Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
As a civil engineer, you will apply science and mathematics to understand the behaviour of materials arranged into complex systems and subject to loads, and you will analyse problems, understanding the needs of a wide range of people of different backgrounds and perspectives.
Using this understanding, you will create designs to solve problems, and you will conceive, organise and manage the construction and subsequent maintenance of solutions. Always working in harmony with a natural environment, you will play a leading role in the creation of a sustainable future and improving the lives of people across the world.
Assessment on this course is designed to be as authentic as possible, replicating the sorts of tasks you will have to accomplish during your career as a civil engineer. This includes individual and group assignments based on real tasks undertaken by our industrial partners.
Civil Engineering BEng (Hons) 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), and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Candidates must hold a master's or doctorate as further learning for CEng to hold accredited qualifications for CEng registration. See www.jbm.org.uk for further information and details of Further Learning programmes for CEng.
UCAS Code
H200
Level of Study
Undergraduate
Mode of Study
3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
School
Engineering, Physics and Mathematics
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2026 or September 2027
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
Discover what it's like to study Civil Engineering at Northumbria University.
96 to 112 Tariff Points
From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.
Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator
Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions and we understand that every applicant’s circumstances can be different, which is why we take a flexible approach when making offers for this course. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our university regardless of personal circumstances or background. Typically, offers range from 96 to 112 UCAS tariff points, but we’ll assess your individual circumstances and potential when reviewing your application
To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo
Subject Requirements:
A-level Mathematics and another analytical science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Sciences, Physics or Technology), or recognised equivalents.
GCSE Requirements:
Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.
Additional Requirements:
There are no additional requirements for this course.
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
UK Fee in Year 1: £9,790
The UK tuition fee for 26/27 is £9,790 and is set in line with the UG Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase this fee in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. The remaining fees relate to the International Soccer Academy and accommodation fees. Accommodation fees may increase in subsequent years. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of the re-issuing of tenancy agreements. Tuition fees in the academic year 2027/28* will be £10,050. Fees are set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase fees in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Increases will be linked to inflation. For example, increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. Student fee loans rise in line with the tuition fees cap. *if your course is longer than one year
* Fees subject to annual increases over the course of the period of study. Students will be liable for payment of any/all tuition fees which are not sponsored by their employer or other third party.
International Fee in Year 1:
This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect.
Tuition fees in the academic year 2027/28* will be £10,050. Fees are set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase fees in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Increases will be linked to inflation. For example, increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. Student fee loans rise in line with the tuition fees cap.
This is the programme fee for your first year of study. The programme fee includes the international tuition fee, International Soccer Academy and accommodation fees. Accommodation fees may increase in subsequent years. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of the re-issuing of tenancy agreements.
ADDITIONAL COSTS
Optional field trips - approximate costs up to £200.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
KB4022 -
Design and Materials (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about some of the issues which will underpin your learning and practice as a civil/construction engineer. You will learn about the mechanics of materials, material qualities, material properties at a micro level and at a macro level.Through practical and other class work you will consider and explore a range of the most commonly used materials in the industry. Materials studied will include rocks and soils, steel, concrete and timber. In addition, you will examine alternative material use to achieve enhanced sustainability, including the use of recycled materials, and you will develop skills in designing concrete structural members through your understanding of material properties and capacities.
More informationKB4023 -
Land Surveying (Core,20 Credits)
Surveying refers to the determination, representation, and analysis of the positions of key features in both the natural and built environment. It is a fundamental skill, based on accuracy and precision, that underpins all engineering and construction projects. You will learn this through our introduction to the principles of surveying. In lectures, we will explain the theory and concepts of surveying, and help you to develop practical and mathematical surveying skills. We will help you to understand how engineering surveying can contribute to the successful design and completion of engineering projects through discussion in class. Your surveying skills will be developed through practical work. You will start by using automatic levels, learning about booking procedures, error check, and calculations. You will then progress by using total stations, collecting angular surveys for key engineering applications and checking, assessing, and correcting your work to optimise the survey quality. Finally, we will introduce you to a range of cutting edge, high precision surveying instrumentation such as terrestrial laser scanners, and differential GPS. We will take you from data collection, through processing and analysis to interpretation of results.
