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About this course
Created as a unique gateway to our degree courses, this course prepares you for degree-level study through hands-on experience and core knowledge. You'll explore construction processes, surveying, sustainability, materials science, structural principles, and engineering maths. Live site visits, real-world projects, and team-based design challenges give you the skills and confidence to thrive in civil engineering.
This course will provide you with a broad civil engineering education, focusing on the design, analysis and construction skills that are so vital for the industry. You'll be equipped with abilities to develop sustainable and cost-effective design ideas, learning about key civil engineering concepts such as structures, materials, geotechnics and mathematics.
You'll become an expert in applying your understanding of practical engineering techniques to find innovative solutions to real-world built environment challenges. Through industry-facing projects, site visits, this course will give you all the skills needed to begin a successful career in Civil Engineering.
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2nd most sustainable university in the world (UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2024).
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Our Employability team provides personalised support throughout your journey, available during and up to three years after your course.
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100% of BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering sandwich students find their course intellectually stimulating (NSS, 2024).
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Experience hands-on learning at our state-of-the-art labs—concrete, materials, hydraulics, geotechnics, and structural testing.
What you’ll study
Our course exposes you to the exciting and rapidly expanding world of construction, preparing you to take on the challenges of developing and maintaining the infrastructure that underpins society. The course develops together the theory and practice of civil engineering, with an emphasis on the practical nature of civil engineering and the application and management of current technologies.
The final year of the course builds upon the engineering knowledge and practice developed in Years One and Two and broadens the curriculum, addressing issues such as people management, finance, professional ethics, and transportation issues.
During the course you will undertake the following modules:
Year One
- Introduction to Construction Technology (20 credits)
- Introduction to Surveying (20 credits)
- Introduction to Construction Science and Materials (20 credits)
- Sustainable Design Project (40 credits)
- Managing a Small Scale Construction Project (20 credits)
Year Two
- Civil Engineering Design Projects (40 credits)
- Sustainable Engineering Materials (20 credits)
- Engineering Surveying (20 credits)
- Introduction to Structural Engineering (20 credits)
- Mathematics (20 credits)
Year Three
- Civil Engineering Construction (20 credits)
- Construction Practice and the Environment (20 credits)
- Engineering Skills (20 credits)
- Further Engineering Mathematics (20 credits)
- Ground Engineering (20 credits)
- Structural Engineering (20 credits)
Final Year
- Dissertation and Work Like Project (40 credits)
- Management and Transportation Studies (20 credits)
- Further Structural Engineering (20 credits)
- Ground Engineering, Water Resources and the Environment (20 credits)
- Professional Responsibilities and Development in Civil Engineering (20 credits)
Introduction to Construction Technology (20 credits)
- You will explore how the built environment is designed, regulated, and developed, gaining insight into the key stages of construction from the ground up.
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of industry professionals while considering health, safety, environmental, and sustainability factors in modern construction.
Introduction to Surveying (20 credits)
- Gain hands-on experience in surveying for construction and civil engineering, using specialist equipment and techniques to plot, measure, and calculate areas and volumes.
- Apply your learning to real-world projects through site visits, guest speakers, and practical assignments, building a portfolio that showcases your ability to interpret data and work safely in the industry.
Introduction to Construction Science and Materials (20 credits)
- Discover the principles behind construction and civil engineering, exploring material properties, sustainability, energy efficiency, and regulatory considerations.
- Develop a strong foundation in structural behaviour and material science, including stress-strain relationships and problem-solving using mathematical techniques.
Sustainable Design Project (40 credits)
- Apply your knowledge to sustainably design and manage a construction project, developing 2D sketches, evaluating materials, and considering risks and regulations.
- Explore key project stages and stakeholder roles while embedding sustainability and health and safety principles throughout the process.
Managing a Small Scale Construction Project (20 credits)
- Learn how to manage a small-scale construction project from start to finish, using industry tools to oversee budgets, timeframes, and scheduling.
- Develop an understanding of key roles and responsibilities in project management, applying practical skills to organise and evaluate real-world construction tasks.
Civil Engineering Design Projects (40 credits)
- This module will form an introduction to the construction industry, and the key roles played by civil engineering professionals.
