Civil and Environmental Engineering BEng (Hons)

In year two, you will continue to develop the skills and knowledge you’ve learnt. We do this by embedding the following four principles into the curriculum and developing your:

• Technical skills – digital fluency, backed with the right academic knowledge
• Study skills – to be an adaptive, independent and proactive learner
• Professional skills – to have the behaviour and abilities to succeed in your career
• Global awareness – the beliefs and abilities to be a resilient, confident and motivated global citizen

Modules

• Hydraulics and Transportation Engineering – 20 credits

  The aim of the module is to enhance your understanding for two key subjects of Civil Engineering: Hydraulics and Transportation Engineering. For Hydraulics, you will study all the essential theory required to understand pipe and open channel flow at a basic level. For Transportation Engineering, the module will deepen your knowledge and critical understanding of highways and transportation, covering relevant content on Highway and Rail Engineering at an intermediate level.

  Compulsory

• Structural Analysis and Design – 20 credits

  The module aims to develop your knowledge and methods of structural design with the underpinning principles and structural analytical methods.  This module will provide you with fundamental knowledge and skill in structural modelling using industrial standard computer software.  You will be encouraged to make maximum use of knowledge and experience gained in other civil engineering modules for the solution of design problems.  Consideration for Sustainability in design will be highlighted. This module will consider aspects of structural modelling, design and carbon reduction considerations embodied in the design process.

  Compulsory

• Civil Engineering Design Project – 20 credits

  The aim of this module is to apply core civil engineering theory to a 'real' civil engineering project, demonstrating the link between theory and applied practice. This will incorporate theory previously learnt and applied practice taught through the module supported by examples of industry practice. The project will allow students to address some, or all, of Sustainable Development Goals 9, 11, 12, and 13.

  Compulsory

• Soil Mechanics and Materials – 20 credits

  This module will give you more advanced knowledge of the characteristics of construction materials, their application and their environmental impact in a sustainable and durable built environment, along with further understanding of strength and the behavioural response of soils incorporating core engineering knowledge with practical application. This module will also develop the necessary skills to acquire and analyse experimental data for use in solving engineering problems of a routine nature commensurate with the IEng pathway.

  Compulsory

• Energy Project Management with EIA - 20 credits

  The aim of this module is to provide you with the ability to apply a range of techniques to the management of projects and systems in the energy industry. The module introduces the key issues and language involved in managing projects by exploring project management tools, techniques and terminology. The module will explore the role of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a process for identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the environmental impacts of energy developments prior to major construction decisions being taken. An introduction to the development of EIA and the current legislative requirements are followed by an examination of risk and impact assessment methods, and data sources. The module will develop skills and the processes required to predict significant environmental impacts and propose mitigation measures and plans to implement them.

  Compulsory

• Sustainable Environments in Society: Developing Solutions – 20 credits

  In this module, you will undertake a critical analysis of a specified location and associated project that has been influenced by the United Nation's (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Your analysis of the project will explore the impact, success or failure alongside possible solutions that will be fundamental to the positive future development of the location. You will research, appraise, critique, develop and then communicate to a wider audience the impact and implementation of the identified SDGs for the location/ project. The focus of the review will be linked to your academic discipline within the Built and Natural Environment and draw upon prior learning from your previous cognate knowledge.

  Compulsory

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement² can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee³ of £1250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time, you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

• UK Work Placement – 0 credits

  This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

  Optional

• International Study/Work Placement – 0 credits

  This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

  Optional

The third year aims to bring students to the level necessary to enter professional practice as an Incorporated Civil and Environmental Engineer; reflecting both the latest advances and research work in the subject together with the contemporary job market.

At this stage, each student will also undertake a body of independent research during Year 3 of their course within their ‘Research Dissertation’ module. The module leader coordinates the operation of this module – organises research training sessions for students, disseminates submission requirements and marking criteria, briefs students on gaining ethics approval etc. Students are given a list of supervisors and indicative titles / areas of research at the end of their second year and select their project and supervisor accordingly. They meet their project supervisor during Semester one to begin planning the project and discuss progress on preparatory work. They then undertake the main body of the project work during Semester two.

Within your individual project, you will be expected to carry out detailed research into a technical aspect from the course with the help of an experienced supervisor. Project topics typically relate to research areas of supervisors and take the form of experimental projects largely relating to structural, material, sustainable or geomaterial research.

Modules

• Interdisciplinary Project – 20 credits

  The aim of this module is to demonstrate your skills base through the continued development of critical, transferable study skills that are of practical benefit in the workplace and that promote and enable continued professional development, and by bringing skills developed in other areas of the course(s) to a practical project delivered as part of a group, as well as incorporate internationalisation through an international field trip2, drawing from the wide range of nationalities and experiences of the students as appropriate to the professional body guidance.

  Skills are developed through a continuous review of collaborative and communication experiences while tackling an interdisciplinary group project that aims to further develop the students’ understanding of industrial collaboration within a Building Information Management scenario. The purpose of the project is to develop key learning skills and personal attributes that are required within the Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Built Environment professions, these will also prepare the students for professional work, demonstrating teamwork, project planning, critical and research evaluation as well as technical and personal reflection.

