LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY
Programme Specification
BEng Civil Engineering
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the
programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be
expected to achieve and demonstrate if full advantage is taken of the learning
opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each module can be found
in Module Specifications and other programme documentation and online at
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/
The accuracy of the information in this document is reviewed by the University and may
be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Awarding body/institution;
Loughborough University
Teaching institution);
Loughborough University
Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body;
Name of the final award;
The Joint Board of Moderators, on behalf of
Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of
Structural Engineers, and Institution of Highways
and Transportation
BEng(Hons) or BEng(Hons) with DIS
Programme title;
Civil Engineering
UCAS code;
H200 3yr full-time, H201 4yr sandwich
Date at which the programme
specification was written or
revised.
Revised 11th August 2006
1. Aims of the programme:
This programme aims to:
 provide a high quality educational experience that develops and sustains students
knowledge, skills and aspirations in preparation for a career in the construction
industry;
 provide a broad and well balanced degree programme that develops students’
analytical skills to an appropriate depth over the full range of core engineering
subject areas, thus equipping them for employment across all fields of the civil
engineering industry;
 provide a programme of study with emphasis on industrial relevance that will
produce graduates that are attractive to industry, and who have the potential – with
Further Learning – to take responsibility for innovation and change;
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develop analytical and transferable skills that will enable students to gain
employment in a wide variety of professions; and,
help students successfully achieve their personal goals and make a valuable
contribution to society.
Relevant subject benchmark statements:
The modular BEng programmes were first introduced in 1995. The aims, intended
learning outcomes and curriculum are continually reviewed and currently take account of
UK-SPEC, the 2005 JBM Accreditation Guidelines, the 2006 QAA Engineering
Benchmark statements for Engineering, as well as input from our industrial contacts.
3. Intended Learning Outcomes
When students have completed the BEng(Hons) in Civil Engineering, and if they have
taken full advantage of the opportunities for learning that we provide, they should have
gained:
Knowledge and understanding of:
1 mathematics, science and engineering principles in the field of structures,
geotechnics, water engineering and surveying
2 properties, behaviour, fabrication and use of relevant materials
3 construction technology and civil engineering practice
4 construction management and contract procedure
5 the role of codes of practice and regularity framework in design and practice
6 principles of design techniques specific to civil engineering
7 principles of relevant information technology
8 the role of the professional engineer in society, including health, safety and
environmental issues
The thinking skills to:
1 demonstrate competence in identifying, defining and solving engineering problems
2 apply appropriate mathematical and computer-based methods for modelling and
analysing engineering problems
3 apply appropriate knowledge of techniques and codes of practice to the design of
components and systems
4 demonstrate proficiency in the evaluation and integration of information and
processes in project work
5 display the skills necessary to define, conduct and report on an original research
project
The practical skills to:
1 use laboratory and field equipment competently and safely
2 observe, record, process and analyse data from the laboratory and field
3 use computational tools and packages
4 prepare technical reports and give technical presentations
5 prepare technical drawings, both manually and using CAD
6 apply knowledge and skills in a professional environment through a twelve month
period of work experience (DIS students only)
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The Key skills to:
1 communicate effectively using written, oral and graphical skills
2 use IT effectively (WP, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, email, WWW and
specialist software)
3 use mathematical skills appropriate to an engineer
4 work independently
5 work in a team environment
6 manage workloads and time effectively
7 work with limited or contradictory information
8 monitor, plan and reflect upon personal, educational and career development
(Personal Development Planning)
Learning and Teaching methods
Acquisition of the above knowledge, understanding and skills is through a combination of
lectures, tutorials/examples classes, seminars, laboratory work, field work, practical
classes, teamwork projects, an individual research project, industrial training (DIS
students only), private study and coursework throughout the programme.
Assessment
Knowledge, understanding and skills are assessed through a combination of written
examinations and coursework in the form of laboratory reports, problem solving
exercises, design projects, field course reports, oral presentations, essays, multiplechoice questionnaires and a research project report and presentation. The assessment
over the whole programme is split approximately equally between examinations and
coursework.
