Overview
Master the principles and professional skills of civil engineering on this Chelmsford-based course, mixing vital theory with hands-on learning. You’ll use our specialist engineering workshops, working on essential mathematical skills and tackling real-life problem-solving scenarios, and have the chance to take an optional placement year. Our course is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators acting on behalf of the engineering institutions for the Engineering Council UK, enabling you to work towards Incorporated Engineer status when you graduate.
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Careers
We work with employers to make sure you graduate with the knowledge, skills and abilities they need. They help us review what we teach and how we teach it – and they offer hands-on, practical opportunities to learn through work-based projects, internships or placements.
Civil engineers tend to specialise in two areas – design and production. This course will prepare you for both.
- Design civil engineers work mainly in offices, looking at the need for projects and how a particular project can be achieved.
- Production civil engineers work and plan on-site, check the quality of work, and oversee schedules and budgets.
Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us. If you would like to continue your studies and develop further skills with us, we offer a wide range of full-time and part-time postgraduate courses includingMSc Civil Engineering and MSc Construction Project Management.
Modules & assessment
Year one, core modules
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Elementary Survey Skills
Develop the necessary site related survey skills for students entering the construction industry. You will gain a theoretical understanding as well as hands-on practice in the use of both traditional and contemporary instruments used to set-up and control the most common elements of construction. You will also learn the basic off-site calculations necessary to prepare the site, quality and/or survey documentation to meet specified tolerances and employer requirements. The skills you will gain here are expected from the most junior of site engineers and managers, so will be valuable for your future career. -
IT and Communications
Students entering Higher Education will need specific study skills to enable them to maximise their learning potential and take advantage of opportunities available both in the academic setting and workplace. This module is intended to be both preparatory and supportive, building a strong foundation for learning and later development. You will gain Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills for information management and presentation purposes and will be encouraged to use contemporary ICT methods for research and for the production and presentation of reports, in a style suitable both for university coursework requirements and the commercial environment. -
Science and Materials
In this module you will become familiar with the material properties relevant to engineering performance and how these properties are defined. You will explore the relationship between displacement, velocity and acceleration and apply this in the context of Newton’s 2nd Law and the application of forces. -
Safe Civil Engineering Works
This module addresses key elements of civil engineering construction, placing them firmly alongside the management responsibility to ensure the prioritisation of health and safety within the work environment at all times. As the technical aspects of engineering are addressed, specific considerations of harm, hazard and risk are explored, ensuring the relevance of health and safety management within the civil engineering construction context. We will assess your learning through group work, investigating a civil engineering related problem. You will present your solution through a report and 20-minute presentation. -
Geotechnics 1
You will be introduced to Geotechnics, after the basic geological concepts, this module will provide you with an appreciation of the ground investigation element of site investigation. You will be introduced to soil laboratory practice and given the opportunity to relate the results of soil laboratory tests to theoretical concepts and the practical needs of civil engineering construction. -
Elements of Construction Design
This module is designed for students of construction, surveying and architecture to introduce them to some of the basic analytical concepts and processes involved in the design of structures. Students will develop analytical skills which will allow them to carry out basic structural calculations. Students will also be introduced to basic 2D drafting techniques using industry standard software. This will allow them to effectively interpret technical drawing and give them the skills which can be applied to their specialist discipline area in later modules. Skills in this medium are highly sought after in the construction industry. BIM will be introduced to the student and students will gain an appreciation of technology and the role of the designer in the construction process and have an understanding of the design process. The assessment for this modules will take the form of a portfolio which will include CAD drawings and basic structural analysis such as bending moments, shear forces and reactions. It is important that sketches are used in the portfolio as a means of communicating the concepts. -
Mathematical Skills for Civil Engineers
You will develop mathematical skills related to algebra, trigonometry, geometry and calculus and you will learn to apply these skills to practical civil engineering problems. The aim of the module is to enable you to confidently apply these skills in subsequent modules in subjects like structures, hydraulics and geotechnics.
