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Course description

Give yourself the best possible grounding in the principles behind civil and structural engineering, leaving your options open for a range of careers in the industry.

Research-active academics and teachers with extensive industrial experience give you a broad-base understanding in this civil and structural engineering degree – making it perfect if you're not sure which area of civil engineering you want to go into.

The course integrates a strong focus on civil engineering analysis and design with the latest research on sustainable development – equipping you to tackle challenges in the built environment and design innovative solutions that minimise impact on the environment.

Years one and two will see you concentrate on the core disciplines of structural engineering, water infrastructure engineering, fluid mechanics, and geotechnical mechanics, from both an analysis and design perspective.

The second half of the course follows more specialised and advanced structural engineering areas such as bridge engineering, multi-storey building design, sustainability, geotechnics and your independent research project.

During your third year, you'll spend a full semester doing the integrated design project. You’ll unleash your creativity on a grand scale: devising plans for an entire urban regeneration project based on a real site in Sheffield. You'll investigate new design methods and construction materials while developing detailed designs such as elegant bridges, sustainable and environmentally sensitive multi-storey buildings, or state-of-the-art sports venues.

The course challenges you to solve increasingly complex problems – building on your core knowledge with specialist modules in the final year so that you'll graduate as a skilled, competent and well-rounded engineer.

Modules

Title: Civil and Structural Engineering with a Foundation Year MEng or BEng course structure
UCAS code: H201
Years: 2022, 2023, 2024

Foundation year Year 1 onwards

Foundation year

Core modules:

Introduction to Engineering

This module will introduce the application of engineering principles to foundation year students and give the student an appreciation of the breadth of engineering activities across the faculty and identify to students what knowledge areas and skills are needed in order to contribute to their development and be successful. It will also help create links with departments and draw on the other modules that students will take in the foundation year especially maths and physics.

40 credits

Further Foundation Mathematics

The syllabus for MPS001 covers important material which appears on the A level maths and further mathematics A Level curriculum. The module is for students who are taking MPS002 and need a deeper background in mathematics for their degree course. The module covers advanced principles of algebra, geometry and calculus.  Following the introduction of new material, students have the opportunity of extensive problem solving, both in the problem classes with tutors and in their own time.

10 credits

Foundations of Physics

PHY009 provides students with the foundations of Physics required to enter the first year of a regular Physics or other scientific degree course, or an engineering course where detailed knowledge of Physics is needed.

Understanding will be developed in 3 lectures per week over a full academic year. Problem solving and example classes are integrated into lectures. The following topics will be covered: Dynamics/Mechanics; Electricity and Magnetism; Thermal Physics; Oscillations, Waves, and Optics; Properties of Matter; Atomic and Nuclear Physics.

As PHY009 teaches no practical Physics, this module is complemented by the 10 credit laboratory module FCE002 for most science foundation year students (except for foundation year students leading to a Mathematics undergraduate programme) or FCE001 for engineering foundation year students.

The greatest advances in technology have taken place in the last hundred years. In 1897 few would have imagined that the probing of materials at the atomic level would reveal so much. These early discoveries of atomic constituents and their structure would pave the way for semi-conductor electronics, develop key concepts in physical laws, and offer a replacement energy source for fossil fuels in the form of nuclear power. This course summarises key discoveries in early particle physics and combines historical background with the detailed physics understanding needed to fully appreciate the subject.

These full modules aim to provide a sound foundation in Physics in preparation for Level 1 Physics modules. It introduces (i) Properties of Matter, (ii) Oscillations, waves and optics and (iii) Atomic and Nuclear Physics. (i) Properties of Matter discusses structural, mechanical and electrical properties in terms of simple models. (ii) treats vibration and waves introducing the concepts of wavelength, frequency and wave speed. (iii) discusses the physics of the atom, including historical aspects, the electron, the photo-electric effect, Bohr's atomic model, nuclear structure and radioactivity.

30 credits

Optional Modules. You must choose one of the following:

Core Foundation Mathematics

The syllabus for MPS002 covers the common core A Level curriculum. The unit is tailored for students who have been away from mathematics for a period of time, but who will have gained some A-Level or similar qualifications. The unit covers the basic principles of algebra, geometry and calculus. Following the introduction of new material in the lectures, students have the opportunity of extensive problem solving, both in the tutorial sessions with the lecturers and in their own time.

40 credits

Foundation Core and Enhanced Mathematics

This module builds on the common core curriculum from A level maths (which is a prerequisite). This unit covers enhanced comprehension of topics in pure maths, statistics, probability, and numerical methods. These topics are chosen to further prepare students for their undergraduate studies in the science and engineering faculties.

