Program Overview

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Civil Engineering - Degree Apprenticeship - BEng (Hons), MEng (Hons)

Overview

The course is a Higher Level Apprenticeship. The course in Civil Engineering is designed to allow graduates to work in both consultancy or contracting within industry. If you are in the Public Sector please apply for the Part-time course as currently HLA;s only receive funding for apprentices in the Private Sector with the Public Sector funding their apprentices to go through the Part-time degree. It incorporates elements of Structural design, Highway design and Water and Wastewater design.

Award

• Bachelor of Engineering with Honours
• Master of Engineering with Honours

Faculty

• Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment

School

• Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment

Campus

• Belfast campus

Start date

• September 2025

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

We are passionate about sharing with our students the vital role they each have now and as future professionals in promoting a sustainable future for all. We believe that sustainability is not the domain of one discipline or profession. It is the responsibility of all disciplines, professions, organisations and individuals.

Career Opportunities

With this degree you could become:

• Civil Engineer
• Civil Engineering Assistant
• Engineer
• Graduate Civil Engineer
• Graduate Engineer
• SPTO Civil Engineer
• Site Engineer

Graduate Employers

Graduates from this course are now working for:

• Amey Consulting
• Rivers Agency
• Atkins Realis
• Government bodies
• Tetra Tech
• Translink
• Graham Construction

About this course

The course is designed and structured to provide you with the opportunity to study the scientific, technical and managerial aspects of civil engineering to an appropriate level. It contains all the elements required for employment in any of the strands of Civil Engineering: Structures, Highways or Water and Wastewater. The skills of self-motivation, original thought, problem solving and decision making, which are so essential to the professional engineer, are encouraged and developed by a programme of project work and design which is undertaken either individually or in small groups.

Attendance

Attendance is normally one day per week for the duration of the course. However, there are two times when a single week (block release) is required.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

In Years 1 to 4 the emphasis is based upon knowledge acquisition and understanding using formal lectures, tutorials, laboratories and coursework. These will provide all the necessary background to function as a Civil Engineer. As you progress through these years, a more student centred teaching strategy is employed to encourage you to focus on self learning through individual reading, research, laboratory experimentation and design. There is a mixture of individual and groupwork so that personal and inter-personal skills are developed.

Modules

Year one

• Sustainable Construction and Traffic Engineering
• Digital Construction and Communication
• Surveying

Year two

• Materials
• Mathematics - BEng
• Engineering Mechanics

Year three

• Mathematics for Engineers
• Structures 2
• Structural Engineering Design 2

Year four

• Safety in Design
• Geotechnics 2
• Water Resources 2

Year five

• Water Resources Engineering 4
• Construction Management
• Project Empirical Data collection and Analysis (optional)
• Project Literature Review and Methodology (optional)
• Dissertation Literature Review and Methodology (optional)
• Dissertation Empirical Data collection and Analysis (optional)

Year six

• Soil Mechanics 4
• Structural analysis and design 4
• Civil Engineering Design (optional)
• Environmental Engineering 4 (optional)
• Highways and Transportation Engineering (optional)

Year seven

• Project Management
• Integrated Design studies A
• Structural Design for Infrastructure
• Sustainable Development

Year eight

• Infrastructure Design Studies
• Advanced Materials, Structures and Geotechnics (optional)
• Numerical Modelling (optional)
• Waste Systems (optional)
• Utilities and Water Engineering (optional)
• Structural Fire Engineering (optional)
• Highway Asset Management (optional)

Standard entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

A level

• BBB
• A Level Essential: Mathematics Required
• and
• One from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography and Engineering, Applied Science or Double Award Science, Life and Health Science (Single or Double Award), Technology (including Technology & Design, Design & Technology, Environmental Technology, Environmental Science and Digital Technology). If A Level Physics is not offered please refer to the GCSE entry requirements below.

Applied General Qualifications

• QCF Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Construction or Civil Engineering. Award profile of DDD to include a Distinction in Further Mathematics or Mathematics in Construction and the Built Environment and a Distinction in Structural Mechanics or Public Health Engineering.
• RQF (2019) Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Civil Engineering. Award profile of DDD to include a Distinction in Further Mathematics for Construction and a Distinction in Structural Mechanics or Public Health Engineering.
• RQF (2016) Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Civil Engineering. Award profile of DDM to include a Distinction in Further Mathematics for Construction and a Distinction in Structural Mechanics or Public Health Engineering.

Irish Leaving Certificate

• 120 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of five subjects (four of which must be at Higher Level) to include English at H6 if studied at Higher Level or O4 if studied at Ordinary Level. This course also requires you to achieve H3 in Mathematics and H3 in one other science subject from Physics, Chemistry, Physics/Chemistry, Biology, Technology, Design & Communication Graphics, Construction, Engineering or Geography.

Scottish Highers

• Grades BBBCC to include grade B in Mathematics and grade B in one other subject from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Geography, Construction, Technology and Technical drawing/graphics.

Scottish Advanced Highers

• Grades CCC to include Mathematics and one other subject from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Geography, Construction, Technology and Technical Drawing/Graphics.

