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Civil Engineering Top-up (Part-time) BSc (Hons)

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Information for 2025

About this course

Civil engineers find creative ways to solve real-world problems by developing the physical infrastructure society needs to exist – from bridges and houses, through to roads, hospitals and train stations.

Taught for one day a week, this part-time BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering Top-up course enables those who have already completed their HND and are working in the industry, or who have relevant work experience, to acquire further professional qualifications.

It is accredited by professional industry bodies and designed to provide you with both a practical and broad civil engineering education – focusing on both the theory and practice of civil engineering, with a strong emphasis on practical and project work.

Take a look at our course comparison page to see the differences between our BSc, BEng and MEng Civil Engineering degrees.

  • Take the first step in gaining Incorporated Engineer status – this course is accredited as fully satisfying the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng).
  • 2nd most sustainable university in the world (UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2024).
  • Experience hands-on learning in our specialist facilities and workshops, including dedicated concrete, materials, hydraulics, geotechnical labs and structural testing equipment.
  • 99% of our Civil Engineering graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degrees (latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21).

Accreditation

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). It is also accredited by the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES).

See jbm.org.uk for further information.

  • Engineering Council logo
  • Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation logo
  • Institution of Civil Engineers logo
  •  Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors logo
  • The Institution of Structural Engineers logo
  • Institute of Highway Engineers logo
  • The Permanent Way Institution logo

What you’ll study

This part-time degree develops together the theory and practice of civil engineering, with a strong emphasis on practical and project work.

Our part-time route is designed for those already working in the industry, or who have experience, to acquire further professional qualifications and apply their learning to their live working experience. NTU provides support and resources to make studying as easy and flexible as possible, including a virtual learning environment, enabling you to study from home or work.

Year One

  • Further Structural Engineering (20 credits)
  • Ground Engineering, Water Resources and the Environment (20 credits)
  • Management and Transportation Studies (20 credits)

Year Two

  • Dissertation and Work Like Project (40 credits)
  • Professional Responsibilities and Development in Civil Engineering (20 credits)

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.

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 and 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.

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.

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.

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How you're taught

The part-time study route is taught one day a week and, where possible, part-time students are taught alongside full-time students on the BSc Civil Engineering full-time course.

Your typical day will run from 9 am through to 7.30 pm, and normally three different subject areas are taught on each day. In Final Year, the formal contact hours are reduced to allow time to focus on the individual project.

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.

NTU provides support and resources to make studying as easy and flexible as possible, including a virtual learning environment that enables you to study from home or work.

The course aims to develop your intellectual, practical and personal skills, together with the theory and practice of civil engineering.

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.

Optional trips may also be organised which can provide additional opportunities to enhance your knowledge and experience. These optional trips may incur a cost to the student.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through a mix of coursework, practical exercises and exams. The coursework will make up the majority of your assessment and will consist of group and individual projects, reports, presentations and essays. You will receive feedback throughout each module.

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.

Staff Profiles

Zakwan Arab - Senior Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Zakwan Arab is the Module Leader of DESN30114: Ground Eng, Water Resources (BSc Finale year) and is responsible for designing, delivering and assessing lectures, seminars and labs.

Bahareh Kaveh (Dr) - Principal Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Dr Kaveh is a Civil Engineer with a PhD in numerical modelling. She is teaching Advanced Structural Design to Undergraduate and Postgraduate Civil Engineering students at NTU.

Agnes Boscoe-Wallace - Senior Lecturer

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Agnes Boscoe-Wallace

Paul Beetham - Associate Professor

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Paul Beetham

Anton Ianakiev - Professor Emeritus

School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment

Learn about Dr Anton Ianakiev who serves as Professor Emeritus in Sustainable Energy Systems for the School of Architecture, Design and Built Environment.

Careers and employability

Our course is designed to prepare you to succeed in the construction industry. As well as providing the necessary vocational and professional skills for a successful career, this course also develops transferable qualities such as communication, time management, analysis, teamwork, and IT skills.

