HNC CIVIL ENGINEERING SENIOR TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIP

Program Overview

Delivered part-time over four semesters, the program provides students with the knowledge and skills for planning, design, building, management, maintenance, or dismantling in the built environment and infrastructure. Graduates are well-prepared for roles such as Assistant Site Engineer and Civil Engineering Technician.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Civil Engineering Senior Technician Apprenticeship is a 2-year program that includes an HNC in Civil Engineering alongside the apprenticeship scheme. It provides the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required to achieve Engineering Technician status with the Institution of Civil Engineers (EngTech MICE). The program aims to equip students with the technical planning, design, building, management, maintenance, or dismantling skills needed for the built environment and infrastructure.

Outline:

The program is delivered over two years through a part-time mode of study, with classes held one day and evening per week over four semesters. It also covers engineering geology and geomaterials (rock and soils). The module includes lectures, laboratories, and site visits. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam. It also covers key professional and research requirements, preparing students for employment in the construction discipline. Assessment method: 100% coursework.

• Mathematics B: This module consolidates the mathematical skills that underpin Civil Engineering degrees.
It is designed to cater to the diverse mathematical backgrounds of students, bringing them to an equivalent A-level maths level and then introducing the main mathematical techniques required in the early stages of Civil Engineering degrees. The module is delivered over two semesters. Students are introduced to a computer-aided analysis package and study historical structural failures. The module also covers introductory principles of structural engineering design through open-ended exercises and case studies. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.
• Fluid Mechanics B: This module teaches fundamental principles of fluid mechanics and their practical applications.
Students learn about hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces, sediment transport, pressure measurement, the stability of floating bodies, coastal and flood engineering, air flow around structures, and flow in simple pipes and open channels. The module includes fluid flow laboratory tests, workshops, report preparation, and presentations. Assessment Methods: 50% Coursework, 50% Exam.
• Engineering Surveying: This module introduces students to the basic theory and practice of land surveying, particularly as it applies to civil engineering.
Students learn about three-dimensional geometry, use various surveying equipment (tape, level, theodolite, total station), and carry out relevant computations, including error assessment, reduced level calculation, coordinate and bearing calculation. Assessment methods: 50% coursework, 50% exam.

Assessment:

The program includes both on-programme assessment and an End Point Assessment (EPA).

• On-programme assessment: Apprentices demonstrate their progress through achievement of a Level 4 qualification in Construction and the Built Environment.
An online or paper-based portfolio is recommended to demonstrate how the apprentice has met the requirements set by the Apprenticeship Standard. These should be supervised by in-company mentors and training providers and tested by external assessors.

Teaching:

The program is delivered through a combination of lectures, laboratories, workshops, site visits, and field projects. The teaching methods are designed to provide students with a practical and theoretical understanding of civil engineering principles.

Careers:

Upon completion of the program, graduates are well-prepared for roles such as:

• Assistant Site Engineer
• Assistant Engineer
• Civil Engineering Technician
• Construction Site Technician
In smaller construction companies, graduates may be employed as Site Engineer, Civil Engineer, or Project Engineer.

Other:

• The program is approved by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), comprising the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, on behalf of the Engineering Council.
• Some modules include field work and site visits.
There may be field trips organized, which may be residential or outside the United Kingdom, ranging from three to five days. These are organized by the Division, and students may be required to contribute towards the cost. If outside the UK, students will be advised of any visa or passport requirements.
• The program is designed to prepare students for advanced entry (subject to HNC grades) at level 5 on to the degree program on a full-time basis, or part-time basis, or apprenticeship basis.
• LSBU's Employability Service provides free employability workshops and events, an online job board, and career resources to help students find employment.