Civil Engineering (Degree Apprenticeship)

Overview

Do you have what it takes to plan, design, construct and manage large-scale building projects, from roads to skyscrapers? Do you want to earn a salary and get valuable on-the-job experience while you study for a civil engineering degree?

On this 6-year BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering degree apprenticeship course, you’ll get to grips with the theory, methods and skills needed for a career in civil engineering in the city that gave the world Isambard Kingdom Brunel and get valuable on-the-job experience.

You'll spend 1 day a week studying for your degree and the other 4 days in work. The Government or your employer pay your tuition fees – so it doesn’t cost you anything. Degree apprenticeships are suitable for anyone over 18, whether you've just finished school or college or you've already started your career.

You’ll learn how to design, construct, operate and maintain the infrastructure that supports everything from buildings and transportation to public amenities.

Accredited by

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation, Institute of Highway Engineers, Institution of Civil Engineers and Institution of Structural Engineers - Meeting in full the academic requirement for IEng and in part the academic requirement for CEng

What you'll experience

On this degree apprenticeship course you'll:

Create your own designs and models

• Carry out materials and structures testing, fluid flow modelling and soil investigation

• Use our environmental laboratory located at a sewage treatment works

• Apply your skills to practical problems as part of our partnerships with local and global organisations

• Get out of the classroom and workplace with visits to the Isle of Wight and construction sites around the city

• Enjoy insights from industry specialists – recent guest speakers include practitioners from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Atkins, Stantec, Portsmouth Water, Mott MacDonald, Portsmouth City Council, Colas and WSP

• Study and work with students from other related disciplines, complementing the experience you'll get at work

• Build a network of professional peers during your time at university, sharing your ideas and knowledge

• Get practical work experience in your job, giving you an advantage over students who do a traditional degree

• Get a personal tutor from the University and a workplace mentor

You'll typically go to university one day a week for around 30 weeks every year to attend lectures, seminars, laboratory and software classes, workshops and field trips. On the weeks you don't go to University, you'll still spend 20% of your time studying or training away from your normal working environment.

Careers and opportunities

The skills you develop on this course are sought after by employers in fields such as:

• civil and structural engineering

• civil engineering contracting

• construction engineering

After you finish your apprenticeship, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

"I previously found it hard to balance college work during the day and part-time retail work in the evenings, so the degree apprenticeship is a perfect way to earn whilst I learn. My responsibilities at work have given me experience that I can apply in the learning environment as well as confidence which helps with assessments such as presentations." Tom Colbeck, Degree Apprentice

Year 1

Core modules in this year include:

• Construction Management & Practice (20 credits)
• Engineering Analysis (20 credits)
• Professional Development 1 (20 credits)
• Soils & Materials 1 (20 credits)

Year 2

Core modules in this year include:

• Introduction to Project Management Principles (20 credits)
• Understanding Structures (20 credits)
• Water & Environmental Engineering (20 credits)

Year 3

Core modules in this year include:

• Behaviour of Structures (20 credits)
• Design of Structural Elements (20 credits)
• Numerical Skills & Economics (20 credits)
• Professional Development 2 (20 credits)

Year 4

Core modules in this year include:

• Design of Structural Elements (20 credits)
• Individual Project (40 credits)
• Transportation Engineering (20 credits)
• Soils and Materials 2 (20 credits)

Year 5

Core modules in this year include:

• Integrated Civil Engineering Design Project (20 credits)
• Professional Development 3 (20 credits)
• Geotechnical and Materials Engineering (20 credits)

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

How you'll be assessed

You'll be assessed through:

• closed and open book exams
• problem-based coursework and professional style reports
• computer-based portfolios
• group presentations
• dissertation

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Civil Engineers, Institution of
• The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation
• Structural Engineers, Institution of
• Highway Engineers, Institute of (IHE)