Recent growth in UK industry has revealed a skills shortage in this area. You'll graduate with desirable skills and knowledge, boosting your employment prospects.

Where do Civil Engineering graduates from NTU work?

NTU has a strong civil engineering alumni community, with many graduates working in senior positions in leading national and international companies.

Recent BSc Civil Engineering graduate destinations include:

  • Balfour Beatty: graduate civil engineer, junior civil engineer, junior site engineer, site engineer, trainee civil engineer
  • VolkerFitzpatrick: site engineer, site engineering assistant, assistant engineer
  • Clugston: assistant site manager
  • Jackson Civil Engineering: site engineer
  • Laing O'Rourke: civil engineer
  • Martin Redston Associates: structural engineer
  • Morgan Sindall: tunnel engineer
  • North Midland Construction: project engineer, design coordinator.

Employability team

Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies, and for up to three years after completing your course. .

Find out more about career options in civil engineering on the Institution of Civil Engineers website.

Campus and facilities

Facilities for Civil Engineering students

The School has a range of specialist industry-standard facilities to enable you to maximise your development and apply your project work to practice. These include dedicated concrete, materials, hydraulics, geotechnical and technology labs, surveying equipment, and structural testing machinery.

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

For advanced entry to Year One of the course:

  • a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Civil Engineering or equivalent qualification.

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

International students

Unfortunately, this course is not open to international students

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.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£4,767.50 per year

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including NTU bursaries and scholarships.

Our Building Blocks financial package: supporting you throughout your studies

As a student at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, you’ll also benefit from our Building Blocks financial package, which aims to help minimise the additional costs of study, while you’re here at NTU.

What you’ll receive:

  • All of the materials needed for induction workshops and activities, working within our workshops and laboratories.
  • Free personal protective equipment (PPE), which usually includes hard-wearing boots, goggles and high-vis vests, to keep you safe on site visits and while working in our workshops.
  • Access to the free professional body accreditation, as appropriate for your course.
  • £20 pre-paid printing allowance for use at the NTU Print Shops, and library photocopiers. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.

ICE Scholarship

The Institution of Civil Engineers have a yearly opportunity to apply for the ICE QUEST undergraduate scholarships. These scholarships provide:

  • £8,000 over the course of your study
  • paid work placements every summer
  • the potential of a full-time job with a leading civil engineering or construction company when you graduate
  • experience and knowledge that are good for your CV and your career – especially if you want to become an incorporated or chartered civil engineer

For more information, please visit the Institution of Civil Engineers website.

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees, including the placement year and study abroad options are subject to government policy and may change in future years of study.

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but we don’t want you to feel anxious or confused about it. Visit our fees and funding pages if you have any concerns.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

This course is not suitable for applicants who require a student visa.

However, we do accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our Bachelors and Masters degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please see our information about international qualifications.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Most modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) - meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Building Blocks financial package

As a student at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, you’ll also benefit from our Building Blocks financial package, which aims to help minimise the additional costs of study, while you’re here at NTU.

What you’ll receive

  • All of the materials needed for induction workshops and activities, working within our workshops and laboratories.
  • Free personal protective equipment (PPE), which usually includes hard-wearing boots, goggles and high-vis vests, to keep you safe on site visits and while working in our workshops.
  • Access to the free professional body accreditation, as appropriate for your course.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, you can email our Student Money Team or phone us on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

How to apply

Applications to this course can be made through our NTU Applicant Portal - click on the Apply button at the top of the page.

Candidates are not required to attend an interview for this course.

Application deadline

Applications can be submitted up until the start of the course in September, but places are subject to availability so we advise applying early.

Non-standard applicants

We welcome applications from students who may not meet the entry criteria but hold relevant work experience. We will assess applicants of this nature on an individual basis. Non-standard applicants can submit their applications through the NTU Application Portal too.

Keeping up to date

After you've applied, we'll send you important emails throughout the application process – so please check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder. You can find more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page.

Getting in touch

For admissions related enquiries please contact us:

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 4200

Ask us a question