• 128 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications including an A-level grade C equivalent in Maths and excluding General Studies
• GCSEs – English and Maths grade C / 4.

Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

NTU has a strong civil engineering alumni community, with many graduates working in senior positions in leading national and international companies.

Recent BEng Civil Engineering graduate destinations include:
 

• Balfour Beatty: graduate engineer, graduate site engineer
• BAM Nuttall: civil engineering assistant, graduate engineer
• Abbey Pynford: design engineer
• Acciona Energia: trainee graduate engineer
• Bridgeway Consulting: site investigation engineer
• BWB Consulting: graduate engineer
• Interserve: graduate civil engineer
• Jackson Civil Engineering: graduate engineer
• VINCI Construction: assistant civil engineer
• VolkerFitzpatrick: site engineer, civil engineer.

Civil Engineers are in demand both in the UK and worldwide. There are many types of employers that you may work for, including civil engineering contractors, commercial construction and development companies, private practices, local authorities, and utility companies.