More informationKB4024 -
Introduction to Mechanics & Structures (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about the basic fundamentals of mechanics and structures, which are essential for your developing a career in civil/construction engineering.
You will learn about a range of relevant topics including the consideration of forces and solving problems related to forces within systems. You will learn about principles of stress and strain and consider related factors when solving problems of this nature. You will learn about some of the techniques used to consider the impact of loads on various beans and sections. There will also be an opportunity to learn about associated theories linking to energy methods of structural analysis.
KB4027 -
Introduction to Fluid Mechanics and Soil Mechanics (Core,20 Credits)
In fluid mechanics you will learn about the fundamentals of fluid behaviour, density, pressure, viscosity, laminar and turbulent flow, hydrostatics, floating structures, the interaction of fluids with solid bodies and fluid flow in pipes. In soil mechanics you will learn about the composition of soils, their strength, stress-strain behaviour and modes of failure and the compression and consolidation of soils under short and long term loading. You will also learn about liquid flows through soils and its link to soil strength and behaviour.
More informationKB4028 -
Introduction to Structural Design (Core,20 Credits)
In this module you will learn about the principles and considerations of structural design and the communication of design work. You will be encouraged to develop your hand sketching in recognition that this is an important skill required to communicate early design ideas as well as to aid self-reflection and design development. You will learn how to use CAD software to communicate your design ideas. Your technical drawing skills will be developed, and you will gain experience of producing Civil Engineering drawings. You will gain knowledge and skills through generic design considerations to engender a holistic appreciation of the design process prior to addressing calculation work for simple structural elements in steel, concrete, timber, or masonry.
More informationKC4018 -
Engineering Analytics (Core,20 Credits)
Basic algebra and trigonometry
Transposition, simplification, quadratic equations, simultaneous equations, functions and identities.
Basic calculus
Derivative as slope and rate of change, standard derivatives; product, quotient and function of a function rules; integration
as reverse of differentiation, standard integrals, area under a curve; solution of simple differential equations by direct integration.
Complex numbers
Addition, subtraction, multiplication, complex conjugate and division in algebraic form. The Argand diagram. Polar form and
exponential form, with multiplication and division. De Moivre's theorem (powers and roots). Locus problems.
Calculus
Implicit, parametric and logarithmic differentiation. Maxima and minima. MacLaurin's series. Partial differentiation, first order change, analysis of errors, method of least squares. Integration techniques (substitution, partial fractions, by parts) and simple applications of integration.
Matrices and Determinants
Second and third order determinants, evaluation, properties, Cramer's Rule for solution of simultaneous equations; matrices, addition, subtraction, multiplication, transpose, inverse (via adjoint), solution of simultaneous linear equations by matrix inversion.
Vectors
Sum, difference, magnitude, components, Cartesian representation in three dimensions; scalar and vector products, angle between vectors, application to simple geometrical and physical problems.
Differential Equations
Solution of first order by separation of variables and integrating factor; second order with constant coefficients, auxiliary
equation, complementary function, particular integral by substitution.
SE5000 -
Skills for Academic Success in a UK University (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
You will develop your understanding of academic conventions in UK higher education aligned to your level of study, including expectations around critical analysis, structure, argumentation, evidencing, and referencing. The module focuses on developing communication strategies that will help you express your ideas clearly and coherently in written assignments and spoken activities. You will also reflect on your current academic and language skills and develop strategies for development ahead of your assessments.
More informationKA5054 -
Construction Project Management with BIM 1 (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about typical management practice and activity necessary at the early stages of construction projects. There is a strong emphasis on the key pre-construction aspects of such projects in this module. Themes can include: the planning for, and management of, construction project-level organisations and resources; the use of construction production information, the management of design during the construction process, the role that Digital Construction solutions including Building Information Modelling (BIM) have in this process; construction project planning processes; and the production of construction solutions for specific project challenges.
