Our Civil and Railway Engineering BEng degree programme enables you to gain strong theoretical and practical skills in civil engineering alongside a specific focus on the railway industry.

   

Civil and Railway Engineering BEng

This unique course has been developed in close liaison with the railway industry, which means that what you will learn is relevant and immediately-applicable. Your studies will focus on core civil engineering as well as specialised study on railway infrastructure, including railway management and a railway design project. You will benefit from the expertise available in our Newcastle Centre for Railway Research and Education, which performs world-leading research in railway infrastructure, geotechnics, aerodynamics and risk management.

Our courses are designed to give you as many opportunities as possible to tackle problems by applying taught materials in design exercises. These interdisciplinary design projects thread through our degree programmes, increasing in complexity as the course continues. You’ll work alongside Mechanical and Electrical Engineers to develop designs for technologies with impact in the world.

During this degree, you will be actively involved in developing the specific design and professional skills required by Civil Engineers and will tackle numerous design problems to develop your analytical, technical and decision-making abilities. Whilst studying all the major Civil Engineering subjects, you will also gain experience in a range of railway system issues and disciplines.

We have excellent links with industry to help you gain real-world experience during your study, and to prepare you for entering the workplace as a graduate. Civil engineering is all about helping people and shaping the world – are you ready to help shape the world?

    

Why study Civil and Railway Engineering BEng at Newcastle?

  • Shared first year across disciplines of Civil, Mechanical and Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering allowing students to gain foundations of understanding in all three areas.
  • Strong design theme which allow students to be creative and develop design skills which are highly prized by employers.
  • Many opportunities to work as a team which is great preparation for the types of roles that students can secure after graduation.
  • RESPECT scheme allowing students to build strong links with industry supporting employability opportunities.
  • The reasonable staff student ratio allows for enhancing learning, and good interaction between the academic staffs and students
  • Opportunities to be involved in cutting edge research projects on built environment of infrastructure, and energy and working with internationally leading researchers in those fields.
  • Accredited degrees, providing employers with assurances that you have the qualities they seek.

Institutional Accreditation 

University of Newcastle is accredited by the DETC Higher Learning Commission (DETC), www.detc.org.uk Since , University of Newcastle has been continually accredited by the DETC Higher Learning Commission and its predecessor.

Civil and Railway Engineering BEng

Course Level:

Undergraduate, Single Honours

Credits 

120

Course

CODE U440

How long it takes:

Undergraduate (3 years)

Study Mode:

Distance learning/ Campus

Course cost

Price: US$20,220

Entry requirements

Find out more about

Department:

Newcastle Law School

Year 1

Our first year has been designed to provide a contemporary and flexible educational model that builds upon essential engineering fundamentals to develop your broader understanding of behaviour, policy, entrepreneurship, and global perspectives and kindles the passion necessary to address the societal challenge agenda. The first year is shared across the disciplines of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering.

 

  • Electrical Engineering 1 – 20 credits
    In this module, the fundamentals of electronic and electrical engineering are covered. It will begin with analogue circuits describing the fundamentals of circuit analysis and the design of analogue devices. The fundamentals of digital systems will then be covered using Boolean algebra and related techniques to analyse digital circuits up to an introduction to flip flops. Finally electrical power and machinery systems will be introduced.
  • Engineering Materials – 10 credits
    The aim of the module is to introduce the range of materials and their key properties used in engineering in order to allow them to select the appropriate materials for a given application. The module also introduces fundamental science that determines the electrical or mechanical properties of materials, such as atomic / molecular structures. In addition students will also be introduced to software which will allow them to model the properties and behaviour of engineering materials and analyse the results of experiments.
  • Engineering Mathematics 1 – 20 credits
    The module aims to enhance student knowledge and understanding of the mathematics used in engineering and to develop the skills of its use.
  • Fluid Mechanics and Energy Transfer – 20 credits
    In this module, the fundamentals of fluid mechanics and energy conservation, and introduce associated engineering applications.
  • Integrated Design Project 1A – 10 credits
    The aim of the module is to introduce students to the design process and the skills employed therein, within an engineering context.
  • Integrated Design Project 1B – 10 credits
    The aim of the module is for students to continue the design process and the skills employed therein, within an engineering context.
  • Introduction to Computing for Engineers – 10 credits
    The aim of this module is to introduce engineers to computers and computer programming using an important modern programming language which has applications from small embedded systems to supercomputers.
  • Mechanics 1 – 20 credits
    In this module, the mathematics and scientific principles related to mechanics in the context and application in engineering. The module covers: general principles, the mechanical properties of material and the basic principles of analysis, all underpinned with essential mathematics. Where relevant, historical examples are embedded into the module in order to provide context for the taught material.