International Baccalaureate

• Overall is minimum 26 points (13 at higher level) to include minimum grade 5 in HL Mathematics and grade 5 in another HL science subject. Grade 4 in English Language also required in overall profile.

Access to Higher Education (HE)

• Access Course (120 credit Access Course) (NI Access Course) in a Science, Technology or Engineering subject area with an overall mark of 65% to include 65% in each of the level 3 modules and to include 65% in NICATS level 2 Maths module for Year 1 entry.

GCSE

• For full-time study, you must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements for admission to a first degree course and hold a GCSE pass at Grade C/4 or above in English Language, Grade B/6 or above in Maths. If A Level Physics is not being offered then GCSE Double Award Science at grades CC/55 OR GCSE Physics, Chemistry or Further Maths Grade C*/5 or above is required.

English Language Requirements

• The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Additional Entry Requirements

• HNC: Pass QCF HNC in Civil Engineering/Construction with overall Distinction to include 90 level 4 credits at Distinction to include Analytical Methods and Strutural Analysis and Design.
• HND Year 1: Pass HND (120 credits in level 5 moudles) in Civil Engineering. GCSE Maths Grade C/4 or an alternative Mathematics qualification acceptable to the University is also required.
• HND Year 2: Pass HND in Civil Engineering with overall Merit to include 60 L5 credits at Distinction and a Merit in Engineering Maths and Merit in either Structural Analysis, Hydraulics/Hydrology and Soil Mechanics.
• Ulster Foundation Degree Year 1: Pass in Foundation Degree in Civil Engineering/Construction to include 55% in the 20 credit Maths moudle. GCSE Maths grade C.
• Ulster Foundation Degree Year 2: Pass in Foundation Degree in Civil Engineering with an overall mark of 55%, and minimum 55% in all taught level 5 modules, and 55% in the 20 credit Maths module. Applicants will normally be considered for year 2 entry to the linked Honours degree.

Exemptions and transferability

• Depending on experience in industry or previous qualifications - exemptions to some or all year 1 and year 2 modules may be permitted.

Eligibility

• To participate in a Degree Apprenticeship programme, you must:
  • be a school leaver aged 16 or over;
  • be newly employed (less than 6 months before the start of the course) or be about to take up employment on a permanent contract with a minimum of 21 hours per week;
  • have achieved the minimum academic entry qualifications for the course;
  • pass any entry tests specified by the relevant sector;
  • have a right to live and work in the UK.

Careers & opportunities

Graduate employers

• Graduates from this course are now working for:
  • Amey Consulting
  • Rivers Agency
  • Atkins Realis
  • Government bodies
  • Tetra Tech
  • Translink
  • Graham Construction

Job roles

• With this degree you could become:
  • Civil Engineer
  • Civil Engineering Assistant
  • Engineer
  • Graduate Civil Engineer
  • Graduate Engineer
  • SPTO Civil Engineer
  • Site Engineer

Career options

• On graduation you will be well equipped to embark on a career in any branch of the civil engineering profession or, subject to performance, to undertake postgraduate studies or research in related areas.

Work placement / study abroad

• You need to be working in industry when you are studying as an apprentice part-time. There is therefore no work placement in this mode of study.

Professional Recognition

• MEng (Hons) Civil Engineering. 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 a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
• BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering. 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) and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng). Candidates must hold a masters or doctorate accredited as further learning for CEng to hold accredited qualifications for CEng registration.

Fees and funding

• For the apprentice there's no cost to do a higher level or degree apprenticeship. You'll be paid as an employee of the company you're working for as well as receiving a university education that is paid for by the Department for the Economy.

Scholarships, awards and prizes

• Concrete Society (NI Region) Prize - 3rd year students
• Institution of Civil Engineers’ Prize - Final Year Students - Overall performance in final year of course. Based on Classification mark
• Institution of Structural Engineers NI Prize- Final-year students - Best performance in Structural subjects - Based on top marks in CIV524 and a structural project
• May Rae Memorial Prize - All final year students - Best presentation of final-year project in Civil Engineering
• The Northern Ireland Geotechnical Society - Final Year students - Best result in Soil Mechanics 4 module CIV523
• The Quigg Golden Prize - Final Year students - Best result in Construction Management module CIV513

Additional mandatory costs

• Safety boots required for surveying and laboratory work

Terms and Conditions

• We prepare our prospectus and online information about our courses with care and every effort is made to ensure that the information is accurate. The printed version of the prospectus is, however, published at least a year before the courses begin. Information included in the prospectus may, therefore, change. This includes, but is not limited to changes to the terms, content, delivery, location, method of assessments or lengths of the courses described. Not all circumstances are foreseeable, but changes will normally be made for one of the following reasons:
  • to meet external, professional, or accredited body requirements;
  • to provide for exceptional circumstances due to reasons beyond our reasonable control;
  • to improve or enhance your experience, or to adopt changes recommended in student feedback, with the aim of improving the student experience and/or student outcomes; and/or
  • to ensure appropriate academic standards are met, for example in response to external examiners’ feedback.
• The full Student Terms and Conditions 24/25 is now available.