Civil Engineering (International) with a Year in Industry (MEng)
- Subject area: Engineering
- UCAS code: K3G1
- Next intake: September 2024
- Duration: 5 years
- Mode: Full time with sandwich year
Why study this course
Professional award consideration
Our formal partnership with the City and Guilds of London Institute enables you to achieve the Senior Award of Licentiateship after successfully completing your placement.
Semester abroad
You will have the opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad at one of our English-speaking partner institutions.
Industrial placement
Gain valuable experience working in a paid role at an organisation in the UK or abroad for one academic year.
Graduate privileges
Graduates take a quicker, more direct route to Chartered Engineer status than the BEng students.
Professionally accredited course
Accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Institute of Highway Engineers on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Civil engineers play a key role in planning, designing, constructing and maintaining the physical environment around us, including buildings and structures, flood defences and water supply programmes.
Our civil engineering programme offers you a highly regarded degree course at one of the top universities in this field, preparing you for exciting future career opportunities in designing and working with the built and natural environments.
This course includes the opportunity to take a year of industrial placement between your second and third years of academic study. With this option, we will support you in finding a placement that will allow you to experience a professional working environment. If you are successful in securing a placement you will be paid a salary and will enhance your employability skills through direct experience of working in business, industry or the public sector.
An added advantage of this International course is that one semester is spent studying engineering through the medium of English in a partner university overseas. In the past, our students have visited Hong Kong, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
You will develop a thorough understanding of civil engineering theory, which will be backed up by practical application through laboratory and research work, field courses and design classes, enabling you to develop your career in any area of the civil engineering industry.
The MEng allows you to use the last two years to expand and strengthen your knowledge. You will benefit from advanced learning in design and management and an appreciation of the techniques needed to manage and organise a multidisciplinary engineering design project.
Other civil engineering courses include a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of civil engineering if you choose a BEng course.
Accreditations
Subject area: Engineering
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
AAA-AAB. Must include grade A in Maths. You will need to pass the science practical element of the A-level if this is part of your programme of study.
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application.
- Eligible students will be given an offer at the lower end of the advertised grade range.
- Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional points in the selection process or be guaranteed interview/consideration.
Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.
International Baccalaureate
36-34 overall or 666 in 3 HL subjects. Must include grade 6 in HL Maths.
Baccalaureate Wales
From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
Other essential requirements
You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade C/4 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with minimum scores of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading and 20 for speaking.
PTE Academic
At least 62 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
III: at least a Pass in all components.
Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement, including the ability to travel to outside of the UK or to undertake a placement/studies outside of Cardiff University
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Other qualifications from inside the UK
BTEC
DD in a BTEC Diploma in any subject and grade A in A-Level Maths.
T level
We do not accept T Levels for this programme.
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
Tuition fees for 2024 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2024/25 academic year. Fees for the previous year were £9,000.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2024/25 academic year.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2024/25 academic year.
Costs for sandwich years
During a sandwich year (e.g. year in industry, placement year or year abroad) a lower fee will apply. Full details can be found on our fees pages.
Additional costs
Course specific equipment
No specific equipment is needed. The University will provide resources such as computers and associated software, laboratory equipment (including any safety equipment) and a variety of other learning resources (both electronic and in hard copies).
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Living costs
We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Course structure
We are currently working with our students to update and improve the content of this course. The information shown below reflects the current curriculum and is likely to change. The review of the course is expected to be completed by August 2024 and this page will be updated by end of October 2024 to reflect the changes.
This is a five-year full-time degree with the third year spent working in industry and one semester of year four spent studying abroad. The course includes a carefully chosen balance of core modules and optional modules. Most modules are worth 10 credits, some are worth 20 and a few, including the year four and year five projects, are each worth 30. You need to earn 120 credits a year.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2024/2025 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2024.
Year one
Year one consists of a series of lectures underpinned by practical laboratory sessions.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Analysis | EN1091 | 20 credits |
| Computing 1 | EN1092 | 10 credits |
| Environmental Fluid and Geomechanics | EN1911 | 20 credits |
| Materials and Construction | EN1912 | 20 credits |
| Design Studies | EN1915 | 20 credits |
| Structures | EN1916 | 20 credits |
| Professional Engineering | EN1917 | 10 credits |
Year two
Year two again consists of a series of lectures underpinned by practical laboratory sessions.
There is an off-site residential field-course for five days in the spring semester, as part of the Field Studies of the Natural and Built Environment module.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Analysis | EN2026 | 20 credits |
| Computing 2 | EN2208 | 10 credits |
| Hydraulics and Soil Mechanics | EN2314 | 20 credits |
| Professional Studies and Construction | EN2315 | 20 credits |
| Structural Analysis and Design | EN2400 | 40 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History of Western Architecture | EN2207 | 10 credits |
| Environmental Engineering | EN2313 | 10 credits |
Year three: Sandwich year
Year three is spent working in industry. You are normally expected to be in employment for a minimum of 30 weeks to satisfy the minimum University requirement, although the Cardiff University School of Engineering expects the placement to last for the whole academic year.
During your placement you will be visited by your industrial training tutor or nominee at least once, but preferably twice, if you are based in the UK.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Training | EN3095 | 120 credits |
Year four
The autumn semester of year four is spent studying at a partner institution overseas for the equivalent of 50 credits.