Year two, core modules
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Structural Method and Design
This module aims to develop students’ understanding on the principles and methods of structural design to the Codes of Practices. It develops students' ability to design structural members in accordance with current Codes of Practices (Eurocodes) and by looking at past failures. This, in turn, would reinforce students’ understanding of the effect of design assumptions on the safety of a structure and economy of its construction. -
Structural Analysis
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the fundamental principles and methods of structural mechanics with particular reference to the understanding of the responses and performance of different structures under different actions. It addresses the series of the mechanics principles, the relationship between the external actions and direct stress, shear stress and bending stress as well as the combined stress and principal stresses. Students will be able to carry out the analysis of different structures under different actions using manual calculation and computer modelling. -
Applied Mathematics for Civil Engineers
The module will introduce techniques that lie behind the solution of engineering problems. The methods tend to be hidden within software, and through this module we’ll provide you with an insight into the techniques, their application and their limitations so that you can make informed judgments on the reliability of software solutions. Your learning in this module will enable you to undertake appropriate analysis in structural analysis, as well as giving you an understanding of the techniques used in software packages that you’ll find in the workplace, their suitability and limitations. We’ll assess your learning through in-class tests. -
Material Technology
This module is designed to give you a thorough grounding in the principles and manufacture of materials used in the construction industry. The aim is to provide you with a practical understanding of the factors, which influence the properties and durability from the design requirements to the finished product. You'll be introduced to the more common construction materials such as steel, concrete and timber as well as polymers and bituminous materials. A well-structured laboratory work programme is used to give you practical experience of the theoretical concepts explained in the lectures. -
Site and Engineering Surveying
Discover both traditional and contemporary advanced survey techniques and capture, manipulate and utilise field data for both horizontal control and detail acquisition. You will also gain hands on experience using total stations, for data capture and for setting out. You will also gain an understanding of how remote surveying by extra-terrestrial systems has evolved and of how a variety of control systems relate to the Ordnance Survey National Grid. Finally, you will learn how to process survey data to produce and your final survey drawings using AutoCAD and present them in a style appropriate to industry. -
Hydraulics
You will be introduced to the principles of fluid mechanics and establish its relevance in civil engineering in the design of pipes and channels. You will cover the principles of hydrostatics and derive and apply equations for calculation of pressures and forces on submerged and partially submerged objects. The principle of flow in networks for water supply and surface water drainage is examined using simple models. Laboratory sessions are used to give you the opportunity to explore the limitations of the mathematical models of fluid behaviour. You will be assessed through a group based lab report covering a series of fluid mechanics experiments and a written examination. -
CAD for Civil Engineers
This module will give you an appreciation of the growing importance of three-dimensional CAD software. You will get hands-on training in some of the most up-to-date software complying with the latest British and European Standards. We will use intelligent object orientated design methods to create virtual models which can interact with digital terrain models. You will get an appreciation of the substantial benefits such systems can offer in terms of client visualisation and design flexibility and learn to produce a basic site animation. -
Design Technology
This module will provide you student with an understanding of the relationship between design and technology. It will introduce you to the concept that the realisation of design into built form requires building technology and also how that technology has a very real influence on the generation of the design. You will explore technology strategically as well as to develop it in detailed solutions. The importance of economics in technical design will also be explored. You will also be introduced to the technology currently in use in design in the industry.
Year three, core modules
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Structures
Enhance your understanding of the behaviour of steel and concrete in medium and low rise structures. Through analysis, you will be introduced to the modelling and solutions of indeterminate frames and trusses. You will focus on the design of low-rise structures in steel and reinforced concrete and alternative forms of structural elements. Finally, you will appreciate how the methods of construction are considered in modelling the structural behaviour, analysis and design. -
Civil Engineering Contract Administration
You will investigate the way in which traditional and more modern civil engineering contracts handle situations that may arise on site. We will compare different approaches to contractual arrangements and payment so you will be able to advise on the most appropriate approach for a particular project. You will also cover external influences such as European and National legislation and standards. -
Highway Design and Construction
You will appreciate problems and techniques associated with highway design, construction and maintenance and learn how to formulate technical solutions. You will become conversant with pavement design, which will be discussed in the context of construction techniques. You will also acquire knowledge on the principles and practice of bridge construction, maintenance and design. The concept of sustainability in construction using recyclable materials will be discussed, project work is used to give you a practical feel of the theoretical concepts explained in the lectures. -
Civil Engineering Group Project
This module will develop your ability to evaluate and resolve practical problems and work as part of a design team. The module will help you apply the skills and knowledge developed in other modules of the course (and where possible, experiences from work) within a project that reflects the type of performance expected of construction technologists. It is designed to bring small groups together into teams so you coordinate your individual skills and abilities. The scheme of work should allow you an opportunity to take responsibility for your own contribution to the outcome and to demonstration your ability to work as part of a team. The brief will include an agreed timescale for the staged development of the overall plan of work within defined constraints, with the team working towards an acceptable and viable solution to the brief. You’ll become conversant with the importance of good quality control, compacting, placing and curing will be assessed. -
Environmental Management for the Construction Industry
You’ll be introduced to the growth in environmental awareness, at all levels from local to international, over recent decades and this will be considered in the context of the construction industry. Legislation and other pressures for the protection of the environment are considered, including pollution control and environmental impact assessment. The advantages and disadvantages of formal and informal environmental management systems are examined. Design implications of concepts such as life cycle analysis are considered. By the end of the module you should look at environmental management, not as a burden, but as a fundamental part of the efficient management of the construction industry. This outlook will enable you to guide your present or future employers towards a sustainable future. -
Geotechnics 2
You will extend your knowledge of basic soil properties to an understanding of soil strength in the context of the principles of effective stress. You will be introduced to geotechnical design methods for foundations and modern design of earth-retaining systems using Codes of Practice and the philosophy of the limit state. You will be assessed through a piece of coursework and end examination. For the coursework you will be expected to show an understanding of geotechnic engineering through a piece of design work using state of the art infinite element analysis software. -
Major Project (Construction)
You will be able to demonstrate your ability to undertake a substantial original study to investigate a subject, issue, or problem and to produce a usable outcome. You will carry out an original piece of work that may be either an expert study or a research study. The research will be undertaken under the supervision of an academic member of staff but the early part of the module in semester one is also supported by taught classroom sessions.
