BSc (Hons) 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 (full-time only)

Study the industry techniques used to collect, manipulate and display geospatial digital data. This module will introduce and explain the methods used to convert graphical and coordinate data into the linear and circular measures required for setting out on-site. You'll also develop skills in the production of plans and drawings using Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) packages.

Site Surveying & Computer-Aided Design (part-time only)

Study the industry techniques used to collect, manipulate and display geospatial digital data. This module will introduce and explain the methods used to convert graphical and coordinate data into the linear and circular measures required for setting out on-site. You'll also develop skills in the production of plans and drawings using Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) packages.

Civil Engineering Management A

Develop your knowledge of civil engineering procedures in the professional and legal working environment. This module will introduce the structure of and roles within the civil engineering profession. You'll identify those involved in civil engineering contracts and their roles and responsibilities both within the contract and in UK Law. You'll be able to demonstrate awareness of health and safety requirements in the delivery of civil engineering projects and the professional responsibilities of the civil engineer about health safety and welfare. This module will enable you to understand how the Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement (CESMM) is applied and apply CESMM to basic civil engineering work items.

Civil Engineering Mathematics

Develop the mathematical understanding needed to explore technical civil engineering topics. You'll learn how to apply a range of mathematical techniques to solve technical civil engineering problems. On completion, you'll be able to manipulate and solve various types of linear and non-linear equations, understand and apply the principles of differential and integral calculus, and use data production and statistical methods to solve construction-related problems.

Engineering Materials Science

Enhance your understanding of the properties of materials in both the design and construction phases of any civil engineering project. You'll study the properties of a range of civil engineering materials including material properties, metals, cement, concrete, mortars, masonry, bricks, timber, inorganic glass, engineering soils – classification and properties, sealants & adhesives.

Engineering Mechanics

This module will introduce you to the behaviour of structures. We'll discuss units, forces, moments, stresses, tension, compression, shear, bending and their application to the analysis of structures. In addition, we'll explore pin jointed frames analysis, determination of bending stresses from general bending equations and loading calculations. You'll learn using simple models to illustrate structural effects, discuss case studies, and examine real structures and analyse their structural behaviour. The module will be delivered through lectures, seminars/tutorials and laboratory sessions.

Civil Engineering Project (full-time only)

Start to plan for your professional development and lifelong learning. This practical module will enable you to put theory into practice and develop skills in the evaluation and resolution of realistic practical problems. You'll practise working as part of a team as you apply the knowledge, understanding and skills you gained in other modules, and where possible experiences from work, to a major piece of work. You'll work as part of a small group to practise co-ordinating your team's skills and abilities.

Civil Engineering Technology Project (part-time only)

Start to plan for your professional development and lifelong learning. This practical module will enable you to put theory into practice and develop skills in the evaluation and resolution of realistic practical problems. You'll practise working as part of a team as you apply the knowledge, understanding and skills you gained in other modules, and where possible experiences from work, to a major piece of work. You'll work as part of a small group to practise co-ordinating your team's skills and abilities.

Year 2

What you'll learn

Highway Engineering A

This module will provide a basic understanding of the wide range of factors affecting highway and traffic engineering and fundamental highway engineering. You'll understand highway scheme development and traffic-highway characteristics and relationships. You'll design horizontal and vertical alignments, junctions and highway infrastructure which comply with relevant design standards. This module will enable you to identify the factors which affect pavement thickness design, select appropriate materials and design flexible and rigid pavements using current empirical and analytical design procedures. You'll also design basic highway drainage and earthworks.

Geotechnical Engineering A

Explore structural geology and the classification and identification of minerals and rocks for engineering purposes. This module will develop your understanding of soil mechanics principles for permeability and shear strength, and of shallow and pile foundation design and settlement calculations.

Structural Design

Build on the knowledge of forces, moments and stresses you developed in the Engineering Mechanics module and your understanding of the properties of materials from the Materials Science module. You'll study the design of structural elements in reinforced concrete, masonry, timber and steel. We'll cover the factors which influence the suitability of materials within construction and the interrelationship between design and construction. You'll understand different approaches to structural design and will develop an awareness of the design process and current codes of practice applied to an array of basic structural elements in a range of materials.

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. You'll understand the professional role and responsibilities of civil engineering and allied professions, and recognise the range and application of contract types. We'll explore how to apply contract-based processes especially related to payment and prepare detailed risk assessments and method statements for a range of civil engineering activities. You'll plan, monitor and control a complex project.

Engineering Materials Technology

This module will build the basic knowledge of construction materials you gained in the Engineering Materials Science module. We'll cover topics including properties of materials and their use and deterioration in service. This module will have a particular emphasis on concrete including its design, use onsite and the deterioration of reinforced concrete structures. We'll examine mechanisms of corrosion and prevention of corrosion and physical metallurgy and polymers and their application in civil engineering.

Civil Engineering Design Project

Develop and consolidate your learning from modules in your first and second years through a multidisciplinary design activity. You'll gain an appreciation of the infrastructural and structural aspects of a civil engineering project. You'll also consider the management, planning, health and safety, sustainability and resource implications.

Civil Engineering Design Project - Engineers Without Borders (EWB)

This module will provide an opportunity for you to become involved with The Engineering for People Design Challenge. The Challenge is an award-winning initiative delivered by Engineers Without Borders UK. The Challenge will allow you to learn and practice the ethical, environmental, social and cultural aspects of engineering design.

