BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering Bachelor's degree at the University of Portsmouth

This module introduces students to the fundamental concepts of construction materials, including metals, concrete, masonry, glass, plastic and timber, and develops an understanding of their behaviour and strength through laboratory testing, data analysis, and technical reporting.   The module also provides an introduction to soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, covering topics such as soil description and classification, plasticity and phase relation, compaction, permeability, shear strength, bearing capacity, and site investigation. Emphasis is placed on linking theoretical understanding of soil mechanics to practical problem-solving, including retaining walls design, through l

You'll take part in lectures and tutorials to develop your maths skills and use them to solve civil engineering problems. you'll use methods in areas including geometry, algebra, matrices and calculus. Through lectures and practical sessions, you'll develop mapping and surveying skills required by the construction industry. using industry-standard equipment and application software, you'll collect, process and analyse geospatial data. you'll carry out levelling and measured building surveys in the field.

You'll learn the basic techniques used in common construction activities and the management of the construction process, focusing on cost, time, and quality. A strong emphasis is placed on the important role of health and safety, risk assessments, environmental management, and relevant regulations. You'll also be introduced to a range of technical and digital skills, including computer-aided design (cad). You'll apply knowledge and principles you have learnt in a real-world context to a design project that incorporates sustainability, economic, health, and safety considerations.

Students will develop a critical and reflective understanding of how real structures perform, preparing them to apply analytical and design techniques to practical engineering problems. The module builds the foundational knowledge required for professional civil engineering practice and students will learn to: - Apply mathematics, statistics, natural sciences, and engineering principles to solve structural problems. - Formulate and analyse complex structural systems, evaluating data and recognising the limitations of analytical methods. - Use computational and analytical tools to model structures, supported by laboratory-based physical modelling for experiential learning. The assessment cons

You'll synthesize career development skills with social and environmentally conscious design, and broaden your knowledge with lectures from guest speakers. Key skills you'll develop include creative technical realization; well-rounded data analysis; communication of your proposals graphically and textually; and formulating continuing development plans. You’ll hone your technical creativity, refer to professional standards to plan your career, and reflect on your progress towards success in civil engineering.

Through applied soil mechanics lectures and labs focused on structure-soil interaction, you'll build on your geotechnical engineering skills. You'll analyse bearing capacity, settlement, and site investigation methods. By designing retaining walls and evaluating ground strength and soil properties, you'll link theory and practice in foundation design. With extended knowledge of materials selection and geotechnical engineering, you'll be equipped to tackle more complex construction problems.

In this module, you'll assess load paths, design structural elements, and present your calculations in an appropriate format.

You'll use statistical techniques and software to quantify risk for projects, evaluate construction proposals, and present your analysed data clearly. With skills in data handling, probability models, and project economics, you'll be equipped to develop robust financial models and cashflows for the industry.

You'll investigate problems and select technical literature using physical scale models and workshops. By applying virtual work and matrix methods, you'll determine displacements and analyse indeterminate structures. Through examinations of buckling, collapse loads, and failure mechanisms, you'll gain qualitative and numerical proficiency. With a focus on experiential learning and critical thinking, you'll be equipped to evaluate and predict the performance of complex structures.

You'll evaluate industry fragmentation in a major project, and see how BIM can provide integration across disciplines. Moving beyond 2D, you'll model projects in 3D for deeper insights. Collaborating securely in teams, you'll use BIM standards to complete virtual buildings.

In this cross-disciplinary module, you'll analyse generation processes, conservation avenues, resource transportation/storage, and factors influencing plant siting. On completion, you'll be empowered to pursue energy infrastructure solutions balancing sustainability, reliability, and accessibility.

In the initial phase of this module, you'll plan your field study collaboratively, gaining experience in desktop research, CAD drawing, and equipment calibration. You'll then travel to a residential fieldwork site, where you'll gather spatial data, perform calculations, and construct temporary structures. Across the module, you'll learn to appraise peer work, reflect on your own growth, and prepare for your civil engineering career.

