The first year provides a solid grounding in the fundamental engineering science, as well as the basis of civil engineering.

Core modules cover:

• mathematics
• mechanics, structures and materials
• design and computing
• thermofluids

We'll introduce key design skills, such as sketching model-making and computing, through workshops and a design and manufacture project. These will also help you develop skills like:

• observation
• critical thinking
• team work
• communication

At the end of the year you'll take part in the Constructionarium, a week-long activity in Norfolk.

You'll further develop your core design and civil engineering skills.

You’ll study the Liveable Cities module, exploring the liveability in a city, with specific sessions including urban design, waste management, transport, energy, as well as site visits.  

A group design project will build on your design skills from year 1 and learning from Liveable Cities. You’ll design a significant physical engineering change to a city, for instance a bridge or flooding scheme, and develop the deployment plan. 

You'll also study topics that include:

• maths and statistics
• structural analysis and design
• materials
• soil mechanics
• hydraulics

We introduce highway and traffic engineering in year three, and you'll explore structural stability and geotechnics in more depth. You can also choose from specialist modules including urban design, environmental hydraulics, railway engineering and human factors in engineering. 

You’ll apply your knowledge to the design and solution of practical problems. You’ll take part in a group design project and attend guest lectures from industry.

An individual research project allows you to explore your own areas of interest. In the past, students have considered why concrete floor slabs fail, or investigated the erosion and retreat of coastal cliffs.

Some student projects are run in collaboration with top institutions, such as MIT, or can lead to publications in international peer-reviewed journals. 

Recent projects have included: 

• exploring how engineering can interface with artificial intelligence to improve the operation of the things we construct 
• a project that directly contributed to the upgrade of a municipal wastewater treatment plant where the student was recognised as one of the co-authors in a research paper 
• a mathematical model to test recommendations put forward by lifeguards of how best to escape rip currents. The student was named as the first author when his work was published in a leading journal 
• the development of an algorithm to accelerate simulations of beach evolution and erosion due to storms. This work has led to an ongoing collaboration with MIT 

In your final year you'll focus on design, management and teamwork, skills that are highly valued by employers. 

You’ll take part in a group design project where you’ll apply your engineering and scientific knowledge to design an original solution to a realistic engineering problem. 

Major engineering companies and regional authorities often get involved in our group design projects. 

You'll study project economics and management, learning about how projects work in financial, economic, social and environmental terms. You’ll also choose from a wide range of specialist optional modules.