Programme Specification for Civil Engineering PgDip
|
Final award |
MSc, PgDip |
|
Intermediate awards available |
PgCert, PgDip |
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UCAS code |
N/A |
|
Details of professional body accreditation |
JBM Accredited MSc (Technical) – see Added Value section for details |
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Relevant QAA Benchmark statements |
Masters in Engineering (MEng) |
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Date specification last up-dated |
September 2011 |
Programme structure
The programme can be taken either in part-time or in full-time mode. The PGDip is offered for full-time students with the possibility of being completed in one academic year’s duration with enrolment on the programme possible either in September or February. The PGDip for part-time students have half load during the semesters and, consequently, the length of these studies is doubled. Part-time students require two years to complete the PGDip programme.
The maximum registration period is six years.
Students require one 30-credit module for a Postgraduate Associate Certificate, two 30-credit modules for the PGCert (Intermediate awards) and four 30-credit modules for the PGDip.
Learning environment
Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratory work and external site visits.
Assessment
Assessment is by a mix of coursework and end of semester examination. The aggregate pass mark for a module is 50% with minimum module component mark of 40%.
Relevance to work/profession
Our teaching is informed by strong links with industry and the profession.
Thesis/Dissertation/project work
-
Added value
Transfer from the PGDip to the MSc programme in Civil Engineering is possible depending on results achieved, and students may obtain details of current requirements from the programme leader.
Your future career
Civil Engineers with postgraduate qualifications find a wide range of career opportunities with consultancy, contactor and client organisations, as well as other related areas such as research and management.
How we support you
Students may approach staff for help with personal or academic problems either in person or by e-mail. A programme handbook provides all relevant information on the programme and the teaching resources.
Bonus factors
Outcomes
Programme aims and learning outcomes
What is this programme designed to achieve?
This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
- Gain a depth of knowledge and understanding of the most up to date practices and theories in Civil Engineering
- Develop techniques for analysing and solving problems. These may arise in various Civil Engineering projects.
- Understand the role of the engineer as an important professional in society and the built environment.
- Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Demonstrate self-direction and originality in solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level
- Advance knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level
What will you learn?
Knowledge
Understand the latest theories and practices in:
- Water and Geotechnical Engineering
- Highways and Transportation Engineering
- Analysis and Design of Structures
- Project Organisation and Construction Management
- Relevant scientific principles of the specialisation.
- New and emerging technologies.
- Appropriate models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
Thinking skills
Develop skills in:
- Analysing data
- Critical assessment of current theories
- Solving practical problems
- Applying original thought to the development of practical solutions for products, systems, components or processes.
- Developing a thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations, and some appreciation of likely new developments.
- Developing advanced level knowledge and understanding of a wide range of engineering materials and components.
- Making general evaluations of risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
Subject-Based Practical skills
Ability to:
- Interpret experimental data
- Use various computer design packages
- Complete design projects
- Apply engineering techniques taking account of a range of commercial and industrial constraints
Skills for life and work (general skills)
Ability to:
- Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
- Use Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint programs
- Work as a part of a design team
- Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, which may be as a team member or leader.
- Learn new theories, concepts, methods etc and apply these in unfamiliar situations.
- Develop, monitor and update a plan, to reflect a changing operating environment.
Structure
The programme structure
Introduction
All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.
One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).
Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:
- 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
- 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree
Credit rating
The overall credit-rating of this programme is 180 for Masters, 120 for PgDip, 60 for PgCert.
Typical duration
The duration of this programme is one year full time if the enrolment is in September two years part-time.
How the teaching year is divided
The teaching year is divided into two semesters of roughly equal length. A full-time student will study two 30 credit modules per semester and a part-time student will study one module per semester
What you will study when
Students may choose modules from the optional 30 credit modules on offer each semester. The modules offered are selected from the following list:
30 Credit Modules
- CEM001 Hydraulic Structures, Coastal and River Engineering
- CEM003 Engineering Management and Project Organisation
- CEM004 Soil Structure Engineering
- CEM005 Design in Steel and Concrete
- CEM006 Advanced Structural Analysis
- CEM007 Highway and Transportation Engineering
- CEM010 Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
- CEM012 Highway Engineering
- CEM013 Transportation Engineering
- CEM015 Design in Timber and Masonry
Requirements for gaining an award
In order to gain a Postgraduate Associate Certificate, you will need to obtain 30 credits at Level M.
In order to gain a Postgraduate Certificate, you will need to obtain 60 credits at Level M.
In order to gain a Postgraduate Diploma, you will need to obtain 120 credits at Level M
Assessment
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching and learning
Knowledge is developed through:
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Seminars
- Site visits
Thinking skills developed through:
- Coursework
- Mini projects
Practical skills:
- Laboratory experiments
- Design projects
Skills for life developed through:
- Seminars
- Presentation of analysis data
Assessment
Knowledge is assessed by:
- Coursework
- Examinations
Thinking skills are assessed by:
- Solutions to practical problems
- Evaluation of literature
- Evaluation of experimental data
Practical skills are assessed by:
- Use of design aids
- Use of computer aided design packages
- Laboratory experiments
Skills for life are assessed by:
- Seminars
- Design drawings
- Oral examinations
Quality
How we assure the quality of this programme
Before this programme started
Before the programme started, the following was checked:
- there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
- adequate resources would be in place;
- the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
- the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
- the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
- the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.
This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.
How we monitor the quality of this programme
The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:
- external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
- statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
- student feedback.
Drawing on this and other information programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by the University's Quality Standing Committee.
Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.
The role of the programme committee
This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the University's quality assurance procedures.
The role of external examiners
The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:
- To ensure the standard of the programme
- To ensure that justice is done to individual students
External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:
- Approving exam papers/assignments
- Attending assessment boards
- Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks
- Ensuring that regulations are followed
- Providing feedback to UEL through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future
Listening to the views of students
The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:
- Module evaluations
- Student representation on programme committees
Students are notified of the action taken through:
- circulating the minutes of the programme committee
- providing charts on student feedback on the programme notice board
Listening to the views of others
The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:
- Questionnaires to former students
- Industrial liaison committee
Further Information
Alternative locations for studying this programme
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Location |
Which elements? |
Taught by UEL staff |
Taught by local staff |
Method of Delivery |
|
Legenda, Malaysia |
CEM001, CEM007, CEM006, CEM004 & CEM010 |
No |
Yes |
Full Time |
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Where you can find further information
Further information about this programme is available from:
- The UEL web site
- The student handbook
- UEL Manual of Regulations and Policies http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/
- UEL Quality Manual http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/manual
Regulations for the Academic Framework http://www.uel.ac.uk/academicframework/
- Current External examiners
- External examiner reports (available from UEL virtual learning environment (UELPlus or Moodle))