- You'll look at areas such health and safety, environmental and sustainability considerations, legislation, and the role of construction in the UK economy.
- The module will also focus on building your professional communication skills, through presentations, an introduction to computer-aided design, and career planning.
Sustainable Engineering Materials (20 credits)
- This module is designed to introduce you to the materials encountered in civil engineering and general construction.
- You'll look at areas such as geology, soil mechanics, steel, concrete, bricks and ceramics, and organic materials – developing an understanding of the materials' properties and applications.
Engineering Surveying (20 credits)
- The aim of this module is to introduce you to the basic principles and purposes of engineering surveying. You'll learn the theory in lectures and tutorials, with hands-on seminar and laboratory sessions introducing the practical surveying field skills required by industry.
- You'll learn how to use standard surveying instruments, how to set out and control construction works, and how to measure existing terrain and features.
Introduction to Structural Engineering (20 credits)
- This module aims to provide you with knowledge of relevant statics, and a quantitative and qualitative appreciation of structural elements, loadings, and the behaviour and design of beams and triangulated frameworks.
- The module will also develop your knowledge of statistical analysis.
Mathematics (20 credits)
- This module will act as a thorough introduction to mathematics and statistics, improving your ability to apply numeracy to typical civil engineering tasks.
Civil Engineering Construction (20 credits)
- In this module, you'll explore a range of techniques, materials, equipment and process that are used in the design and construction of civil engineering projects.
- Site and project constraints will initially be considered on a project, before evaluating possible solutions in terms of efficiency, cost, practicality, aesthetics, risk, time, quality, safety, the environment, and sustainability.
Construction Practice and the Environment (20 credits)
- The aim of this module is to improve your knowledge of practice within the construction industry, introducing you to the roles and responsibilities that you may undertake during placement, after graduation, and as you progress in your career.
- You'll look at key areas such as project organisation, procurement, planning, programming, management, contract and commercial documentation and administration, and health and safety.
Engineering Skills (20 credits)
- This module will develop your communication, information technology and practical skills relevant to the field of civil engineering.
- You will be introduced to new and emerging technologies as used in the construction industry.
- Using simulated work situations, you'll allow for the development of wider skills that will be of value in the world of work.
Further Engineering Mathematics (20 credits)
- Building on the skills you developed in Year One, this module will further develop your mathematical and statistical abilities, appropriate for civil engineering at IEng level.
Ground Engineering (20 credits)
- This module will develop your appreciation of fundamental soil and geological properties.
- You'll measure and test different geological and geotechnical materials, allowing you to recognise and investigate ground-related problems and hazards.
Structural Engineering (20 credits)
- This module aims to provide you with an introduction to the structural behaviour of elements in reinforced concrete and steelwork and timber.
- The design procedures introduced will use standard codes of practice (Eurocodes).
- This module will require you to create a structural scheme design for a multistorey building.
Dissertation and Work Like Project (40 credits)
- The majority of this module will be formed by a self-led research project or dissertation; a significant body of work allowing you to research in depth an agreed topic relating to the construction industry.
- You'll also work on a group project over the course of the year, relating to a real-world engineering scheme. You'll work in a team environment, producing and presenting a design scheme.
Management and Transportation Studies (20 credits)
- This module focuses on two main themes: management theory and practice within the construction industry, and transport policy. The aim of the module is to broaden your experience within the civil engineering discipline, providing useful context and skills for graduate roles.
- You'll look at areas such as marketing, pitching or tendering for business, business audits, and scenario planning.
- You'll also look at transport policy formulation and implementation from local to international levels, with module content ranging from the development of sustainable mobility to techniques for managing and controlling traffic.
Further Structural Engineering (20 credits)
- The module will broaden your knowledge of the conceptual design of structural elements to the recommendations of published guidance.
- You will also have an introduction into the factors that affect the stability of framed building structures acting as three dimensional entities. It will also introduce common methods of ensuring the stability and robustness of these types of structures.
- You will also have an introduction into the use of the Eurocodes for the design of structural elements in reinforced concrete, timber and structural steelwork.
Ground Engineering, Water Resources and the Environment (20 credits)
- Within the context of sustainable development, this module will introduce you to the engineering implications of ground-based structures and water resources, examining the environmental and legislative context surrounding this type of project.
