Civil Engineering degree Course overview
At City, we welcome students from diverse backgrounds and understand not everyone has the qualifications to apply directly to our engineering degrees.
The one-year programme is designed to help you develop the study skills and academic knowledge needed for a civil engineering degree.
You will receive support to develop the independent study skills that will help you thrive at degree-level.
This Civil Engineering Foundation Course is designed specifically to help people with the passion and potential to study with us. For example, mature students who need to update their technical knowledge and get used to studying again after being in work.
After you complete this course
By the end of the year, you will have built a firm foundation for your future success as a university student.
On successful completion of this Civil Engineering Foundation Course, you’ll have the confidence and knowledge to progress to a BEng or MEng degree.
Structure
Course content
On this one-year course, you’ll develop a firm foundation in key topics related to civil engineering. You will study:
- Mechanics
- Computing and IT
- Communication and study skills
- Mathematics
- Physics.
You will study theory classes at Westminster Kingsway College and conduct laboratory work at City, University of London. This will prepare you to progress to a degree at City upon successful completion of the course.
Teaching and assessment
As a Foundation course student, you will take most of your classes at Westminster Kingsway College. Some laboratory classes are taken at City, University of London. A key element of the course is the tutorial support provided and the emphasis on the development of study skills.
This makes the course suitable for mature students who lack formal qualifications or who are returning to study after some years. There is some flexibility to change to a different engineering course after the foundation year, subject to the agreement of the course director concerned.
You may use the study and social facilities at both City, University of London and Westminster Kingsway College. Assessment is by a combination of formal examinations and coursework.
Assessment methods
You will be assessed using a variety of methods, including:
- Written assignments and Coursework, including essays: these may take the form of case studies in which you will be expected to relate your essay to a particular service user or as support for another assessment such as a poster presentation
- Written examinations: including short answer questions, multiple choice questions, calculations, scenario-based.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework:
Foundation year 50% written, 50% coursework.
Overall workload
Most contact hours will take the form of lectures, interactive sessions, practical workshops and small group classes, supported by a personal tutorial system. The number will decrease as you progress and you become more able to direct your own learning.
Approximate study time based on 2018/19 entry is as follows:
Foundation year 47% scheduled learning, 53% independent learning.
Fees and funding
Fees for year 2023/24
UK
£9,250
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2023/24 academic year only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase in the region of 5%.
Funding options
The fees indicated are for undergraduate entry in the 2022/23 academic year only. Fees for future years may be subject to an inflationary increase which is normally 2%.
- Fee waivers are available for this course.
- Means tested support is available for 2022/23 entry.
Additional expenses
Future Finance offers students loans of between £2,500 and £40,000 to help cover tuition fees and living expenses. All students and courses are considered. All loans are subject to credit checks and approval for further details please visit our finance pages.
Additional expenses
Some of our degrees may involve additional expenses which are not covered by your tuition fees. Find out more about additional expenses.
Career
Following successful completion of your Foundation Programme, you can choose to progress to a Civil Engineering degree at City, University of London. This will open up a range of rewarding civil engineering careers.
Students who successfully complete the Foundation course may progress onto the following programmes at City:
Civil engineers plan, design and construct the infrastructure around us, working on projects such as motorways, railways, hospitals and airports.
City graduates have worked on some of the most important civil engineering projects in recent times, including the HS2 rail project and landmark buildings.
Recent graduates have secured work with:
- Network Rail
- Arup
- Bouygues Construction
- KBR
- Osborne
- Skanska
- PGCS
- Farrans Construction.
How to apply
Applications for degree courses must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
Please note that, at present, this course is only available to those who we would classify as Home students. Please contact us if you are unclear about your fee status. For overseas students who do not meet the entry requirements for year 1 entry, we recommend our affiliated foundation course providers - INTO City, University of London.
You can apply through your school or college using the Apply system, which enables you to submit your application directly to the UCAS website.
You can apply to up to five universities or institutions on the form. The UCAS code for City, University of London is C60.
Please take care to enter the correct course code when applying, particularly for subjects with a Foundation year or with BEng (Hons) and MEng (Hons) or BSc (Hons) and MSci (Hons) options.
UCAS has implemented an 'invisibility of choices' policy so that, on the initial application and while you are receiving decisions, each institution can see only their entry and not those of other institutions you have chosen. This ensures that your application for a course at City is considered solely on your academic and personal qualities.
You should submit your completed application form to UCAS with a £26.50 application fee. If you want to apply to City, University of London only, you can make a single choice application at a reduced rate of £22.
Admission enquiries
For general enquiries about the admissions process at City, please contact our Admissions Office:
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7040 8716.
Telephone lines are currently open between 10am - 3pm.
If your enquiry is about admission to a particular course, please use the contact details provided on the course page.
When to apply
Your application for entry in September 2023 should arrive at UCAS between September 2022 and 25th January 2023. Applications that arrive after 25th January 2023 will be considered only at City's discretion.
Contacting UCAS
Address: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), Rosehill, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 3LZ
Telephone:
- from inside the UK 0871 468 0468
- from outside the UK +44 (0)871 468 0468
For callers with hearing difficulties:
- from inside the UK use the Text Relay service on 18001 0871 468 0468
- from outside the UK dial +44 151 494 1260 (text phone) and then ask the operator to dial 0871 468 0468.
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