Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To provide a high quality educational experience that develops students’ skills and aspirations, including opportunities for sponsorship and training from a leading construction company, in preparation for a career in the construction industry, and make a valuable contribution to society;

• To provide a broad and well-balanced degree programme that develops students’ knowledge, understanding and practical  skills over the full range of core subject areas equipping them for employment across all fields of the civil engineering industry, as well as other related fields;

• To provide an accredited programme of study with a strong emphasis on industrial relevance that fully satisfies the educational base to become an Incorporated Engineer; with the opportunity on merit to transfer to the MEng and fully satisfy the educational base to become a Chartered Engineer;

• To enable students to realise their potential and successfully achieve their own personal goals.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

The modular BEng programmes were first introduced in 1995.  The aims, intended learning outcomes and curriculum are continually reviewed and currently take account of UK-SPEC, the JBM Accreditation Guidelines, the QAA Engineering Benchmark statements for Engineering, and the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, as well as input from our industrial contacts.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

1. mathematics, science and engineering principles in the field of structures, geotechnics, water engineering and surveying
2. properties, behaviour, fabrication and use of relevant materials
3. construction technology and civil engineering practice
4. construction management and contract procedure
5. the role of codes of practice and regularity framework in design and practice
6. principles of design techniques specific to civil engineering
7. principles of relevant information technology
8. the role of the professional engineer in society, including health, safety and sustainability issues.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate competence in identifying, defining and solving engineering problems
2. apply appropriate mathematical and computer-based methods for modelling and analysing engineering problems
3. apply appropriate knowledge of techniques and codes of practice to the design of components and systems
4. demonstrate proficiency in the evaluation and integration of information and processes in project work
5. display the skills necessary to define, conduct and report on an original research project

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

1. use laboratory and field equipment competently and safely
2. observe, record, process and analyse data from the laboratory and field
3. use computational tools and packages
4. prepare technical reports and give technical presentations
5. prepare technical drawings, both manually and using CAD
6. apply knowledge and skills in a professional environment through a twelve month period of work experience (DIS students only)

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

1. communicate effectively using written, oral and graphical skills
2. use IT effectively (WP, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, email, WWW and specialist software)
3. use mathematical skills appropriate to an engineer
4. work independently
5. work in a team environment
6. manage workloads and time effectively
7. work with limited or contradictory information
8. monitor, plan and reflect upon skills and training for career development (DIS students only).

4. Programme structure

Modules with their weights in parentheses are taught in semesters one and two and assessed at the end of semester two.

4.1 Part A - Introductory Modules

4.1.1 Semester 1

(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 60)

(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES (none)

4.1.2 Semester 2

(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 60)

(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES (none)

4.2 Part B - Degree Modules

4.2.1 Semester 1

(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 60)

(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES (none)

4.2.2 Semester 2

(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 60)

(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES (none)

4.3 Part C - Degree Modules

4.3.1 Semester 1

 (i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 50)

(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES (total modular weight 10)

One module from: 

or a language module at the appropriate level which will be treated as a degree level module, and is subject to approval by the Year Tutor.

Students will not normally be permitted to take a language module at levels 1 or 2 in Part C. 

4.3.2 Semester 2

(i) COMPULSORY MODULES (total modular weight 40)

(ii) OPTIONAL MODULES

One module from Group 1 plus one module from Group 2.

Group 1:

or a language module at the appropriate level which will be treated as a degree level module, and is subject to approval by the Year Tutor.

Students will not normally be permitted to take a language module at levels 1 or 2 in Part C.

Group 2:

or a language module at the appropriate level which will be treated as a degree level module, and is subject to approval by the Year Tutor.

Students will not normally be permitted to take a language module at levels 1 or 2 in Part C.

NOTE:-
Students will only be permitted to take one language module in either Semester 1 or 2.

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

5.1 In order to progress from Part A to Part B and from Part B to C and to be eligible for the award of an Honours degree, candidates must not only satisfy the minimum requirements set out in Regulation XX but also:

Students registered before September 2009 should meet the following programme requirements:       

In order to progress from Parts A or B, or to qualify for the award of an Honours Degree in Part C, candidates must obtain at least 40% in modules worth 100 credits in each Part and at least 30% in other modules in each Part.  

Students registered from September 2009 onwards should meet the following programme requirements:

In order to progress from Part A or Part B, or to qualify for the award of an Honours Degree in Part C, candidates must obtain 120 credits in each Part.

5.2 Candidates cannot progress from Part B to the DIS year until Part B progression requirements have been met.

5.3 Candidates in Part B who wish to transfer to the MEng programme in Civil Engineering must normally satisfy the progression requirements of that programme in both Part A and Part B to be eligible.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification

Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their performance in degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C. The percentage mark for each Part will be combined in the ratio Part B 40 : Part C 60  to determine the final percentage mark.