Civil Engineering

UCAS code: CEN1

Here's what University of Wales Trinity Saint David says about its Civil Engineering course.

This Civil Engineering degree is designed around five principal areas: materials, structures, geotechnics, surveying, and construction management. These subjects are core to the civil engineering curriculum, as defined by the Joint Board of Moderators for accredited degree programmes. This course is ideal for anyone aiming to become a chartered engineer.

Our teaching staff bring a wealth of experience from the construction industry. They have developed strong industry links as practitioners, members of professional bodies, and through industry collaborations and research projects in various civil engineering fields.

We have close connections with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC), and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). These partnerships provide a rich source of knowledge and experience, enhancing your learning and boosting your employability prospects. Graduates of our programme often find opportunities not only as civil engineers but also in related fields such as building and site surveyors.

The course covers specialised subjects, including transport infrastructure engineering and environmental engineering, offered as specific modules. Our teaching approach combines traditional lectures with project-based learning. This means you will work on real case studies and scenarios, participate in site visits, and engage in practical exercises such as surveying and laboratory testing.

By studying at UWTSD, you will gain a comprehensive education in civil engineering, supported by experienced staff and strong industry connections. The skills and knowledge you acquire will prepare you for a successful career in the civil engineering field.

"The construction industry affects everyone, influencing productivity and wellbeing, creating the homes, hospitals, schools, workplaces, and infrastructure essential for a good quality of life," Caroline Gumble, CIOB.

At UWTSD, we emphasise hands-on learning and real-world application in our Civil Engineering course. Our approach combines academic knowledge with practical experience.

The construction industry accounts for a significant percentage of the UK’s economic output and graduates in this field will have opportunities both in the UK and also overseas in a variety of rewarding careers.

Year 1: In the first year, you will study the fundamentals of construction technology, structural mechanics, and engineering mathematics. Courses in digital technology CAD, BIM, and surveying will develop your technical skills. You will also cover construction materials, health, safety, and welfare, and skills for professional practice to ensure a well-rounded foundation.

Fundamentals of Construction Technology (20 credits) Structural Mechanics (20 credits) Digital Technology CAD (10 Credits) Skills for Professional Practice (10 Credits) Digital Surveying and Highway Design (10 Credits) Digital Technology BIM (10 Credits) Engineering and Construction Surveying (10 Credits) Construction Materials (10 Credits) Health, Safety and Welfare (10 credits) Engineering Mathematics (10 Credits)

Year 2: The second year focuses on deeper knowledge with modules in geotechnical and foundation technology, structural analysis, and materials engineering. You will engage in a research project design, alongside flexible modules including water resources and environmental monitoring, contract administration and project planning for construction.

Research Project Design (20 credits ) Water Resources and Environmental Monitoring (20 credits) Geotechnical and Foundation Technology (20 credits) Structural Analysis (20 credits) Materials Engineering (10 credits) Contract Administration (10 credits) Optional

Project Planning for Construction (20 credits) Retrofit Coordination and Management (20 credits)

Year 3: In the final year, you will undertake an in-depth individual research project and advanced level modules, all ensuring that you are fully prepared for the demands of the civil engineering profession upon graduation.

Advanced Project Management (20 credits) Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering (20 credits) Independent Project (40 credits) Integrated Project (20 credits) Structural Design and Foundation Design (20 credits)

Assessments used within these programmes are normally formative or summative. In the former assessment is designed to ensure students become aware of their strengths and weaknesses.

Typically, such assessment will take the form of practical exercises where a more hands-on approach shows student’s ability on a range of activities. Traditional formal time-constrained assessment is by means of tests and examinations, normally of two-hour duration.

Examinations are a traditional method of verifying that the work produced is the students’ own work. To help authenticate student coursework, some modules require that the student and lecturer negotiate the topic for assessment on an individual basis, allowing the lecturer to monitor progress.

Some modules where the assessment is research-based require students to verbally/visually present the research results to the lecturer and peers, followed by a question and answer session.

Such assessment strategies are in accord with the learning and teaching strategies employed by the team, that is, where the aim is to generate work that is mainly student-driven, individual, reflective and where appropriate, vocationally-orientated.

Feedback to students will occur early in the study period and continue over the whole study session thereby allowing for greater value added to the student’s learning.