BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering
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91% of our BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering students were satisfied with their course National Student Survey 2023
This Civil Engineering degree will give you the appropriate practical and academic training for a career in civil engineering, including structural design, geotechnical design, project management, highway and transport engineering, and sustainable design and development
You'll gain knowledge of fundamental and more advanced engineering principles, as well as key industry-relevant IT skills. Using industry-standard software, you'll learn how to apply these skills to engineering problems through design and project work. There are practical field courses in the UK, and you'll have the opportunity to complete a work placement as part of your studies.
This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Candidates must hold a masters or doctorate accredited as further learning for CEng to hold accredited qualifications for CEng registration.
See www.jbm.org.uk for further information and details of Further Learning programmes for CEng.
This course is also available through Network75, a combined work and study route.
Our Civil Engineering courses are designed to ensure you are highly employable and a valuable addition to the industry. The areas you will study include all the subjects necessary to meet the expectations of employers, preparing you for a career in this challenging and rewarding field.
Project modules are based on 'live' schemes, supported by guest lectures from professional engineers. Where appropriate, field courses are included to consolidate the knowledge gained in class and help you apply it in real-life situations.
Year One: Civil Engineering degree
- Engineering Maths 1 - 20 credits
- Structural Analysis and Design 1 - 20 credits
- Thermo-Fluid Mechanics - 20 credits
- Civil Engineering materials - 20 credits
- Professional Engineering - 20 credits
- Engineering Communication - 20 credits
Year Two: Civil Engineering degree
- Structural Analysis and Design 2 - 20 credits
- Geotechnics and Hydrology - 20 credits
- Analytical and Hydraulic Methods - 20 credits
- Sustainable Design - 20 credits
- Practicing Civil Engineering - 20 credits
- Highways and Transportation - 20 credits
- Supervised Work Experience - 120 credits
Year Three: Civil Engineering degree
- Individual Project - 20 credits
- Integrated Project - 20 credits
- Structural Analysis and Design 3 - 20 credits
- Geotechnical Engineering - 20 credits
- Environmental Management - 20 credits
- Managing Civil Engineering Projects - 20 credits
Teaching
Our lecturers are experts in their subject areas, having worked in, or with, industry, conducting research, presenting at conferences, publishing their work, and informing your studies with the latest insights. Not only will you be taught by academics who are specialists in their fields, but you will also benefit from guest speakers from the engineering world. An open-door policy ensures that support and advice from academic staff is always available during your studies.
The BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering degree offers a combination of theory and practice, so there is a balance of lectures, tutorials and practical sessions. Many modules require coursework only, while others are a mixture of coursework and exams.
Project modules are based on ‘live’ schemes, supported by guest lectures from professional engineers and, where appropriate, field courses are included to consolidate the knowledge gained in class and help you apply it in real-life situations.
Part-time Civil Engineering students can follow an embedded professional qualification route, which gives them the opportunity to achieve a professional qualification while studying and working.
Research-informed teaching
Your studies will be underpinned by the latest research undertaken by the University’s Engineering Research Centre which collaborates locally, nationally and internationally with partners from industry and academia to provide world-leading knowledge and impact. For you, this means you will be taught by academics who are at the forefront of their specialist field.
Assessment
The Civil Engineering degree is assessed by assignments, coursework, class tests and presentations. Presentations are included as elements of assessments in some modules, in order that key communication and presentation skills can be developed.
Accreditations
This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Candidates must hold a masters or doctorate accredited as further learning for CEng to hold accredited qualifications for CEng registration.
See www.jbm.org.uk for further information and details of Further Learning programmes for CEng.
Placements
Our strong links with the civil engineering profession means you’ll have opportunities for site visits, industrial placements and, for students on sandwich courses, practitioner mentoring.
Facilities
Our civil engineering labs are equipped with the latest computer-aided and controlled machinery.
Lecturers
- Shane Galvin, Head of Subject – Built Environment and Civil Engineering
- Jerome Daly, (Geotechnical Engineering)
- Phil Young, (Architectural Design, Engineering Drawing, Sustainability)
- David Baxter, (Applied Mathematics and Fluid Dynamics)
- Jiping Bai, Associate Professor (Sustainable Materials and Structural Systems)
- Joanne Thomas, Lecturer (Structural Engineering)
- Luan Al-Haddad, (Applied Mathematics and Hydraulics)
- John Kinuthia, Professor (Materials Engineering and Highways)
- Jonathan Oti, Associate Professor (Materials Engineering)
We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
The entry criteria below reflect our standard entry requirements for the course for September 2023. However, all applications received by the University are reviewed holistically and individually. Entry criteria for September 2024 is changing and will be published on ucas.com from 8th May 2023. Entry criteria for September 2024 will be updated on our website from the end of October 2023.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions. USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Here is a link to our Contextual Admissions Policy.
Other qualifications and experience
We can also consider combinations of qualifications and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable. We can sometimes consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or advanced entry to year two or three of a course where this is possible.
To find out which qualifications have tariff points, please refer to the UCAS tariff calculator.
If you need more help or information or would like to speak to our friendly admissions team, please contact us here
Typical A-Level Offer
BCC - CDD to include Mathematics or a numerate subject such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Geography (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical Welsh BACC Offer
Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC - CD at A Level to include Mathematics or a numerate subject such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Geography (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical BTEC Offer
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass in a relevant Maths, Science or Engineering subject (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).
Typical Access to HE Offer
Pass an Access to HE Diploma in Maths, Science or Engineering Diploma and obtain a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points
Additional Requirements
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.
International Entry Requirements
We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.
English Requirements
In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.
However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us.
Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course
August 2023 - July 2024 Fees
Full-time UK: £9000
Full-time International: £14400
Part-time UK: £740 per 20 credits
August 2024 - July 2025 Fees
Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: £15260
Part-time UK: TBC
Student Perks
At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.
Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.
Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Funding
Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs
Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.
UK students
Apply via UCAS if you are a UK residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.
International and EU students
Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK.
Employment opportunities for our civil engineering graduates are excellent. We also have excellent links with industry that can help you get a head start in your career. Our graduates readily secure work with consulting engineers, civil engineering contractors and local authorities, and with a range of companies that include Capita Symonds, Edmund Nuttall Ltd, Hyder, Alan Griffiths Contractors Ltd, Morgan Est, Carillion PLC, Mott MacDonald, Atkins, Network Rail, United Utilities and various international companies.
You could also progress to an engineering PhD or research degree. Find out more about Engineering Research at USW.
Our Careers and Employability Service
As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.
This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.
Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.
Graduate Stories
Student Stories
Highlight Stories
The Pontypridd Campus is made up of two sites: Treforest and Glyntaff. Our students love the community atmosphere, as well as living and studying in the same place. It’s quieter than the cities, with green open spaces and views across the valley.
It’s the community and friendships you’ll build that make this place special. Outside your studies you can experience our amazing sport facilities and Students’ Union.
Living in Halls is a great way to meet new people and make friends. We have high quality accommodation in Treforest, Cardiff and Newport.