Civil Engineer Degree Apprenticeship | Civil Engineering BEng (Hons)
5 years part time | September Start

Apprentices on the Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship will have thorough grounding in the knowledge, understanding and skills required by a professional civil engineer, which will take place via a series of University modules accessed via interactive presentations, online tutorials complemented by online or telephone advice, attendance at classes for tutorials, laboratory and problem-based exercises undertaken in groups with other students and apprentices, and a range of activities such as visits to construction sites.

Over the 5 year programme apprentices will learn the following key modules:

Level 4

Engineering Mathematics

Structures

Design and Materials

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics

Geology and Soil Mechanics

Site Investigation

Academic Skills (non-credit bearing)

Level 5

Mathematics and Computing

Structural Analysis and Modelling

Structural Engineering Design

Hydrology and Environmental Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering Design

Civil Engineering Design 

Level 6

Highways and Railways Design

Management and Interdisciplinary

Design Research Project

Contract Management and BIM

Professional Practice and Preparation for MPR 

Full module information for the programme is available below.

End Point Assessment

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (2020) state that - Rigorous, robust and independent End Point Assessment (EPA) gives employers confidence that apprentices can actually perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the duties, and knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the occupational standard. For details of the current EPA for your standard please consult the IFATE Apprenticeship standards / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education webpage here.

This apprenticeship normally takes 5 years part-time, followed by the endpoint assessment which will typically be completed within 3-12 months. Full details are available on the IFATE website.

Apprentices are required to attend the University, for induction and then on a regular basis. University-based learning will be delivered in a highly flexible manner, with block release or day release options being able to be agreed with the employer and the University, to suit the needs of both the apprentice and organisation.

During university attendance, apprentices will take part in seminars to support understanding of civil engineering theory, in laboratories to further cement learning of theoretical principles and to research relevant physical phenomena, and group exercises with other students. Attendance days will also be used to schedule visits to construction sites and other destinations relevant to the programme.

Each module on the programme will include a range of learning materials such as presentations, notes, tutorial questions, and other resources such as video links. It will also show the assessment plan for that module, including the submission date, date for return of marks and feedback and the marking criteria to be used. All of these resources will be arranged into a convenient learning journey, identifying what needs to be studied each week of the programme.

Assessment

The majority of assessments will be coursework based and in addition there will also be a small number of exams in preparation for the End Point Assessment of the apprenticeship. These will be undertaken under controlled conditions either in the University or another agreed location.

Additional Support for Learning

A workplace mentor will be on hand on a frequent basis, and will make suitable arrangements with the apprentice to meet to provide support for workplace learning.

Academic staff within the University will be regularly available and can be contacted either in person, when on campus, or by telephone. They are also widely available by email.

In partnership with Northumbria University, the employer will support the apprentice at work to achieve their apprenticeship. Whilst studying, the apprentice will be required to work full-time, for at least 30 hours a week, and will be supported through learning at work to achieve the requirements of the apprenticeship standard.

In the workplace, the apprentice will be allocated a workplace mentor. This will be a Supervising Civil Engineer or equivalent. The employer must give apprentices time to study towards their apprenticeship.

The workplace mentor’s role is to monitor the apprentice’s Initial Professional Development as they work towards registration as a professional engineer at the end of the programme. As part of this, they will help to reflect on the University learning and workplace activities, and identify how the learning can be applied effectively, allocating appropriate work tasks to achieve this. Supervising Civil Engineers are managed and trained by the Institution of Civil Engineers as part of the Institution’s support for professional qualifications.

Both the apprentice and their mentor / line manager will be supported by Northumbria University throughout the programme, including access to online support materials. Whilst off-campus and in the workplace, apprentices will have access to our technology-enhanced learning (TEL) facilities which provide access to module information, electronic reading lists and online learning resources such as podcasts, e-books and e-journals.

The employer covers all tuition fees for the apprentice, the total payment required depends on the organisation’s apprenticeship levy status.

Apprentices studying an apprenticeship do not pay any tuition fees, however, as they are in full-time employment they do not have student status and therefore are not entitled to apply for student finance.  

To discuss the fees for this apprenticeship in detail or to explore signing an agreement with the university, complete the enquiry form below and someone from our Business and Enterprise team will be in touch shortly.

We guide both employer and employee through the application and funding process and will be on hand to assist you during the apprenticeship journey.

To start the application process for either current employees or new recruits contact our Business and Enterprise team today by email or complete our online enquiry form. Alternatively, you can call 0191 215 6300.

All students are required to be in full-time employment to study the Civil Engineer Degree Apprenticeship. If you are interested in studying this apprenticeship and you are in current full-time employment complete our online enquiry form.

If you are not in full-time employment but would like to study this apprenticeship programme, discover our recruitment opportunities below. Alternatively, visit our vacancies page for information on all apprenticeship opportunities currently available.

Skills Assessment

Before entry onto the programme, all Apprenticeship applicants must complete an Initial Skills Assessment which maps their prior knowledge against the apprenticeship standard. This is part of the University’s regulatory funding obligations. The purpose of an apprenticeship is to provide new learning and the skills assessment will be used to establish whether we need to tailor your programme in any way to account for your previous qualifications or experience. It also provides a benchmark against which to map your progress on the programme.