Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University International University of the Year

The course

UCAS code
H210
Duration
Up to 4 years
Location
Edinburgh
Delivery type
Full-time
Find out how to apply More about this subject area

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Overview

The course offers a thorough grounding in the major branches of Civil Engineering but with a focus on aspects most relevant to Structural Engineering. The aims of the course are similar to those for Civil Engineering but with a stronger emphasis on the analysis, skills and knowledge appropriate to Structural Engineering design. In addition, the course aims to cultivate skills for the creative development of designs for construction projects. An unrivalled range of specialist options is available in Year 5 and students complete a professional design project.

All Structural Engineering courses are supported by the Civil Engineering Industry Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from major multi-national employers offering advice, guidance and work placement opportunities.

Civil Engineering at Heriot-Watt is ranked 1st in the UK in the Guardian League Table 2015.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Accredited by the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Accredited by Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Accredited by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Course content

Detailed course guide
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

Unistats course data

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

Tuition fees for 2018 entry (by residency status)
Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales*** International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £17,960

* 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

Featured scholarships

Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales starting undergraduate degree courses in 2018

In addition to government maintenance loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.