About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: H200
- Applications: Full-time: UCAS
Part-time: UWE - please see the 'How to Apply' section under the "Entry" tab for instructions on how to download an application form.
- Level: Undergraduate
- Department: Geography and Environmental Management
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: BSc(Hons): Two years full-time; three years sandwich; three or four years part-time day release; all depending on year of entry.
- Delivery: Full-time, sandwich, part-time day release.
- Study Abroad: No
- Programme leader: Fiona Gleed MEng, CEng, MIStructE
- Key fact: This course is aimed at students with an HNC Civil Engineering or equivalent, or an HNC/HND or Foundation Degree in a closely related subject, allowing entry to the second or third year. Please contact our Future Students team on +44(0)117 32 83333 or admissions@uwe.ac.uk for further advice.
Introduction
Civil Engineers provide the infrastructure that we all rely on in our modern society. As professionals within the construction industry they design, build and maintain roads, bridges, water supply, coastal defences and buildings. This puts Civil Engineers in a prime position to protect and enhance our environment through and sustainable use of resources.
>> Structure
Student's view
Interview with a graduate
"The thing I gained most from UWE is that it's given me confidence in my work. I don't mind sitting in a meeting with other senior managers and engineers because I know I've got the same qualifications as them."
Ben Whaymen
Structure
Content
The course is structured to provide a balance between theory, practice and design. Projects at each level allow you the opportunity to develop your understanding of professional practice whilst drawing together learning from the individual modules and your own experience. To reflect the differing needs of the students, the full-time course includes inter-professional work in each year, whilst the part-time course builds on work-based projects through experiential learning modules.
The Civil Engineering course is taught within the Department of Geography and Environmental Management. The Department has a strong inter-professional focus. In each year of the course, you take integrated modules with other construction professionals including Construction Managers and Quantity Surveyors. We have close links with the rest of the Faculty and our students join those from other Engineering disciplines to study engineering mathematics
The course covers a broad spectrum of Civil Engineering including structures, highways and fluid mechanics, as well as professional practice. These subjects are developed throughout the course with opportunities to specialise in the final year. Projects are used within modules to develop your design skills and integrate subject knowledge.
Please note that we are no longer recruiting onto the first year of this course please visit BEng Civil and Environmental Engineering if you are looking for first year entry.
Year Two
In the second year modules the themes of structures, ground engineering and management are developed. Fluid mechanics and environmental assessment are introduced. You will participate in an inter-professional design project and can select from a range of shared electives covering subjects across all built environment disciplines as well as IT and language skills.
Final year
The final year provides an opportunity to explore more specialised areas. You will take modules in engineering hydrology and facilities management. A strong practice focus is maintained in modules including a design project, a feasibility study, and on professional issues for engineers. You can pursue your specific interests with a choice of modules in structures and ground engineering or transport planning and modelling, as well as a research based dissertation. The broader context of the industry is explored in the final inter-professional module.
Teaching and learning
Teaching methods are varied depending on the module; lectures, project work and tutorials all have a part.
Study time
The course can be studied over three years full-time or five years part-time by day release, leading to the award of a BSc(Hons) Civil Engineering.
Part-time students study the same core modules as full-time students but spread over five years and study on a day release basis. This is a popular route as it allows students to earn whilst they learn and provides a practical context at all stages of the course. To reflect this, students take experiential learning and project modules, based on their work-based experience, in place of the inter-professional modules. Part-time students without the specific qualifications to join the BSc(Hons) course initially may be accepted for the FdSc and then be permitted to join the BSc(Hons) course if their FdSc results are good.
Assessment
Assessment is achieved through a balance of coursework and examinations. Examinations are held in either January or May/June. Coursework will be a variety of essays, reports, surveys, design projects, teamwork or progress tests.
You are encouraged to do 'formative work' to prepare for assessments: this does not count towards your marks but the feedback which you receive will help you to improve your performance. Support is available for students who have difficulties with numeracy, IT, literacy and study skills.
The teaching staff provide a friendly, enabling environment for learning. They are also actively engaged in research or professional practice, ensuring that you learn directly from the latest academic and business developments.
>> Features
Special Features
Professional accreditation
The BSc(Hons) degree is accredited as fully satisfying the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng). See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.
