Civil Engineer Degree Apprenticeship

You gain the underpinning knowledge of construction technology. The materials and techniques used to achieve the basic principles of construction technology are constantly evolving to enable the construction industry to deliver better quality buildings. Scarcity of resources and the continuing demand of more sophisticated clients, end users and other stakeholder interests, are driving the construction industry to provide buildings which facilitate enhanced environmental and energy performance, and greater flexibility, in response to ever increasing financial, environmental, legal and economic constraints.

You are introduced to different technological concepts used to enable the construction of building elements; from substructure to completion, by understanding the different functional characteristics and design considerations when selecting the most suitable technological solution.

You explore the role of professional civil engineers, their essential involvement in the construction and maintenance of earthwork and substructure activities, and the key technologies they apply.

You cover: earthwork activities, temporary and permanent dewatering procedures, methods and techniques used to create substructures and the common hazards, technical problems and solutions associated with modern civil engineering activities. The impact of earthworks on superstructures and infrastructure is also explored. Principles of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) are also examined and design principles of infiltration systems introduced.

Although there is a strong theoretical underpinning there is also considerable emphasis on enabling you to become aware of the processes of selection of appropriate methods and resources utilising realistic case studies.

You gain an overview of the industry’s size and operation of construction companies. Health and safety performance is considered and also how BIM has the potential to influence a range of construction processes and operations.

You develop an understanding of construction practice and management processes. You investigate and research the modern construction industry, both from the practical skills embedded within the industry through to its links with development on-site and the connection with construction management; including roles within the industry.

You develop basic knowledge of the properties of materials needed to successfully complete the other core and specialist modules. You analyse, apply, investigate and evaluate scientific principles and the properties and behaviour of materials in construction related situations. It is contextualised for construction, civil engineering or building services engineering and the delivery and assessment is tailored to your particular vocational needs.

You are introduced to common types of structure used in engineering and assess the types of loads they must resist. You are provided with the analytical skills necessary to design the components that make up the structure. Specific areas of study includes basic concept of force, stress and strain, properties of materials and sections, analysis of frames, beams and columns, equilibrium conditions and statically determinacy, beam bending moment, shear force and deflection. 

You gain an introduction to the importance of geological processes and the properties of soils and rocks in civil engineering. You perform laboratory practicals in soil and rock description and geological map interpretation

You apply the skills and knowledge that you developed in other modules of the course (and where possible experiences from work) within a major piece of work that reflects the type of performance expected of construction technologists. 

You develop your ability to identify, define, plan, develop and execute a successful project by working through a clear process. You develop a project brief, outlining a problem that requires a solution, as well as a project specification, the specific requirements of which the final outcome must meet.

You research the problem, undertaking a feasibility study, and consider a range of potential solutions using critical analysis and evaluation techniques to test, select and contextualise your preferred solution. You also provide a work and time management plan, keeping a diary of all activities, reflecting on their process and their learning throughout the project.

This module develops your underpinning mathematical knowledge and techniques relevant to studies in construction and civil engineering. You are introduced to mathematical methods and statistical techniques in order to analyse and solve problems within a construction engineering context. It has been designed to enable you to develop your knowledge of algebra, trigonometry, calculus, statistics and probability, for the analysis and solution of realistic construction problems.

You develop mathematical knowledge in differential equations and numerical methods and extend your base of techniques to solve a variety of problems which arise in engineering domains. The emphasis is on developing competence in the identification of the most appropriate method to solve a given problem and its subsequent application.

You develop academic skills, work-based learning strategies and personal resilience for both the workplace and your studies, exploring an area of engineering that influences professional practice.

Gain an understanding of construction management techniques relevant to projects at the design and production stages with regards to scheduling, estimating, cost and time control, quality issues, ethical issues in construction, and health and safety. You cover essential practical and transferable skills by evidencing your skills in your job role – with workplace teams and on-site training activities.

This module further develops your understanding of earth materials and their impact on civil engineering. You will analyse soils and examine how they interact with structures and how they behave under load.

The module will also extend your knowledge of construction materials to include Bituminous materials, Glass, Plastics, Non-ferrous metals, Composites, Smart and Energy-saving materials. These materials will be discussed with respect to their engineering properties and selection criteria for the design and construction of civil engineering structures.

