BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering (Graduate Apprenticeship) BEng/BEng (Hons)



Study towards a degree in Civil Engineering while in paid, full-time employment

Overview

The BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering Graduate Apprenticeship covers many branches, allowing graduates to enhance their career prospects through their employing organisation in areas such as geo techniques, water engineering, hydraulic structural engineering, environmental engineering and transportation.

Learn the fundamentals of Civil Engineering and the specifics of structural analysis, construction surveying, geotechnical engineering and relevant computer applications. This programme is suitable for people already in industry looking to upskill and bring new knowledge to the workplace, as well as those looking to kick-start their career in Civil Engineering. 

Combining mathematical and design skills, as well as communication and management abilities, our course offers many skills that can be applied to a range of civil engineering projects that will appeal if you have a creative mindset and jump at the opportunity to solve complex problems.
Civil engineers contribute to our ever-expanding built environment, becoming a civil engineer means you can make a real impact on communities around the world.

 
Person pointing at projected building plans

Mode of Study:

Day Release, Full-time

Duration:

4 years

Course details

As a Graduate Apprentice you will study for your degree alongside your job, spending approximately 80% of your time in work and 20% in university. This unique combination offers an integrated experience, where practical skills and knowledge gained during the university days can be embedded in your working practices. Skills learned directly in the workplace are aligned with and can be applied to coursework and assessment. This allows you to attain an honours degree in 4 years, the same time as traditional full-time students.

In year one you will learn the principles of Civil Engineering via an introduction to Materials, Structural Analysis, Construction Process and methods of Engineering Communication including use of industry-standard software platforms. All areas are underpinned by developing competency in relevant mathematical techniques and approaches to problem solving.

Once an understanding of the fundamental principles of Civil Engineering has been established, you will then progress on to more advanced areas of Structural Design, Geotechnics, Fluid Mechanics and Transportation Engineering. You will implement practical solutions across a range of applied applications and develop your skills in lateral problem solving and innovative thinking.

As you progress through the course, more of your job role will be used to gain credit towards your final award. This is captured in the Professional Practice modules which allow us to personalise your learning to ensure it meets your needs, those of your employer and the university.

 
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    How you’ll be taught

    As a Graduate Apprentice, you benefit by being both an employee and a registered student at Napier. You typically spend 20% of your work time studying through a mixture of university-based and work-based learning. Studies are designed to complement your role in the workplace.

    This Graduate Apprenticeship is taught over 4 years at our School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, based in our Merchiston Campus in Central Edinburgh. It is delivered across three trimesters over a full calendar year on a day release basis. Professional Practice modules are work based and timetabled in the summer trimester, for which there is no on-campus requirement, offering greater flexibility for your work-based learning activities

    Your work-based learning will be overseen by a workplace mentor and university coach. You will be offered tripartite progress review meetings each trimester to support you in your work and studies.

     
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    Assessments

    A mixture of practical assessments, reports, academic essays and exams. You are also
    assessed on your learning in the workplace, primarily in the summer trimesters. As you progress through the course, more of your job role is used to gain credit towards their final award through Professional Practice and your final-year dissertation.

    The assessments will allow you to demonstrate your application of the knowledge and skills you are gaining both though your studies and through your work experience.

     
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    Work placement

    You will be a full-time employee for the duration of the programme.
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    Facilities

    Graduate apprentices can enjoy the same full access to our campus facilities as a full-time student. All learning takes place at our Merchiston campus, which is centrally located in the heart of Edinburgh. Merchiston campus is home to our creative, computing and engineering students.

    Facilities include modern classrooms and cutting-edge labs. Our Merchiston Library is a bright attractive environment providing both silent and collaborative study spaces designed to suit a variety of learning styles. In addition, Merchiston boasts a business incubator, two cafes and a 500-seat computing centre, with both Mac and PC hardware, that is open 24hrs a day in Trimesters 1 and 2.

Popular modules

Year 1

  • Construction Engineering 
  • Principles of Civil Engineering 
  • Foundation Mathematics 
  • Construction Surveying 
  • Civil Engineering Materials 
  • Engineering Communication

Year 2

  • Civil Engineering Principles and Materials 2
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Structural Analysis and Design 
  • Geotechnics 1
  • Intermediate Mathematics
  • Project Management

Year 3

  • Water Resources Engineering 
  • Geotechnics 2
  • Transport Engineering
  • Construction Methods
  • Structural Engineering 1
  • Further Intermediate Mathematics

Year 4

  • Geotechnics 3
  • Railway Engineering
  • Structural Engineering 2
  • Integrated Engineering Design 1
  • Honours Project (Dissertation)
This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council as:

1. fully satisfying the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng).

2. partially satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

A programme of accredited Further Learning will be required to complete the educational base for CEng. See www.jbm.co.uk for further information and details of Further Learning programmes for CEng.
 

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

This programme is available to new and existing employees who work and reside in Scotland. Entry requirements cater to professionals and can account for both academic and work-based experience. You must be employed in the same field as your chosen subject area.