4. Programme structure
The BEng(Hons) programme in Civil Engineering is offered as a full-time programme of
three years or a sandwich programme of four years if taken with the optional year of
industrial training leading to the award of a Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS). Transfer
to the MEng is possible at the end of Part B. Each Part (academic year) of the
programme is taught in two semesters and students study modules with a combined
weight of 60 credits in each semester.
Details of modules studied are given in the programme regulations (Appendix).
5. Criteria for admission to the programme
Applicants must satisfy the general requirements of the University and one of the
following programme requirements:
A level qualifications
260 points from: from 3 A levels or 2 A levels and 2 AS levels, including at least a grade
C in A level Mathematics and not including General Studies
VCE qualifications
260 points from a combination of 18VCE, A or AS units, including Mathematics in the
VCE or A units
BTEC HNC/HND
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Year 1 entry: averaging around merit. Year 2 entry: majority of Merits and Distinctions at
Level 4 (including Engineering Mathematics)
BTEC NA/NC/ND
260 points from a combination of 18 units (or 12 units + one A level or two AS levels),
including a distinction in BTEC Applied Mathematics or grade C in A level Mathematics
International Baccalaureate
30 points, including at least 5 in Mathematics (at Higher level), Physics and English
European Baccalaureate
70% (including English)
French Baccalaureate
Overall score of 13 points (including English)
Advanced Scottish Highers
260 points e.g. BCC, including at least grade C in Mathematics
Scottish Highers
260 points e.g. BBCCC, including at least grade B in Mathematics
Irish Highers
260 points from four Highers, including Mathematics at grade C
French Baccalaureate
13 (including English)
Second year entry
Second year entry may be offered to candidates with appropriate qualifications.
Examples include diplomas from Malaysia and Singapore, higher diplomas from Hong
Kong, and HNDs from the UK.
Additional requirements
GCSE Physics or Double Science grade C
6. Information about assessment regulations
Criteria for progression and Degree Award
Candidates must achieve the minimum requirements set out in GRUA and meet the
following requirements:
In order to progress from Parts A or B, or to qualify for the award of an Honours Degree
in Part C, candidates must obtain at least 40% in modules worth 100 credits in each Part
and at least 30% in other modules in each Part.
Candidates in Part B who satisfy the progression requirements of the MEng programme
in Civil Engineering and who normally achieve an average percentage mark of 60% in
Parts A and B are eligible to transfer to the MEng programme should they wish.
Relative weighting of parts of the Programme for the purposes of Final Degree
classification
Candidates' final degree classification will be determined on the basis of their
performance of degree level Module Assessments in Parts B and C, in accordance with
the scheme set out in GRUA. The average Percentage Mark for each Part will be
combined in the ratio Part B 40%:Part B 60% to determine the final Programme Mark.
Re-assessment
Provision will be made in accordance with GRUA for candidates who have the right to
re-assessment Part A, or B of the programme to undergo re-assessment in the
University's special assessment period.
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7. Indicators of quality
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Programme accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators on behalf of the Institution
of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers, and the Institution of
Highways and Transportation. Last JBM visit was in February 2006.
Teaching Quality Assessment subject review process in 1997 achieving an excellent
grading of 22 out of a maximum of 24 points.
QAA audit 2004
Department Research Assessment ratings of 5* (Built Environment) and 4 (Civil
Engineering) in the 2001 RAE.
In the first National Student Survey in 2005, designed to measure the level of
students’ satisfaction with their university experience, Loughborough University
claimed joint first place. In the individual subject areas, where an average score was
taken across seven measures of assessment, the Civil and Building Engineering
Department also achieved first place in both the Civil Engineering and Building
categories.
Loughborough University was ranked 6th (out of 109) in the 2006 Times Top
Universities Guide. In the individual subject areas, the Department of Civil and
Building Engineering achieved 6th place in Civil Engineering and 2nd place in
Building.
The Department continues to be popular with employers seeking graduates. In
independent surveys of large companies by the Performance Indicator Project, the
Department has been placed 1st for the employability of its civil engineering and
construction graduates every year since 1995, apart from 1998 when it was 3rd.
8. Particular support for learning:
Please refer to
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/templates/notes/lps/
9. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of learning:
The University’s formal quality management and reporting procedures are laid out in its
Academic Quality Procedures Handbook, available online at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/policy/aqp/index.htm
These are under the overall direction of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching).
Peter Robins
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