"Incorporated Engineers are characterised by their ability to act as exponents of today's technology through creativity and innovation. To this end, they maintain and manage applications of current and developing technology, and may undertake engineering design, development, manufacture, construction and operation. Incorporated Engineers are variously engaged in technical and commercial management and possess effective interpersonal skills." Engineering Council, UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence.
After an appropriate period of professional experience, graduates can apply for membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers or Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers. The industry is developing routes to allow Incorporated Engineers to undertake further academic study and progress to Chartered Engineer status. Information on routes to membership can be found on the Institution of Civil Engineers website.
Placements
If you are doing the full-time course, you may choose to spend your third year in a placement gaining practical experience which will also qualify you a 'sandwich' degree. The integration of a placement into courses is highly regarded by employers, and you will normally be paid by your placement employer.
A placement connects university with work, allowing you to consolidate your knowledge and skills by applying them in real life professional situations. This experience will also enrich and focus your final year studies. A year's income is also useful to many students. We offer support and guidance to help you find a placement, and you will be visited by a tutor who will also be available if you have any problems.
The course is supported by a group of employers who contribute towards resources used in teaching, offer sponsorship and placements to students, and who are keen to employ our graduates. You can find more information online at www.built-environment.uwe.ac.uk/cpe.
Study facilities
A range of specialist facilities are provided by the Department. A suite of computer rooms supports software for word processing, data analysis and spatial enquiry. They provide access to e-mail and internet, including Department and University websites which enable you to use a vast number of specialist electronic journals and publications, and resources provided by lecturers to support their modules. A Project Room provides space for you to work on individual and group assignments, together with a range of materials and equipment. An audio-visual group provides support for photography, digital imaging, filming and sound recording.
You may also use the well equipped laboratories for concrete and environmental services, environmental physics, earth sciences, and surveying technology, each with specialist technicians supporting both teaching and research.
The Department is based in a large modern building, to which a new set of studios and teaching rooms (designed by a member of the Department) have recently been added.
Student representatives sit on a wide range of committees at University and Department level, where they can influence discussions and decisions which affect your learning experience.
>> Careers
Entry
Typical offers
- GCSE: English Language at grade C or above required.
- Specific subjects: Students normally join this course with an HNC Civil Engineering or equivalent.
Entry requirements
Please see the general information about applications and in addition to the 'typical offer' given here, please read the general information about entry requirements.
We are no longer recruiting onto the first year of this course please visit BEng Civil and Environmental Engineering if you are looking for first year entry.
Advanced entry: If you have a Higher National Certificate/Diploma or a Foundation Degree in a closely related subject, you may be able to join this course in the second or third year or be credited with certain modules, which will shorten the course for you. Please contact us to discuss this.
Students with disabilities
We welcome applications from people with disabilities.
Following is a list of the types of activities that the course normally involves. We are committed to supporting students with disabilities, and wherever possible we will make reasonable adjustments to these activities to enable students with disabilities to successfully complete the course. We encourage applicants to disclose any disabilities or support needs in their application forms, so that we can offer information, advice and support. There is a Disability Service at UWE Bristol and a Disability Support Co-ordinator in the Department.
- Use a computer
- Read and produce drawings, plans and maps
- Visually inspect buildings and locations, including physical movement around and through buildings and locations
- Measure distances and sizes of buildings, materials or sites
- Team working and negotiation
- Laboratory work involving observations and physical manipulation
- Take part in discussions and presentations
Fees
For information on our fees please visit our money matters pages.
Part-time students pay for the modules on which they have enrolled each year. Generally part-time students do either 60 or 80 credits each year. For 2011 the fee for a 10 credit module is £280. So if you are studying 80 credits in the year your fee would be £2240 for the year.
How to apply
Part-time students please download an application form. Please send completed forms to the following address (NOT the one on the form);
FET Admissions, Room 3Q79, UWE Bristol, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY
Open days
We run open days throughout the year, when you can meet lecturers and current students, see the facilities and resources that we offer, and visit the student accommodation. Please ask for details. For further information regarding the course, you are welcome to contact: Fiona Gleed (Programme Leader) Fiona.Gleed@uwe.ac.uk or the Admissions team fet.admissions@uwe.ac.uk +44 (0)117 32 84242.
For further information
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