- You will learn to analyse some typical engineering problems involved in the management of foundations, geotechnical structures, water supplies, and associated fluid principles.
Professional Responsibilities and Development in Civil Engineering (20 credits)
- This module is based around four themes: health, safety and welfare; the profession and wider society; clients, stakeholders, communities and government; and sustainability.
- Its aim is to fully prepare you for graduate roles, with the knowledge, skills, awareness and professionalism expected by graduate employers.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
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How you're taught
You’ll learn through a mix of:
- lectures - covering the key theories
- seminars - smaller-group sessions perfect for learning key skills and collaborative working
- practical exercises - including IT sessions and computer-aided design (CAD), concrete testing and field work
- project work - self-directed study with the support of NOW, our virtual learning environment.
Beyond scheduled sessions, independent study is crucial. This involves preparing for lectures, research, coursework, portfolio development, and directed reading to broaden your knowledge.
A placement year may be taken between year 2 and year 3 of study.
100% of BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering sandwich students find their course intellectually stimulating (NSS, 2024).
Study trips
Field trips and study visits are an important part of your learning. Trips may include site visits to live projects and residential study trips. Where a trip is mandatory it will be aligned to your modules and inform project work, and substantive costs – including travel and accommodation – will be paid for by the school.
Please note that field trip locations may vary and are subject to availability and change.
Our links with industry
Our industry-connected course guarantees relevant content through live projects set by companies, guest lectures, site visits, awards, and placements.
For example, recent final year students took part in a project to design part of a new super cycleway between Toton and Nottingham city centre.
How you're assessed
People excel in different ways, and we want everybody to have the best possible chance of success. You will be assessed through:
- coursework, this will make up the majority of your assessments and will consist of group and individual projects, formal reports, presentations, and essays.
- practical exercises, such as individual and group presentations, and laboratory assessments
- exams, including formal exams and written tests.
Careers and employability
Our course is designed to prepare you to succeed in the construction industry. Through working on real projects from industry, fieldwork, and regularly updated course content, you'll be equipped with skills and experience to carry with you for the rest of your professional career.
Where do Civil Engineering graduates from NTU work?
NTU's vibrant civil engineering alumni excel in leading national and international companies. Recent BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering grads secured roles including Graduate Engineer, Assistant Construction Manager, Assistant Surveyor and Graduate Development Manager and worked in companies such as:
- VolkerFitzpatrick
- Winvic
- Amey plc
- Jackson Civil Engineering
- Milestone Infrastructure.
Employability team
Our Employability team provides personalised support throughout your journey, available during and up to three years after your course. Explore civil engineering career options on the Institution of Civil Engineers website.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.
What our students are doing now
Inspiring future engineers through ICE Academic Partnership
On Wednesday, 11 September, the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment’s Civil Engineering department at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) had the honour of welcoming Dr Janet Young, Director General of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), along with other distinguished guests, as part of ICE’s Academic Partner programme.
Civil Engineering students showcase sustainability skills in collaboration with Arcadis
Civil Engineering Students Visit Arcadis, York
Campus and facilities
Facilities for Civil Engineering students
Experience state-of-the-art learning environments at our school, equipped with industry-standard facilities tailored to elevate your skills. Unleash your potential in specialised labs for concrete, materials, hydraulics, geotechnics, and technology. Utilise cutting-edge surveying equipment and structural testing machinery to bring your projects to life.
IT resources
Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across the City Campus.
Books and library resources
In our modern Boots library, you'll have access to an extensive and diverse range of books and periodicals that focus on specialist areas within the Built Environment. The library's OneSearch system provides access to all our electronic resources, journals and books.
Within the library there is a liaison librarian who has specialist Civil Engineering subject knowledge. They can offer detailed help in finding and using print and electronic resources and also support on things such as Harvard referencing and research skills.
Entry requirements
UK students
Standard offer: 72 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent. GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Additional requirements for UK students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Contextual offers
If you don’t quite meet our entry requirements, we might be able to make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and your individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer, and we get data from UCAS to help make these decisions. We do this because we believe everyone with the potential to succeed at NTU should have the opportunity to do so, no matter what barriers you may face.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
Academic entry requirements: 72 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent. GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Sign up for emails
Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.
Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.