BEng (Hons) Structural Engineering

Course content

Year 1

Note that the below course structure is provided to illustrate distribution of teaching and is subject to developmental change.

For more information and image galleries of field trips and workshops visit our 'Further Information' webpage.

Semester 1

• Mechanics A
• Civil Engineering Applications 1
• Construction Technology 1
• Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 1

Semester 2

• Mechanics B
• Introduction to Materials
• Introduction to Engineering Design
• Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 2

Students take part in site visits to a range of construction sites

Year 2

Semester 1

• Analysis of Determinate Structures
• Hydraulics and Hydrology A
• Surveying and Monitoring in the Built and Natural Environment
• Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 3

Semester 2

• Civil Engineering Materials
• Stress Analysis and Element Strength
• Design Studies A - Problem Solving
• Statistics for Science

Students also have the opportunity to participate in the week-long Constructionarium course, where they get hands-on construction experience of the civil engineering industry.

Year 3

Semester 1

• Design of Steel Elements
• Transportation Engineering A
• Indeterminate Structures
• Geology and Soil Properties

Semester 2

• Hydraulics and Hydrology B
• Geotechnics A - Introduction to Soil Mechanics
• Design of Concrete Elements
• Environmental Engineering A

Year 4

Students complete a research dissertation and engage in subjects in more depth. Students also undertake a design project involving collaborative work with students from other disciplines within the built environment professions.

Semester 1

• Dissertation 1 Civil Engineering Discipline
• Geotechnics B - Soil Strength
• FEA and Stress Analysis A
• Structural Element Design

Semester 2

• Dissertation 1 Civil Engineering Discipline
• Analysis of Indeterminate Structures
• Foundation Engineering
• Structural Engineering Design Project

Employability

Work and study

This is what our BEng (Hons) Structural Engineering students are doing six months after graduating:

• 84% are working
• 12% are studying
• 0% are working and studying.

Managerial/professional position

• 90% of those working are in a professional/managerial position six months after graduating.

Salary

• The average salary of students six months after graduating: £26000
• The average UK salary of students six months after graduating from a similar course: £25000

Jobs

These are the most common jobs students go into six months after graduating:

• Engineering professionals
• Business and public service associate professionals
• Elementary occupations
• Managers, directors and senior officials
• Sales occupations

Entry requirements

Year 1

• Highers AAAB or ABBBB to include Mathematics at Grade B.
• A-Levels ABC or BBB to include Mathematics at B
• Scottish Baccalaureate Pass with Advanced Higher Mathematics
• Int. Baccalaureate 31 points to include 5 in Higher Level Mathematics

Year 2

• Advanced Highers BB to include Mathematics plus AAAB at Higher
• A-Levels ABB to include Mathematics
• Scottish Baccalaureate Distinction including Advanced Higher Mathematics
• Int. Baccalaureate 35 points including 6 in Higher Level Mathematics
• HNC A in graded unit with at least SCQF level 7 or NQF level 4 in a relevant mathematics course.

Year 3

• HND AB in graded units with A in final graded unit and at least SCQF level 7 or NQF level 4 in a relevant mathematics course.

Additional information

• For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications,  mature candidates and overseas students.
• All EU and overseas candidates will require an IELTS overall grade 6.0 (or equivalent) with no component lower than 5.5 or equivalent.
• BTEC Relevant BTEC qualifications are accepted; please contact Admissions Tutor for further details.

Fees

* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.

** European Union countries (not including England, Northern Ireland or Wales).

*** 'Rest of the UK' (RUK) students entering at Level 1 receive a fee waiver of one year's tuition fee. Normally this will be the final year, or a year during which students study abroad (either at a partnership institution, or at one of Heriot-Watt's overseas campuses).

Scholarships and bursaries

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.