BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering (Including Foundation Year)
91% of our BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering students were satisfied with their course National Student Survey 2023
The University of South Wales' foundation year in Civil Engineering gives you the knowledge and confidence to progress on to the BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering degree and develop key skills for success in the civil engineering industry.
This Civil Engineering degree will give you the appropriate practical and academic training for a career in civil engineering, including structural design, geotechnical design, project management, highway and transport engineering, and sustainable design and development.
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.
See www.jbm.org.uk for further information and details of Further Learning programmes for CEng.
Foundation Year: Civil Engineering degree
- Foundations of Mathematics - 20 credits
- Application of Mathematical Skills - 20 credits
- Essential Engineering Skills - 20 credits
- Engineering Project - 20 credits
- Foundation Engineering Principles - 20 credits
- English for Engineering (optional) - 20 credits
- An Introduction to the Construction Industry (optional) - 20 credits
Year One: Civil Engineering degree
- Engineering Maths 1 - 20 credits
- Structural Analysis and Design 1 - 20 credits
- Site Practice and Surveying - 20 credits
- Construction Materials - 20 credits
- Thermo-Fluid Mechanics - 20 credits
- Conceptual Modelling and Sustainable Design - 20 credits
Year Two: Civil Engineering degree
- Civil Engineering Practice - 20 credits
- Structural Analysis and Design 2 - 20 credits
- Sustainable Design Project - 20 credits
- Engineering Surveying and Highway Design - 20 credits
- Geotechnics and Hydrology - 20 credits
- Analytical Methods and Hydraulics - 20 credits
Year Three: Civil Engineering degree
- Individual Dissertation - 20 credits
- Integrated Project - 20 credits
- Structural Analysis and Design 3 - 20 credits
- Civil Engineering Design and Applications - 20 credits
- Civil Engineering Management and Business - 20 credits
- Environmental Management and Sustainable Transport - 20 credits
- Geotechnical Engineering and Environmental Engineering - 20 credits
Teaching
The Civil Engineering degree offers a combination of theory and practice, so there is a balance of lectures, tutorials and practical sessions. Many modules require coursework only, while others are a mixture of coursework and exams.
Project modules are based on ‘live’ schemes, supported by guest lectures from professional engineers and, where appropriate, field courses are included to consolidate the knowledge gained in class and help you apply it in real-life situations.
Our Civil Engineering courses are designed to ensure you are highly employable and a valuable addition to the industry. The areas you will study include all the subjects necessary to meet the expectations of employers, preparing you for a career in this challenging and rewarding field.
Part-time students can follow an embedded professional qualification route, which gives them the opportunity to work towards a professional qualification while studying and working in the industry.
An open-door policy ensures that support and advice from academic staff is always available during your studies.
Assessment
Assessment methods include assignments, coursework, class tests and presentations. Presentations are included as elements of assessments in some modules, in order that key communication and presentation skills can be developed.
Accreditations
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.
See www.jbm.org.uk for further information and details of Further Learning programmes for CEng.
Placements
There are practical field courses in the UK, and you'll have the opportunity to complete a work placement as part of your studies.
Facilities
Our civil engineering labs are equipped with the latest computer-aided and controlled machinery.
Lecturers
- Shane Galvin, Head of Subject – Built Environment and Civil Engineering
- David Baxter, (Applied Mathematics and Fluid Dynamics)
- Jerome Daly, (Geotechnical Engineering)
- Jiping Bai, Associate Professor (Sustainable Materials and Structural Systems)
- Joanne Thomas, Lecturer (Structural Engineering)
- Luan Al-Haddad, (Applied Mathematics and Hydraulics)
- Phil Young, (Architectural Design, Engineering Drawing, Sustainability)
- John Kinuthia, Professor (Materials Engineering and Highways)
- Jonathan Oti, Associate Professor (Materials Engineering)
We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions. USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Here is a link to our Contextual Admissions Policy.
Other qualifications and experience
We can also consider combinations of qualifications and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable. We can sometimes consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or advanced entry to year two or three of a course where this is possible.
To find out which qualifications have tariff points, please refer to the UCAS tariff calculator.
If you need more help or information or would like to speak to our friendly admissions team, please contact us here
Typical A-Level Offer
DD, 48 tariff points
Typical Welsh BACC Offer
N/A
Typical BTEC Offer
BTEC Extended Diploma Pass Pass Pass or BTEC Diploma Pass Pass
Typical Access to HE Offer
Pass Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points
Additional Requirements
GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics and English at Grade C/Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent but consideration is given to individual circumstances
International Entry Requirements
We also welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications. Please visit the country specific pages on our international website for exact details.
If your current qualifications don't meet the entry requirements for entry onto year 1 of your chosen undergraduate degree, we offer one-year International Foundation Programmes through our pathway partnership with QAHE to help you reach the level required for progression. For more information visit our Pathway website.
English Requirements
In general, international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.
However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details. If your country is not featured please contact us.
Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course
August 2024 - July 2025 Fees
Full-time UK: £9000
Full-time International: £15260
August 2025 - July 2026 Fees
Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: TBC
Student Perks
At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.
Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.
Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Funding
Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs
Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.
UK students
Apply via UCAS if you are a UK residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.
International and EU students
Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK.
This civil engineering degree is designed to ensure you are highly employable and a valuable addition to the industry. The areas you will study include all the subjects necessary to meet the expectations of employers, preparing you for a career in this challenging and rewarding field.
Employment opportunities for our civil engineerin graduates are excellent. We also have excellent links with industry that can help you get a head start in your career. Our civil engineering graduates readily secure work with consulting engineers, civil engineering contractors and local authorities, and with a range of companies that include Capita Symonds, Edmund Nuttall Ltd, Hyder, Alan Griffiths Contractors Ltd, Morgan Est, Carillion PLC, Mott MacDonald, Atkins, Network Rail, United Utilities and various international companies.
Our Careers and Employability Service
As a USW civil engineering student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.
This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.
Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.
Graduate Stories
Student Stories
Highlight Stories
The Pontypridd Campus is made up of two sites: Treforest and Glyntaff. Our students love the community atmosphere, as well as living and studying in the same place. It’s quieter than the cities, with green open spaces and views across the valley.
It’s the community and friendships you’ll build that make this place special. Outside your studies you can experience our amazing sport facilities and Students’ Union.
Living in Halls is a great way to meet new people and make friends. We have high quality accommodation in Treforest, Cardiff and Newport.