Lectures, involving practical demonstrations, will be used to outline the concepts and techniques augmented with in class discussion/seminars of case studies. Tutorials and assignments will be used to gain skills in applying the techniques to designs.

Assessment will be an in course assignment and an end examination.

Explore an area of theory that influences your practice, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to become an effective higher education work-based learner. Foster personal insight into learning and development, critically reflecting on your professional practice.
Document work-based evidence to demonstrate teamwork and develop key skills needed to plan and manage a project relevant to your role, focusing on various areas of the infrastructure required in today’s society.

Gain employability skills such as project management, presentation of work, research, and commercial awareness to support problem solving in a technical engineering context. You also develop a holistic approach to engineering practice, becoming critical of the potential impacts of designing and constructing engineering artefacts. Integrate environmental, social and economic considerations, as well as health and safety concepts, in your project proposals. Apply some of the construction management principles and techniques you learn in the Construction Management and Professional Skills module to a typical civil engineering project.

The basic properties of water at rest and in motion are introduced and used to investigate problems related to the storage of water in bulk and to its conveyance in known quantities through pipelines, rivers and open channels. Consideration is given to the natural water cycle (hydrological cycle) and how man has interacted with it to produce the hydrosocial cycle for his own use and benefit. Rainfall is a major component of the hydrological cycle and the module gives an insight into rainfall types, rainfall losses and rainfall runoff. Water and wastewater treatment are introduced.

Module content is delivered via lectures, tutorials and practical sessions and is formally assessed using one assignment and an end examination.

The module will develop your ability to analyse structures and produce designs. You will extend your knowledge to solve elastic statically indeterminate systems and learn how to design common structural elements in accordance to appropriate National and European Standards.

Lectures will be used to introduce you to the techniques and underlying principles. Problem-solving seminars will provide the opportunity for the students to demonstrate understanding and develop competence in the application of these; these will also provide the opportunity for formative feedback.

Assessment comprises a coursework and an end examination.

Explore an area of theory that influences your practice, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to become an effective higher education work-based learner. Foster personal insight into learning and development, critically reflecting on your professional practice.

Gain the knowledge and skills you need to become an information manager, or Building Information Modelling (BIM) manager, in your future career. Learn how to manage digital BIM-based projects for the construction and engineering fields following the ISO 19650 standards.

Manage the different aspects of information including 3D model, time and cost to create, and coordination of construction projects within the BIM collaboration platform using software like Revit and Naviswork.

In this module the design process is examined together with the various techniques used in practice. The concepts and methods are applied to a variety of foundation types. The interaction of the structural forces with the ground is considered in addition to the design of ground support and associated earthworks. Lectures will be used to outline the concepts and techniques augmented with in class discussion/seminars of case studies. Seminars and assignments will be used by the students to gain skills in applying the techniques to designs. Assessment will be in the form of a design report (30%) and an examination (70%).

This module extends the development of independent learning skills by allowing you to investigate an area of engineering or technology for an extended period.

You receive training in writing technical reports for knowledgeable readers and you produce a report or dissertation of the work covered. In addition, you give an oral presentation, a poster presentation or both. The topic can be in the form of a research project or a design project.

You develop key skills in research, knowledge application and creation through keynote lectures where appropriate and self-managed independent study. Support is provided through regular tutorial sessions.

The module develops the structural engineering application of analysis and design concepts and procedures in a range of materials to provide the student with the knowledge required to carry out the design of structural elements and systems. Appropriate European and/or National Standards will be used for the design of structural components of different materials.

Building on the detailed knowledge of construction materials developed in previous modules, students will gain an appreciation of several of the more significant recent changes in the fields of metals and alloys, concrete technology and cement-based composites. Development of new and emerging materials will be explored, including responses to concerns regarding service lifetimes, durability and sustainability.

The module considers elements of flood risk management, water resources management and natural and man-made infrastructure. It introduces natural watercourses and concepts of their response to rainfall events, including flooding and consideration of flood protection/mitigation methods. The module develops the concepts involved in the design and operation of elements of water supply and wastewater systems, from the estimation of water demand and the evaluation and use of water resources, to the collection and transport of foul and storm water and their eventual discharge to natural watercourses.

The module will also consider climate change and mitigation in relation to water.

Module content is delivered via lectures, seminars and practical sessions.

This is a 20-credit module.