MEng (Hons) Civil Engineering

Program Overview

The MEng Civil Engineering program at Aston University is a five-year integrated master's degree that provides a comprehensive education in the field. The program emphasizes practical, real-world experience through partnerships with industry leaders and a placement year. Graduates are highly valued by employers and have the potential to pursue diverse careers in civil engineering and related fields. The program also focuses on sustainability and ethical aspects of the profession.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Objectives:

• Provide a thorough grounding in the basic principles of civil engineering.
• Offer the opportunity to gain relevant industrial experience through a placement year.
• Equip students with the knowledge and skills required by civil engineers within the built environment.
• Produce graduates with the qualities and skillset expected by relevant Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs), societies, professional bodies and industry.
• Combine theoretical studies with practical, experimental, and digital skills training applicable to civil engineering and the built environment.
• Offer an up-to-date and professionally focussed curriculum aligned with the requirements of the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) which includes Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), The Institution of Structural engineers (IStructE), the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transport (CIHT) and the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE).
• Provide the opportunity to obtain relevant industrial experience and mentoring from practitioners through the sandwich placement year.
• Produce capable graduate civil engineers who are highly valued by employers.
• Produce masters level graduates who have advanced knowledge and skills to afford them the best opportunity to become engineering leaders.

Description:

This five-year integrated master's degree offers a deeper and more comprehensive education than a traditional bachelor's degree. You'll delve into the intricacies of civil engineering, gaining expertise that sets you apart in a competitive job market. The program is designed to provide a well-rounded education, focusing not only on technical skills but also on the interpersonal and ethical aspects of the profession. In an era when sustainability is paramount, the MEng Civil Engineering program emphasizes eco-friendly design, responsible construction practices, and innovative solutions that minimize environmental impact. You'll be part of the solution to global challenges such as climate change and resource conservation.

Outline:

The MEng Civil Engineering program is structured with approximately 6-7 modules split over two terms. Students take four modules each term. Each module is assessed through a combination of exams, coursework, design projects, and laboratory reports.

Year 1:

• Introduction to Civil Engineering
• Construction Materials and Surveying
• BIM for Construction
• Civil Engineering Mathematics
• Building and Design and Construction Technology
• Each module is worth 30 credits.

Year 2:

• Structural Analysis and Numerical Modelling
• Sustainable Materials and Design
• Fluid Mechanics
• Construction Contract Management and Administration
• Geotechnics 1
• Transport Infrastructure Engineering
• Each module is worth 30 credits.

Placement Year:

• Students will spend their third year on an industry placement.
• Supported by the award-winning Careers and Placements team.
• 120 credits.

Year 4:

• Independent Civil Engineering Project
• Civil Engineering Design Project
• Hydraulics
• Geotechnics 2
• Two optional modules:
• Civil Engineering Project Management
• Sustainable Infrastructure Systems
• Transport Planning for Sustainable Futures
• Each module is worth 30 credits.

Final Year:

• Major Civil Engineering Design Project
• Advanced Structural Engineering
• Digital Engineering and Smart Construction
• Project Management
• Two optional modules:
• Water and Wastewater Engineering
• Monitoring and Management of Civil Infrastructure
• Advanced Geotechnics
• Each module is worth 45 credits, except for the Major Civil Engineering Design Project which is worth 90 credits.

Assessment:

The assessment methods will reflect the most effective and relevant way to review your performance for each module. each module will be assessed in a variety of ways to reflect your knowledge from that module and how you would apply it in the real world. The majority of modules have a balance of 40% coursework and 60% exam, however, several modules are assessed entirely on coursework. The final integrated masters year incorporates a major civil engineering design project, which you will gain 1-2-1 academic support from researchers working in a similar area to your project.

Teaching:

• Aston University places a strong emphasis on practical, real-world experience.
• The program features partnerships with industry leaders, providing opportunities to work on live projects and gain hands-on experience from day one.
• Teaching is delivered by accredited academics who have worked in the industry or are involved in collaborative industry research.
• Access to world-class facilities for civil engineering labs with state-of-the-art building and testing equipment.

Careers:

• Graduates from the program are employed by UK or global organizations such as building and project management consultancies.
• The transferable management and technical skills developed during your studies will also be attractive to other professions.
• Graduates have the potential to go into diverse fields such as finance, logistics, and general management.
• Recent graduates have joined companies including Alstom, BAM Construction, Mott McDonald, and the Department for Transport.

Other:

• The program is designed to provide a well-rounded education, focusing not only on technical skills but also on the interpersonal and ethical aspects of the profession.
• The program emphasizes eco-friendly design, responsible construction practices, and innovative solutions that minimize environmental impact.
• The program features a strong emphasis on practical, real-world experience.
• The program features partnerships with industry leaders, providing opportunities to work on live projects and gain hands-on experience from day one.
• The program allows students to gain relevant industrial experience through a placement year.
• The program is designed to produce capable graduate civil engineers who are highly valued by employers.
• The program aims to produce masters level graduates who have advanced knowledge and skills to afford them the best opportunity to become engineering leaders.
Some information may be missing or incomplete.

UK students(2024/25)

Annual tuition fees: £9,250 During placement year: £1,250

International students(2024/25)

Annual tuition fees: £21,100 During placement year: £2,500