Structural Analysis

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

Quantitative Methods for Decision-Making

Build on the fundamental mathematical and management skills you developed in your first and second years of study. This module will focus on mathematical methods that support decision-making in a civil engineering context. You'll use statistical analysis, operational research, financial appraisal, and traditional mathematical techniques to examine engineering scenarios. Overall, you'll learn to justify management decisions based on logic, quantitative modelling, and objective analysis. You'll learn through a series of lectures and supporting workshops, tutorials, and IT sessions.

Hydraulics & Water Engineering

You'll need an understanding of the behaviour of fluids to solve many civil engineering problems. This module will introduce you to the fundamental principles of fluid flow. You'll understand how to use these principles to analyse and solve basic civil engineering problems involving pipe flow and open channel flow systems. We'll also cover the fundamental principles and issues associated with the ‘water industry’.

Civil Engineering Major Project

This module will enable you to use the skills you developed throughout your course to produce an individual major piece of work to a strict time scale. Your project will be a clearly defined brief based on a simulated industrial scenario. You'll need to demonstrate sound judgment from an engineering and management perspective. Your work could support you when demonstrating your employability to employers.

Year 3

What you'll learn

Structural Engineering

Further, develop your understanding of the principles and applications of structural analysis and design. This module will consider indeterminate structural forms with particular emphasis on limit state concepts and related design applications. You'll study both stiffness and flexibility methods of analysis and you'll use industry-standard software to complement 'manual’ analysis computations. This module will enable you to study analytical methods and related design principles in an integrated manner. You'll use industry-standard case studies to produce code-compliant structural solutions to a professional standard.

Highway Engineering B

Further insight into the factors which affect highway and traffic engineering, developing your expertise in specialist areas of highway design, construction and maintenance. You'll develop an understanding of highway material properties in-service and associated site and laboratory testing. You'll also practise designing complex horizontal and vertical alignments, including junction layouts, which comply with relevant industrial design standards. We'll encourage you to undertake a range of pavement thickness designs. You'll understand and learn how to apply the principles of highway maintenance and management. The module will develop your knowledge of highway construction issues including weak ground, contamination, environment and sustainability.

Geotechnical Engineering B

We'll develop your appreciation of site investigation techniques, particularly relating to the interpretation of geotechnical data. You'll look at design applications related to water flow, effective stress parameters, slope stability, foundation-bearing capacity and retaining walls. We'll also explore both hand calculations and computer methods. This module will enable you to practise applying site investigation techniques and interpreting geotechnical data to write geotechnical reports. You'll also explore how water plays a major role in influencing geotechnical design, i.e. the consideration of effective stress parameters and the use of seepage analysis. You'll undertake basic design calculations for foundations, slopes and retaining structures and use computer software programs to support communication and design calculation.

Infrastructure Asset Management

Explore infrastructure asset management, which is the ongoing maintenance, repair and upgrading of civil engineering infrastructure through the whole life cycle. This module will introduce terminology and systems used in asset management decision-making. You'll use industrial case studies to apply your learning and gain a comprehensive understanding of the terminology and systems used in asset management. We'll practise interpreting and critically appraising a range of operational research techniques using manual and digital technologies. You'll also understand how to apply optimum decision-making strategies when considering how asset management can support financial, environmental and social sustainability. You'll also design and critically evaluate an asset management system for a civil engineering specialism, for example, highways, water or rail, etc., in line with current industrial practice.

Civil Engineering Dissertation

Research and write an in-depth study on an area of civil engineering. You could use laboratory-based study, field data gathering and analysis, development and testing of computer tools for civil engineering problem analysis or in-depth design analysis. Your project will be technically based and you'll strengthen your self-direction, decision making and understanding of civil engineering. You'll present your research in a traditional dissertation format.

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

A year of paid employment in ithe ndustry 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.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of mathematics, science, and engineering principles across a range of civil engineering subjects, notably structural engineering, geotechnical and highway engineering, civil engineering materials,
   hydraulics, surveying and civil engineering management.
2. Identify design requirements and use analytical techniques and design practice to produce practical solutions relevant to the role of an Incorporated Engineer.
3. Understand the iterative analytical nature of engineering problems in determining cost effective, sustainable and robust solutions utilising contemporary digital technologies, advanced computing techniques, and traditional manual methods.
4. Use contemporary Codes of Practice and be aware of the regulatory framework in which design is practised. Demonstrate an appreciation of the role of the designer in achieving whole-life performance, especially about health and safety and sustainable development.
5. Recognise the importance of leadership, teamwork and communication applicable to the role of an incorporated engineer and demonstrate relevant aspects, utilising appropriate interpersonal skills, whilst working both as a team member and individually.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of the context in which civil engineering projects are delivered and managed through procurement, contract administration, planning and performance. Apply contemporary legislative requirements about health and safety and environmental impact to contextualise entry-level knowledge in civil engineering.

Civil engineering is a rewarding, creative and exciting profession, and civil engineers are in high demand. Engineers come from all different backgrounds and increasingly work on a diverse range of projects around the world. The flexible programme of core and option modules on this course covers the major civil engineering disciplines that will enable you to apply for roles in design, construction or project management. You’ll also develop a range of skills through IT software applications, laboratory investigations, surveying exercises and project work to help increase your employability.

We offer an ideal further study opportunity on our MSc Civil Engineering. Our postgraduate courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learned, benefit from our links with industry and give you a CV that will catch the eye of employers.