Year 2

Your second year will build on the broad base of Year 1, and begin your departmental specialisation with coverage of rail-specific modules and the core fundamentals that underpin Civil Engineering. The strong design theme running through our programmes will become apparent, where detailed design work shows you how to apply the taught theory to design key components of Civil Engineering structures, continuing the theme of integrated design project working established in Year 1.

  • Structural Engineering 1 – 20 credits
  • Materials Engineering 1 – 20 credits
  • Geotechnical Engineering 1 – 20 credits
  • Open Channel Flow Hydraulics – 10 credits
  • Construction Practice and Management 1 – 10 credits
  • Railway Traction – 20 credits
  • Railway Infrastructure Engineering – 20 credits

Year 3

Year 3 allows you to develop further as your specialisation increases. You have the option to choose some modules and can also tailor your study towards your interests through individual projects. In the later years of the course, we aim to challenge your innovative, creative, technical, management and presentation skills to bring together your learning over the degree programme.

All final-year students will also ‘go it alone’ in a supported research project where you develop an understanding of an area of civil engineering that particularly interests you. You have an individual supervisor throughout the research project and may work with their research team for additional support.

  • Structural Engineering 2 – 20 credits
  • Materials Engineering 2 – 20 credits
  • Geotechnical Engineering 2 – 20 credits
  • Railway Management and Control – 20 credits
  • Railway Design Project – 20 credits
  • Industrial Research Project – 20 credits

Entry requirements

 

Applicants should normally have one of the following:

  • A non-law bachelor’s degree (from a UK university or recognised by the BSB if you wish to study the BPTC), or
  • A ‘stale’ law degree, where five or more years have elapsed since graduation, or
  • An academic or professional qualification at degree equivalent level

If English is not your first language, you will also need to demonstrate your English Language proficiency. For example, you should have IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all components.

If you intend to become a Solicitor

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has reduced its requirements for pre-authorisation this year. For details of the current arrangements, see the SRA website. You should pay special attention to the Character and Suitability section. If you think you may have a character or suitability issue, you may wish to clarify with the SRA before proceeding with the GDL.

See further details of our English Language requirement

USA,UK & EU students, 2019/20 (per year)

£8,500

International students starting 2019/20 (per year)

£13,100

 

Assessment

You’ll show your progress through a combination of written essays, problem-solving assignments and presentations.

All students take our core modules, but please note that the availability of optional modules is subject to demand.

As a chemistry graduate from Newcastle, you’ll be in great demand from a variety of industries. Many of our graduates go on to become professional scientists, but the problem-solving and transferrable skills you develop on our programmes – from written and spoken communication to complex data analysis – mean the career possibilities are numerous.

Newcastle Chemistry has strong research links with many chemical companies, which we can exploit to help you to gain industrial experience whilst studying. Whilst you may choose to undertake a Summer placement as part of your degree, our  Chemistry with Industrial Experience MSci programme is a more popular degree choice should you wish to gain experience of working during your degree. On this programme, you spend your third year in paid employment. Working and studying in an industrial setting provides you with valuable experience, whilst at the same time improving your career prospects.

 

Graduates who have studied our courses:

   

Example employers

  • Astrazeneca
  • Johnson Matthey Akzonobel
  • Glaxosmithkline
  • Marks & Spencer
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Ernst & Young
  • Reckitt Benckiser
  • Severn Trent Water
  • RBS
  • HSBC

 

Example careers

  • Analytical scientist
  • Chemist
  • Lawyer
  • Accountant
  • Business retailer
  • Marketing executive
  • Public service manager
  • Web designer
  • Computing and IT expert
  • Investment analyst
  • Publisher