The year also includes a major project, with a value of a quarter of the overall year. For this, you will work individually alongside a supervising staff member. Some preparation takes place in the autumn semester but the module is completed in the spring semester.
Other core and optional modules build upon the foundations established in the earlier years.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| International Experience | EN3092 | 50 credits |
| International Engineering Studies | EN3094 | 10 credits |
| Project | EN3300 | 30 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Structures | EN3213 | 10 credits |
| Concrete Materials and Structures | EN3311 | 10 credits |
| Environmental Geotechnics | EN3314 | 10 credits |
| Environmental Hydraulics | EN3317 | 10 credits |
| Waste Management and Recycling | EN3401 | 10 credits |
| Finite Elements for Full-scale Engineering Problems | EN3440 | 10 credits |
Year five
Year five includes a group project, which makes up a quarter of the overall assessment.
There are also several core and optional modules.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Engineering Studies | EN4321 | 10 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Applied Numerical Methods in Engineering | EN4018 | 10 credits |
| Integrated Building Design | EN4102 | 30 credits |
| Renewable Energy Design | EN4103 | 30 credits |
| Finite Element Theory and Practice | EN4302 | 10 credits |
| Design Feasibility | EN4306 | 10 credits |
| Coastal and Estuarine Engineering | EN4307 | 10 credits |
| Building and Infrastructure Information Modelling | EN4308 | 10 credits |
| Soil Mechanics | EN4325 | 10 credits |
| Structural Engineering | EN4326 | 10 credits |
| Big Data and AI in Civil Engineering | EN4380 | 10 credits |
| Dynamics | EN4570 | 10 credits |
| Flood Design | EN4571 | 10 credits |
| Steel Structures | EN4573 | 10 credits |
| Advanced Structural Mechanics | EN4574 | 10 credits |
| Sediment Transport Dynamics | EN4576 | 10 credits |
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
Teaching is through lectures, examples classes and extensive laboratory, IT and practical work. The taught modules in the first two years are largely compulsory, but options are usually available in years four and five. All students must complete a 30-credit individual project in year three, for which they are allocated a supervisor from among the teaching staff. There are opportunities for interactions with potential employers.
The international module will be delivered through the medium of English, using the delivery methods of the overseas institutions, including lectures, seminars, workshops, group work and laboratories.
How will I be supported?
You will be assigned a personal tutor who is a member of the academic staff associated with your degree course. Your tutor will be there to advise you on academic, non-academic and personal matters in a confidential and informal manner when you need some guidance. We aim to help you overcome any problem, however big or small, as smoothly and quickly as possible.
For the 30-credit project in year four, you will be allocated a supervisor in the broad area of research specialism and meet regularly.
During your placement year you will be visited by your industrial training tutor or nominee at least once, but preferably twice, if you are based in the UK.
The tutor will interview you, check your logbook/diary and discuss progress with you, the company training officer and/or the manager with direct responsibility for your training. A summary report will be filed.
You will have access through the Learning Central website to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, further links, electronic exercises and discussion circles. Opportunities for you to reflect on your abilities and performance are available through the Learning Central ‘Personal Development Planning’ module.
The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.
Feedback
We’ll provide you with frequent feedback on your work. This comes in a variety of formats including oral feedback in classes like design and project work and via return of marked coursework.
The opportunity to test your knowledge and understanding will be provided throughout the semester via class tests in Years 1 and 2, plus feedback on written assessments. Occasionally, peer assessment of an individual’s contribution to a group may be used, and you may also receive oral feedback on presentations and contributions to group activities.
How will I be assessed?
Your progress in each module is usually assessed at various stages through each semester (through a short test) to give you feedback on your progress, then finally at the end of the appropriate semester. Assessment is undertaken using methods including formal written examinations, case studies, assignments and project work.
Examinations count for 60% to 70% of all assessment throughout the course, depending on the options chosen. The remainder is composed mainly of project work and larger pieces of coursework, plus performance in laboratories.
The opportunity to test knowledge and understanding is given through class tests throughout years one and two, plus feedback on written assessments. Occasionally, peer assessment of an individual’s contribution to a group may be used, and students may also receive oral feedback on presentations and contributions to group activities.
What skills will I practise and develop?
This course is accredited via the Engineering Council, meaning the core competencies of UK-SPEC (UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence) are integrated throughout the taught years of the course.
Through lab work you will develop practical skills focused on the application of a range of engineering principles to real-life technological, regulatory and ethical problems encountered in the engineering profession.
You will also:
- Enhance your communication skills, both orally and in writing through a series of reports and assignments
- Develop your knowledge, skills and confidence to solve multidisciplinary problems in a engineering context
Careers
Career prospects
Graduates from this course are mainly employed in the civil engineering industry with major consultancy and contracting firms, such as Sir Robert McAlpine, Ramboll, Arup and Mott McDonald. Typical roles include graduate civil engineer, site engineer or design engineer, and they are based throughout the UK as well as further afield.
A number of graduates have opted for further study, either at MSc or PhD level, at Cardiff as well as institutions across the UK and beyond.
Others have chosen to work for national and multinational companies. Recent examples include companies in the financial, media and petrochemical sectors with destinations including Deloitte, PwC, Virgin and Shell.
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.