By surveying local sites like Portsmouth Dockyard, you'll evaluate refurbishment issues first-hand. You'll analyse factors that enhance heritage value for different groups, and appraise strategies like listing and conservation areas. Working in a team, you'll organize a focus group, synthesize literature, and present recommendations for a heritage project. With real-world experiences, you'll gain insight into protecting our past while meeting modern needs.

Through theory and case studies, you'll develop skills to plan, monitor, and control projects while considering technical and human factors. You'll use industry-standard techniques like WBS and CPM to create organizational structures, schedules, budgets, and risk management plans, covering the project cycle from initiation and stakeholder engagement to procurement and sustainability integration. With individual and group assignments, you'll apply your learning to demonstrate effective project planning, teamwork, and communication. By the end, you'll have core competencies and techniques to successfully manage construction projects.

Following professional methodology, you'll assess the validity of problems, analyse literature, create ethical data collection plans, apply sound technical principles, and critique your own findings.

You'll look at geotechnical engineering and materials concepts, with a focus on slope stability, retaining walls, foundations, settlement, concrete durability, and specialty materials like glass and composites.

You'll look at technology and policy, managing demand for transport, improving usage of current transport infrastructure and methods of influencing transport trends. When you complete this module successfully, you'll be able to: Discuss the processes affecting the demand for transport Predict traffic flows at junctions and on small networks Design and model simple road traffic networks Evaluate the social, economic and environmental impacts of new highway infrastructure Assess and evaluate traffic management techniques

You'll use traditional and digital methods to sketch and analyse structures, evaluate stability and consider load cases. You'll also explore methods of design that meet Eurocodes to both Ultimate Limit and Serviceability Limit States.

You'll undertake a multifaceted analysis of technical, environmental, and social dynamics in water, spanning rainfall patterns, quality standards, conservation goals, wastewater remediation, and more. Examining drinking water treatment processes alongside sustainable drainage oversight, you'll develop professional design skills, modeling capabilities, and testing expertise.

You'll propose ethical solutions to significant problems, analyse literature, and plan in-depth investigations, then undertake your plan, collecting key data and communicating your findings clearly.

You'll work as a team, reviewing existing literature, recognising relevant standards, and considering commercial factors as you create your design. By considering ethics, safety, and environmental issues, you'll be able to justify your design decisions as you communicate your results clearly and professionally.

This module introduces the principles behind these loads, drawing on empirical formulas and research, and examines responses from whole-building behaviour to material-level performance. You'll analyse historic and recent events, conduct structural lab tests, and use finite element modelling to validate experiments and predict structural behaviour. protection and mitigation strategies will also be covered. By combining experimental work, computational analysis, and prior research, you'll gain advanced skills for assessing and improving structural resilience in real-world scenarios.

This module will use real world case studies to study the environmental and social impacts of large infrastructure projects. You'll understand and apply the models and methods used to predict these impacts before construction and how these are managed through the environmental impact assessment (eia) process. This will be assessed through a simulation of an eia in an extended workshop environment.

You'll explore a wide range of project management tools and techniques used to plan, monitor, and control time, cost, quality, and risk in construction projects. you'll develop the ability to critically appraise and justify the selection and application of these tools across different project contexts. You'll also critically evaluate construction site hazards and risks and examine how health and safety management, including the construction (design and management) regulations, supports safe and compliant project delivery in the uk construction sector.

This module covers the principles of hydrology underpinning the theory of flooding in rivers and coastal regions. you'll undertake advanced analysis of extreme flooding events using statistical methods to understand the causes and effects. You'll learn the techniques in use for flood risk management using variuos techniques to protect communities from flooding.

You'll demonstrate specialized civil engineering design talents, considering environmental, social, economic, and technical requirements. Within your small team, you'll review literature, generate and appraise ideas, perform detailed modelling to meet relevant standards, and present your results. The module's authentic design experience empowers you to shape meaningful infrastructure plans as you develop and reflect on your own teamwork skills.