  Compulsory

• Research Dissertation – 20 credits

  The aim of this module is to enable you to develop your research skills by conducting primary or secondary research focused on a specific problem of relevance to their discipline. You would use different methods and research skills, gained over previous years of study, to effectively communicate research novelties and ideas to the academic and non-academic communities. It will contribute to the research training aim appropriate to your level of study and requires you to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of research and to show an appropriate level of competence in the design, execution, and reporting of a research project.

  It will enable you to understand the importance of correct and critical analysis of all the factors involved in a problem and develop your initiative as you pursue and execute the investigation, demonstrating originality and creativity. You will be required to ensure that your work conforms to appropriate codes of practice and standards, meeting the ethical requirements of the University. Successful completion of the research investigation will require a methodical approach and planning, self-management, and effective communication. Support and guidance will be provided by a supervisor who will be the primary point of contact for a student on this module.

  Compulsory

• Engineering Hydrology – 20 credits

  There is a strong need for engineering graduates who can solve problems such as flooding and pollution. This module is designed to cover essential engineering principles like environmental fluid mechanics, hydrology and hydraulic engineering to enable students to apply mathematical and fluid mechanics principles to solve a range of hydrological problems. The course will prepare you for work in areas such as the water industry, sustainable urban development, flood and environmental management.

  Compulsory

• Optional modules, 2 from the following 3:

  CCUS and Negative Emission Technologies – 20 credits

  To have a chance of limiting warming below 1.5°C, most recent scenarios from integrated assessment models (IAMs) require large-scale deployment of negative emissions technologies (NETs). These are technologies that result in the net removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.  This module will first provide an up-to-date status report of the global carbon budget and the role of NETs in meeting climate targets. This is followed by a technological overview of each of the various NETs. The module also explores how we quantify the potential global impacts of the different NETs on various factors to determine the biophysical limits to, and economic costs of, their widespread application.

  Emerging Hazards – 20 credits

  This module will assess the impact of what might be described as ‘Emerging Hazards’. Such hazards are those which appear to be becoming more common and/or widespread and which often fall into the categories of biological, geological and chemical (indeed, biogeochemical). Common features of such hazards include their wide spatial distributions and significant numbers of people affected. The causes of these Emerging Hazards will be examined, along with compounding factors that influence their impact and an overall investigation into the risk of their occurrence. A critical evaluation of the possible remedies to alleviate the scale, intensity and impact of such hazard events will then be explored, along with a consideration of the prospects for the future. 

  Pressures on our Planet – 20 credits

  The aim of this module is to explore the role of Earth Science in its relationship with contemporary environmental change. Specifically, the module will lead you to better understand how environmental processes, products and hazards interact with the human environment to produce new and ever evolving challenges for society. Our response to such challenges will be examined, as will the identification of opportunities to mitigate these impacts and adjustments to how we interact with the natural environment. Throughout the module, emphasis will be placed on how the learnings will inform meeting the SDG targets of Good Health and Well-being for all (SDG 3), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) and Climate Action (SDG 13).

  Optional

• Optional module, 1 from the following 2:

  Renewable Transport – 20 credits

  The transport sector (with the exception of freight and heavy-duty vehicles) is more amenable to decarbonisation than other sectors of the global economy. Transport therefore poses one of the most difficult and emotive challenges to energy system decarbonisation. Through studying this module, you will take a detailed look at the global transport sector by an examination of the various transport modes and their outlook in light of the transition to a decarbonised world. 

  One of the key themes that you will learn on this module is how the transition to decarbonised transport within the wider energy sector will be increasingly influenced by electrification and the commercialisation of hydrogen as a transport fuel.  You will use case studies and your own research on evolving fuel technology to demonstrate your understanding of the progress towards sector-wide improvements in transport sustainability. 

  Armed with an understanding of transport principles, you will learn about the influence of electrification and hydrogen as fuel in the transport sector. Case studies and evolving fuel and vehicle technologies within the transport sector will be used to illustrate and evidence progress in the sector, and policy recommendations for achieving sector-wide improvements especially in freight and heavy-duty vehicles in this age of digital Physical Distribution Management. 

  This module will majorly link to UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities” in that transport contributes significantly to global carbon emissions, as well as contributing towards parts of SDG goal #9 “Industries, Innovation and Infrastructure” by developing more efficient uses of resources to reduce carbon emissions, and SDG #13 “Climate Action” by reducing transport demand and thus reducing carbon and Greenhouse gas emissions. 

  Nature Based Solutions – 20 credits

  This module will give you the opportunity to evaluate the approaches of conservation, restoration and improved management of ecosystems across a catchment scale that can alleviate the impact of contemporary challenges such as climate change, habitat loss, urbanisation and sustainable development. We evaluate a range of nature-based solutions, evaluating their benefits, costs, and mitigation potential. You will also have the opportunity to participate in a residential field trip² to explore nature-based solutions in action and also to design your own nature-based solution. Your learning will be informed by module staff’s research experience (REL). 

  Optional