40 credits

Learning and assessment

We've academic staff who are world-leaders in their respective fields and some have over 20 years' experience in industry. Our staff experience demonstrates how engineering fundamentals are applied in practice through project work that mimics real-life situations. We also bring in leading industry experts to enhance and support our teaching and advise on our curriculum.

Assessment

You'll be assessed through a mix of the following:

• examinations
• coursework
• assignments
• lab work
• online tests
• reports
• group projects
• presentations.

Entry requirements

Standard offer

The A Level entry requirements for this course are:
BBB; BBC
BBB (any A Level); BBC including Maths and at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology

International Baccalaureate

32 (any subjects); 31 with Maths and at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology at Higher Level 5 or Standard Level 7

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDD in Engineering, Applied Science or Built Environment + GCSE Science grade 6/B and Maths grade 7/A

BTEC Diploma

DD in Engineering, Applied Science or Built Environment + A at A Level (no STEM at A Level) + GCSE Science grade 6/B and Maths grade 7/A; DD in Engineering, Applied Science or Built Environment + B in an A Level science subject (Physics, Chemistry, or Biology) + GCSE Maths grade 7/A; DD in Engineering, Applied Science or Built Environment + C in A Level Maths + GCSE Science grade 6/B

T Level

Distinction in the Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction or Building Services Engineering for Construction T Level, including grade B in the core component + GCSE Science grade 6/B and Maths grade 7/A

Scottish Highers

AABBB (any subjects); ABBBB including Maths and at least one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology

Welsh Baccalaureate + 2 A Levels

B + BB (any A Level subjects); B + BC in Maths and either Physics, Chemistry or Biology

Access to HE Diploma

Award of Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject, with 45 credits at Level 3, including 24 at Distinction (to include 12 Maths units), and 21 at Merit + GCSE Maths grade 7/A

Routes for mature students

Other requirements

• If you are studying any other subject combination, we require GCSE Science grade 6/B (or 65 in GCSE Double Award Science) and Maths grade 7/A

Graduate careers

School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Our graduates work all over the world, from the UK to Australia and the USA. Recent graduates have gone on to work for AECOM, Arup, Atkins, Buro Happold, Eastwood & Partners, and Kier.

You'll be able to apply your knowledge and skills to fields as diverse as the built environment, sustainability and improving the environment.

In addition, architectural engineering graduates might go into a broad range of engineering areas ranging from building services to mechanical, electrical or acoustic engineering.

Or as a structural engineer, you'll be helping to shape the world around us. Structural engineers design and construct multi-storey buildings, bridges, sports stadiums, tunnels, airports and schools.

School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is at the forefront of improving the way we live. Whether it's providing the facilities that keep our day-to-day lives running smoothly - from roads and railways to clean water supplies - or working to meet the ever-changing needs of our society in the areas of sustainability, renewable energy and climate change, you'll be helping to create and protect the world we live in.

Our courses will make you the kind of engineer the world needs right now; forward-thinking, interdisciplinary, environmentally conscious, and capable of the kind of complex thinking our rapidly changing society needs. Wherever you choose to start your career, you'll be in demand.

We're in the UK top ten for civil engineering, according to The Times UK University Rankings 2024. Our research is internationally recognised, with 96% of our research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent, according to the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF2021). Industry and government value our expertise.

Our industry partners contribute to teaching through lectures, design classes, projects and site visits. We work with leading consultants, contractors and specialist civil engineering companies to provide industrial opportunities for a number of students each year. We also have industrial tutors and professionals who mentor our first-year students.

You'll be taught in The Diamond, one of the best teaching spaces in the UK.

Facilities

The Diamond is home to dedicated laboratories and facilities such as our structures and dynamics lab, fluids engineering lab, and our thermodynamics and mechanics lab. This means you'll directly apply what you’ve learnt in lectures to lab sessions helping you to put theory into practice. Alongside teaching and study spaces, the Diamond is also home to iForge – the UK's first student-led makerspace.

Science and Engineering Foundation Year

University rankings

Student profiles

Fees and funding

Fees

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Offer holder days

If you've received an offer to study with us, we'll invite you to one of our offer holder days, which take place between February and April. These open days have a strong department focus and give you the chance to really explore student life here, even if you've visited us before.

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Contact us

Telephone

+44 114 222 7870

Email

sefy@sheffield.ac.uk

Science and Engineering Foundation Year