Assessment
Throughout the course, we’ll use a range of assessment methods to help measure your progress. Besides exams, we’ll assess you using a mix of assignments, group work, presentations, drawings, lab work and projects.
Where you'll study
Your faculty
The Faculty of Science & Engineering is one of the largest of the four faculties at Anglia Ruskin University. Whether you choose to study with us full-time or part-time, on campus or at a distance, there’s an option whatever your level – from a foundation degree, BSc, MSc, PhD or professional doctorate.
Whichever course you pick, you’ll gain the theory and practical skills needed to progress with confidence. Join us and you could find yourself learning in the very latest laboratories or on field trips or work placements with well-known and respected companies. You may even have the opportunity to study abroad.
Everything we do in the faculty has a singular purpose: to provide a world-class environment to create, share and advance knowledge in science, technology and engineering fields. This is key to all of our futures.
Where can I study?
Chelmsford
Our striking, modern campus sits by the riverside in Chelmsford's University and Innovation Quarter.
Additional study information
Placements
This course gives you the opportunity to take a work placement year between years 2 and 3 of your studies. You’ll get experience of seeking and securing a job and working in an industry relating to your course. You’ll also get the practical experience and industry contacts to benefit your studies and enhance your long-term career prospects.
Although they can’t be guaranteed, we can work with you to find a placement using our contacts with a large number of employers. You’ll have regular contact with one of our course tutors and be supported by a supervisor from your placement company. Together they’ll monitor your performance and give you feedback.
To find out more about placement opportunities, email us at Placements@anglia.ac.uk.
Transferring to the BEng (Hons) course
If you want to transfer from this BSc course onto the BEng pathway, you’ll need to have scored at least 60% at Level 1 on your first attempt. You’ll also need to attend an interview, where we’ll explore your motivation and suitability for the other course.
Fees & funding
Course fees
UK & EU students starting 2019/20 (per year)
£9,250
International students starting 2019/20 (per year)
£13,100
Placement year (UK, EU, international students)
£1,250
Fee information
For more information about tuition fees, including the UK Government's commitment to EU students, please see our UK/EU funding pages
Additional costs
Safety footwear (steel toe and midsole) - £40
Additional costs for Constructionarium
You will be asked to make a contribution of £250 towards the cost of food and accommodation. You will also be asked to provide your own safety shoes or boots and warm outdoor clothing. Other personal protective equipment will be provided.
How do I pay my fees?
Tuition fee loan
You can take out a tuition fee loan, which you won’t need to start repaying until after your graduate. Or alternatively, there's the option to pay your fees upfront.
Scholarships
We offer a fantastic range of ARU scholarships, which provide extra financial support while you’re at university. Some of these cover all or part of your tuition fees.
International students
You must pay your fees upfront, in full or in instalments. We will also ask you for a deposit or sponsorship letter. Details will be in your offer letter.
Paying your feesFunding for UK & EU students
Most new undergraduate students can apply for government funding to support their studies and university life. This includes Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans. There are additional grants available for specific groups of students, such as those with disabilities or dependants.
We also offer a fantastic range of ARU scholarships, which provide extra financial support while you’re at university. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply.
Funding for international students
We offer a number of scholarships, as well as an early payment discount. Explore your options:
Entry requirements
Important additional notes
Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements. Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course, please email answers@anglia.ac.uk for further information.
All tariff points must come from A levels. Points from AS levels cannot be counted towards the total tariff points required for entry to this course.
Transferring to the BEng (Hons) course
If you want to transfer from this BSc course onto the BEng pathway, you’ll need to have scored at least 60% at Level 1 on your first attempt. You’ll also need to attend an interview, where we’ll explore your motivation and suitability for the other course.
International students
We welcome applications from international and EU students, and accept a range of international qualifications.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you'll need to make sure you meet our English language requirements for postgraduate courses.
Improving your English language skills
If you don't meet our English language requirements, we offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry onto a degree course.
We also provide our own English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) in the UK and overseas. To find out if we are planning to hold an ELPT in your country, contact our country managers.
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