Course structure

You take the equivalent of six subjects each semester, of which five are normally common to all degree courses, plus a specialist module to reflect the flavour of your specific degree course. The core modules are taught to the year group and cover the main branches of civil engineering (structures, water and geotechnics) maths and computing, and of course design. This gives you some flexibility to change your course during the first year. The specialist modules are taught to smaller groups of students.

Typically you will have lectures in the morning, and after lunch you begin to apply some of the knowledge you have gained in the lectures. Workload in the afternoons varies during the year, but on average you have two or three practical sessions per week. These include laboratory and design classes, and other practical sessions such as computing, CAD drawing or surveying exercises and site visits.

As well as your timetabled classes you are expected to spend the same amount of time in private study, for example completing design assignments and tutorial sheets, or even just discussing your work with your friends.