More informationKB5020 -
Engineering Geology & Geotechnics (Core,20 Credits)
This module provides an introduction to the Earth’s materials, their formation, development, and behaviour and explores how they impact on considerations for site investigation and assessment. You will learn about geological processes and structures and the formation, classification and erosion of rock and soils and the interpretation of geological maps. You will learn about the planning and implementation of site investigations, the interpretation of borehole data and various field testing techniques as used on construction sites. You will learn about the structure, content and use of relevant codes and standards. You will learn about soil improvement on construction sites, suitable fill materials for different construction activities and about the different types of temporary and permanent geotechnical structures commonly encountered and the concept of bearing capacity and simple sizing calculations and construction techniques for common types of foundations.
More informationKB5021 -
Structural Analysis (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about the important theories, principles, and procedures that form the basis of structural analysis. You will be able to develop analytical skills and an appreciation of how this knowledge might be applied in practice to analyse simple and complex structures. You will focus on types of structure and supports and analysis of stress and strain due to load temperature changes. You will also address the influence lines for determinate structures, analytical principles of indeterminate structures and buckling instability of short and slender columns. Finally, the basic principles of ultimate load analysis will be introduced.
More informationKB5024 -
Structural Design (Core,20 Credits)
This module develops your understanding and knowledge of reinforced concrete, steel, and timber structures, and your ability to design these structures. In this module, you will learn about topics such as the design of reinforced concrete beams, slabs and columns, and the preparation of reinforced concrete drawings. You will also learn about the
design of steel beams, columns, frames and connections, and the design of timber posts, beams and connections. You will make use of computer methods to design structures and learn to check and validate results from computer models.
KB5025 -
Hydraulics and Hydrology (Core,20 Credits)
You will study the hydraulics of open channel flow, pipelines and pumps, as well as focusing on engineering hydrology, where you will study water supply and catchment hydrology.
More informationKB5030 -
Preparing for Placement (Core,0 Credits)
You will learn to apply for a 12 month placement in a construction engineering company. You will do this through developing and improving your skills in the following areas:
1. Communication
2. CVs
3. Interviews
4. H&S within the workplace
5. Professional conduct
6. Teams
7. Constructing a Learning Plan
8. Evidencing your learning
9. Reflection in the workplace
10. Networking
KL5002 -
Further Mathematics (Core,20 Credits)
The module is designed to further develop your expertise in engineering mathematics, focusing on algebraic methods of solving engineering computational problems. On this module, you will learn about the use of matrix algebra to solve large systems of equations, together with the formulation and solution of algebraic eigenvalue problems involving differential equations from the perspective of an engineer. You will focus on the fundamentals of matrix theory that underlie powerful practical numerical algorithms for solving systems of linear equations and boundary value problems. As you explore the mathematical techniques, you will discover how each is used in applications of civil engineering problems, including structural analysis, and vibration and stability of structures. This module will enable you to fully understand the tools behind finite element analysis, an important method in engineering.
Outline syllabus (the syllabus includes all or part of the following topics):
1. Vectors and matrices
2. Determinant and rank
3. Linear systems of equations
4. Algebraic eigenvalue problem
5. Galerkin, Ritz, and Finite Element Method
6. Elements of scientific programming
SE5000 -
Skills for Academic Success in a UK University (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
You will develop your understanding of academic conventions in UK higher education aligned to your level of study, including expectations around critical analysis, structure, argumentation, evidencing, and referencing. The module focuses on developing communication strategies that will help you express your ideas clearly and coherently in written assignments and spoken activities. You will also reflect on your current academic and language skills and develop strategies for development ahead of your assessments.
More informationKB5048 -
Work Placement Year (Optional,120 Credits)
You will learn lifelong technical and communication skills in a commercial work environment enabling you to practice your engineering skills in a nurturing and supportive environment. None technical skills such as team working, clear and precise communication, responsibility and creative thinking will be developed alongside technical and commercial knowledge of your chosen field to generate creative, sustainable solutions.
You will be able to use the placement experience to develop and enhance appropriate areas of your knowledge and understanding, your intellectual and professional skills, and your value attributes, relevant to your programme of study. Due to its overall positive impact on employability, degree classification and graduate starting salaries, the University strongly encourages you to pursue a work placement as part of your degree programme.
This module is a Pass/Fail module so does not contribute to the classification of your degree. When taken and passed, however, the Placement Year is recognised both in your transcript as a 120 credit Work Placement Module and on your degree certificate.