All applicants must:

  • Be 16 or older (some employers may require 18+)
  • Have the right to live and work permanently in the UK
  • Have ordinary residence in Scotland
  • Meet programme entry requirements

Advanced Entry

Advanced entry into Year 2 or 3 is possible for students with suitable qualifications. If applying for advanced entry, you will need to provide sufficient evidence of qualifications and experience through our process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Applications are considered on an individual basis.

Work Experience and Professional Qualifications

We encourage applications from individuals whose work experience or professional qualifications provide them with a comparable foundation for starting the course. You will be asked to provide evidence of at least 1 year’s relevant work experience through a detailed CV or application form, including an employer reference. Advanced entry may also be granted if you have sufficient industry-related experience and qualifications.

Usually, unrelated work experience is not considered sufficient for entry without meeting the minimum academic entry requirements.

Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships

We offer enhanced recognition for Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships if you are applying to a Graduate Apprenticeship in a similar subject area. Please refer to our typical entry requirements for more information on each course.

Already have a degree or similar qualification?

You could apply for funding for a Graduate Apprenticeship in a similar subject area if your existing qualification is at a lower level. You may also be eligible for funding if you have completed a degree in a different subject area. For example, if you recently completed a Biology Honours degree, you can still apply for a Civil Engineering Graduate Apprenticeship.

You are not eligible to apply for a Graduate Apprenticeship if you have completed a similar degree within the past 5 years.

To meet our Standard Entry Requirements you must have EITHER:

  • Four SQA Highers at Grade BBBC (or equivalent) including Maths (Higher Applications of Maths not accepted). National 5 grade C in English is required if not taken at Higher
  • A Foundation Apprenticeship in a related discipline plus 2 Highers BB
  • A Modern Apprenticeship or college qualification in a related discipline
  • HNC with C in the graded unit in a related discipline
  • Sufficient recognition of prior learning (RPL) through industry-related experience, qualifications, and informal learning. RPL applications are considered on an individual basis

Our Minimum Offer Entry Requirement: BCCC. National 5 grade B in English.

You may be given an adjusted offer of entry if you meet our specified minimum entry requirements within our widening participation criteria, and outlined in our Contextual Admissions Policy. Click here for further information about our entry requirements and admissions policies.

To meet our year 2 entry requirements you must have EITHER:

  • A Modern Apprenticeship in a related discipline at SCQF Level 8
  • An HNC at Grade A in a related discipline
  • An HND at Grade B in a related discipline
  • Sufficient recognition of prior learning (RPL) through industry-related experience, qualifications, and informal learning

To enter this programme at the start of Year 3 you must have 240 SCQF credits (or equivalent) of which a minimum of 120 credits are at SCQF 8 (or equivalent) and/or significant recognition of prior learning (RPL) through industry-related experience, qualifications, and informal learning.

SCQF Level 8 qualifications can include:

  • HND at minimum Grade B in a related discipline
  • Diploma for Higher Education in a relevant subject area

English language requirements

 As all learning, teaching and assessment activities are conducted in English, if your first language is not English you must have a minimum International English Language Testing System score of 6.0 with all four elements having a score of at least 5.5.
We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & Funding

Graduate Apprenticeships are fully funded through Scottish Funding Council and Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), and supported by Skills Development Scotland. Once you have been offered a Graduate Apprenticeship place, you should apply to SAAS for funding, who will pay your tuition fees directly to the university. There are no associated learning costs to the Graduate Apprenticeship employer.

All Graduate Apprenticeship applicants must meet SAAS eligibility and residence conditions to apply. Visit the SAAS website for more information.

Fees & funding



Careers

Abstract exterior photo of Edinburgh Napier University Sighthill campus building at night

As a Graduate Apprentice you are fortunate to be studying for your honours degree alongside your work-based apprenticeship position and to have the support of both Edinburgh Napier staff and your workplace. You are first and foremost an employee for your organisation, and therefore could develop your career through your entire apprenticeship journey. Your employer will look for opportunities for you to apply your learning in work and develop as a professional, meaning you may be offered career progression opportunities at any time during your studies.

What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree?

A degree in civil engineering from Edinburgh Napier University allows for a wide scope of career options, including:

  • Consultant Design Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Transport and Urban Planning
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Automation or Robotics

If you are interested in design and construction you could specialise as a structural engineer, or work in transport and urban planning. If you want to help improve lives and make an impact, you can build a career in public health or environmental engineering.

What do Civil Engineers do?

Civil engineers are creative individuals who enjoy problem solving and contributing to the built environment around us. They plan, design and oversee nearly all aspects of construction projects. Projects can come in many different forms, whether that is large buildings or essential systems like railways and water management.

You could be responsible for planning, designing and overseeing the construction of large-scale buildings and our roads and railways systems, airport, bridges and harbours, as well as tall buildings like the Shard in London and large structures built to withstand any weather condition.

Civil Engineering alumni Emily Alfred at the Queensferry Crossing bridge which she worked on.