BEng Civil Engineering

Teaching & Learning

Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through several modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.

Year 1

What you'll learn

Surveying A & Computer-Aided Design

An insight into the techniques of observation and calculations using computing technology to collect, manipulate and display geospatial data.

Engineering Mechanics

Take a look at the behaviour of structures - forces, stresses, strain, tension, compression and bending - and recognise the role of materials testing.

Applied Mechanics

Extend your study of the behaviour of structures. You'll explore more advanced examples of loading calculations, Mohr’s circles of stress and strain, torsion, buckling, pre-stressing, strain energy and virtual work, and further soil mechanics. We'll use simple models to illustrate structural effects and discuss case studies. You'll also be encouraged to examine real structures and analyse their structural behaviour.

Advanced Mathematics

Discover the mathematical techniques and analytical processes essential in providing solutions to building services engineering problems.

Civil Engineering Management A

Develop your knowledge of civil engineering procedures in the professional and legal working environment.

Engineering Materials Science

Enhance your understanding of the properties of materials in both the design and construction phases of any civil engineering project.

Year 2

What you'll learn

Engineering Materials Chemistry

Build on the knowledge of construction materials you gained in the Engineering Materials Science module. You'll further investigate the chemistry-material relationship. This module will cover topics including properties of materials and their use and deterioration in service, with an emphasis on concrete including its design and use on site and the deterioration of reinforced concrete structures. Above all, we will emphasize sustainability, i.e. performance of low-carbon concrete. You'll also examine mechanisms of corrosion and prevention of corrosion, as well as physical metallurgy and polymers and their application in civil engineering. This module will also explore mechanical behaviour, e.g. molecular weight and the difference between for example LDPE and UHMWPE.

Civil Engineering Management B

Build your understanding of the commercial and contractual procedures involved in delivering civil engineering projects, such as preparing detailed risk assessments and recognising different contract types.

Fluid Mechanics 1

Many civil engineering problems require an understanding of the behaviour of fluids. This module will introduce you to the fundamental principles of fluid mechanics. It will develop your knowledge of these principles to analyse and solve basic civil engineering problems including buoyancy; the laws of continuity, energy and momentum; Ideal and real fluids; and flow in pipes.

Introduction to Structural Design

An introduction to the factors which influence the sustainability of materials within construction, helping you to appreciate the rationale behind different approaches to structural design.

Structural Analysis Techniques

Combined with design, the analysis of structural elements and systems is one of the main themes of civil engineering courses. This module will consolidate and extend your understanding of the concepts of structural analysis techniques and their application to a variety of statically determinate and statically indeterminate beam and frame structures. You'll develop an understanding of the load-displacement behaviour of a range of structural configurations. You'll also gain an appreciation of the relationship between structural analysis and the design of basic structural elements and systems.

Geotechnical Engineering: Application & Theory

This module will introduce you to structural geology and the classification/identification of minerals and rocks for engineering applications. It will develop your knowledge of soil mechanics from first principles concerning permeability and shear strength. The module will develop your fundamental knowledge of shallow and pile foundation design and settlement calculations concerning theory and application.

Engineering Mathematics

Further, develop your understanding and knowledge of the analytical techniques studied in previous modules. You'll apply these techniques in providing solutions to engineering problems and effectively communicate the results.

Year 3

What you'll learn

Geotechnical Engineering: Design & Theory

Develop your appreciation of site investigation techniques, particularly about the interpretation of geotechnical data. The analysis of this data is presented by practical laboratory experiments. You'll also study theory and design applications related to seepage pressure/water flow, effective stress parameters, slope stability, foundation-bearing capacity/settlement and retaining walls. This module will cover both hand calculations and computer methods (including finite element/difference packages).

Infrastructure Engineering

Consider a range of civil engineering infrastructure such as waste and clean water engineering, bridges, tunnels, power generation, highways environmental considerations etc. You'll identify the design requirements for each and consider typical solutions. You'll be able to describe conceptual design considerations for different elements of infrastructure.

Independent Project

Complete an in-depth study of a topic relevant to civil engineering projects. This will typically involve pursuing knowledge through a laboratory-based study, through field data gathering and analysis, thorough development and testing of computer tools for civil engineering problem analysis or through in-depth design analysis. The project you undertake will be technically based and will develop your self-direction, decision making and understanding of a specific area of civil engineering. You'll present the final output in a traditional dissertation format.

Structural Engineering Techniques

Advance your knowledge of the principles and applications of structural analysis and design. Indeterminate structural forms are considered with particular emphasis being placed on limit state concepts and related design applications. You'll study both stiffness and flexibility methods of analysis, and you'll appreciate the role of industry-standard software in complementing ‘manual’ analysis computations. Analytical methods and related design principles are studied and you'll be encouraged to critically evaluate alternative design solutions. You'll produce code-compliant structural solutions to a professional standard in response to industry-standard case studies.

Numerical Management Techniques

Build upon the mathematical and management skills you established in your first and second years of study. You'll focus on mathematical methods that support decision-making in a civil engineering context. We'll use operational research, financial appraisal and traditional mathematical techniques to examine engineering scenarios. You'll learn to justify management decisions based on logic, quantitative simulations and objective analysis.

Fluid Mechanics 2

Many civil engineering problems require an understanding of the behaviour of fluids. This module will underpin and extend the fundamental principles of fluid mechanics that you studied in your second year. You'll develop those principles to analyse and solve hydraulics and water engineering problems.

This course offers the opportunity to take a ‘sandwich’ year

A year of paid employment in the industry will build your skills and experience. This is usually taken between the second and third year of your degree, typically making your course four years in total.

Students who choose the sandwich route find it helps with both their studies and getting a job after graduation.

It can build your confidence, contacts, and of course your CV. Leeds Beckett advertises lots of placement opportunities and provides support in helping you find the right placement for you.

Civil engineers are in high demand. This course covers the major civil engineering disciplines that will enable you to work in design, construction or project management. Working in civil engineering is a rewarding, innovative profession and engineers increasingly work with a variety of people across teams with global career opportunities. You’ll also develop a range of practical skills through IT software applications, laboratory investigations, surveying exercises and project work to help increase your employability.

You could progress to a postgraduate course before gaining hands-on experience and pursuing chartered engineer status. You might decide to do a master’s degree part-time while gaining experience working in the field. Alternatively, you may prefer to do a full year in industry and then return to study.