Your placement period will normally be full-time and must total a minimum of 40 weeks.
KB5049 -
Study abroad year (Optional,120 Credits)
This module is designed for all standard full-time undergraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment and provides you with the option to study abroad for one full year as part of your programme.
This is a 120 credit module which is available between Levels 5 and 6. You will undertake a year of study abroad at an approved partner University where you will have access to modules from your discipline, but taught in a different learning culture. This gives you the opportunity to broaden your overall experience of learning. The structure of study will be dependent on the partner and will be recorded for an individual student on the learning agreement signed by the host University, the student, and the home University (Northumbria).
Your study abroad year will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. It will not count towards your final degree classification but, it is recognised in your transcript as a 120 credit Study Abroad module and on your degree certificate in the format – “Degree title (with Study Abroad Year)”.
KB6012 -
Environmental Engineering (Core,20 Credits)
In this module you explore the role of engineering interventions in addressing the current Climate Emergency and designing resilient solutions to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions. Through this exploration, you will grow to appreciate the relationships between environmental management and sustainability. On completion of the module, you have an understanding of how environmental engineering theory through the complete life cycle of the project, enhancing your ability to minimise adverse impacts and more generally improving your future employment prospects in the civil engineering industry and more widely.
More informationKB6022 -
Geotechnical Engineering (Core,20 Credits)
You will have the opportunity to build upon your learning from previous modules and apply it to geotechnical engineering design problems. You will cover the stability of earth slopes, lateral earth pressure and retaining structures, shallow and deep foundations, settlement of foundations, soil stabilization techniques, use of standards and codes of practice and the derivation of design parameters from site investigations.
More informationKB6031 -
Integrated Group Design Project (Core,20 Credits)
Your learning on this module will start from a client brief for a project. The brief for the project will be based upon a real project and will be communicated in a realistic manner through correspondence and role-play client meetings. In groups, you will explore the meaning of the brief and the business relationship with the client, develop a design team and key objectives and milestones and then work on options for the technical solution of the problem, considering factors such as cost, required construction technology and techniques, sustainability issues, health, safety and design risk management and the requirements for the business success of the different parties involved. At all stages in the module you will engage in reflective consideration of your learning, which will be inspired by other design and construction examples taken from industry.
More informationKB6032 -
Civil Engineering Research Project (Core,40 Credits)
You will learn to establish the scope, aims and objectives of a research topic, developing a clear problem statement and identifying specific research questions to be answered. You will acquire an understanding of research ethics, being required to complete an online university ethics submission in line with university policy prior to commencing your research project. You will learn to critically review published literature relating to the topic, including how to distinguish between different types of literature such as peer-reviewed or ‘grey’ literature. You will learn how to select research methods appropriate to answer your research questions and how to design a programme of research to achieve your project aims with the resources at your disposal. You will then gain knowledge and experience in applying specific research methods, for example laboratory practice or specific applications software for computer modelling. You will learn how to critically evaluate research results and how to draw specific conclusions against objectives set out at the start of the project. You will then learn how to structure and write an appropriate technical output detailing your findings and how to consider various options for disseminating your findings to a wider audience, for example posters, conference papers, journal articles and client reports. Underlying all this you will learn to identify and manage health and safety risks, risks to the successful completion of the project and any ethical issues associated with your project.
More informationKB6048 -
Structural Analysis and Modelling (Core,20 Credits)
In this module, you will learn about structural testing methods and how to validate the results of finite element applications software for structural analysis and design. You also will learn theory of finite element method, its extended application to the consideration of dynamic problems and behaviour of dynamic structural systems. This module provides a solid foundation in structural testing, computer modelling and the finite element method in particular.
More informationSE6000 -
Skills for Academic Success in a UK University (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
You will develop your understanding of academic conventions in UK higher education aligned to your level of study, including expectations around critical analysis, structure, argumentation, evidencing, and referencing. The module focuses on developing communication strategies that will help you express your ideas clearly and coherently in written assignments and spoken activities. You will also reflect on your current academic and language skills and develop strategies for development ahead of your assessments.
More informationTo start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
Page last updated 28/07/26
