Bachelor/Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering

NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree/ Level 9 Major Award Honours Masters Degree 

Entry route(s):

Engineering (Common Entry)
Register Your Interest
Course code
LM116
Duration
4/5 Years
Fees
See what fees may apply to students
Subject area
Engineering
Course Director
Dr John Murnane
Email
john.murnane@ul.ie
Tel
353 61 202488
Admissions:
Tel
+353 (0)61 233755
Queries
Contact the Academic Registry
Apply Now for September

This course will be particularly attractive to you if you are interested in the application of scientific and technical knowledge to the solution of real world problems.

Why Study Civil Engineering at UL?

The Civil Engineering programme at UL is fully accredited by Engineers Ireland and uses a student-centered approach to teaching, using techniques such as problem based learning and active learning. In year one (common entry programme), you will develop your ability to work as part of a team, to plan and present, to undertake research and to apply your knowledge.

Entry route to Civil Engineering at UL is via LM116 Engineering Common Entry.

Civil engineering is a broad field of engineering dealing with the design, planning, construction and maintenance of fixed structures or public works as they are related to earth, water, or civilization and their processes. Most civil engineering today deals with structures, roads, bridges, railways, water supply, transportation and traffic, waste water, protection of the environment, flood control and power plants.

This course is accredited by Engineers Ireland.

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What you will study

Civil Engineering at UL now offers an integrated Bachelor/Master of Engineering programme. The entry route to both is through LM116 but in year 3 students have the choice to decide between the Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) or Masters of Engineering (M.E.) programmes.  The B.E. programme is 4 years in duration, while the M.E. programme adds an additional year making it a total of 5 years in duration.  Both programmes include an eight-month period of Cooperative Education spent in an appropriate industrial environment.

Civil engineering at UL is built around a ‘learning-by-doing’ process and focuses on three areas:

- Water and the Environment

- Energy in Civil Engineering

- Buildings and Infrastructure

When you join the civil engineering team at UL, you learn to be an engineer from day one. Working in small teams, you will solve interesting problems. The challenges presented are open-ended and increase in complexity as you progress through the years. Your ingenuity and creativity are required to explore many viable solutions. Drawing from what you have learned and with the shared knowledge of your team, you will design, analyse and (in many cases) test your creations. Lectures are provided along the way to fill in gaps in your knowledge.

The programme is fully ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) compliant, allowing student mobility across Europe.  In addition, close ties with a number of universities in the United States provide students with exciting opportunities to spend a semester studying abroad.

Year 1

In year one you will be part of the LM116 Bachelor of Engineering Common Entry programme where you will develop broad engineering skills while receiving insights into the different engineering disciplines. In the spring semester students interested in Civil Engineering will undertake a ‘learning by doing’ project where you will be challenged to design and build civil engineering structure which has to do a specific task. Starting with a blank whiteboard you will work in teams to develop your ideas which you will then build and test at the end of the semester.

  Semester 1   Semester 2
CH 4001 Chemistry for Engineers MA 4002 Engineering Maths 2
EE 4001 Electrical Engineering 1 ME 4111 Engineering Mechanics 1
MA 4001 Engineering Maths 1 ME 4412 Fluid Mechanics
ME 4001 Introduction to Engineering MT 4002 Materials 1
ME 4121 Engineering Science   Elective
EE 4011 Engineering Computing ME 4032 Structural Engineering Design 1
    ME 4042 Introduction to Design for Manufacture

 

Year 2

In year two you will work in small teams to solve a variety of interesting problems. The challenges presented are open-ended and increase in complexity as you progress through the years. Your ingenuity and creativity are required to explore many viable solutions. Drawing from what you have learned and with the shared knowledge of your team, you will design, analyse and (in many cases) test your creations. Lectures are provided along the way to fill in gaps in your knowledge.

  Semester 3   Semester 4
CE 4011 Building Materials, Assembly and Structure CE 4013 Structural Analysis 1
CE 4014 Hydrology & Water Engineering CE 4024 Structural Steel and Timber Design
CE 4023 Design Studio  CE 4044 Fluids and Energy
CE 4043 Structural Engineering Design 2 MA 4004 Engineering Maths 4
MA 4003 Engineering Maths 3 WT 4014 Introduction to Geology and Soil Mechanics

Year 3

In year three you will get a real experience of being an engineer when you take the draft plans of a building and undertake the role of Civil Engineer in this ‘Integrated Design Project’.  This project requires the integration of many aspects of civil engineering disciplines including interaction with the design architect, land surveying, structural analysis, structural design, foundation design, health safety issues and forms the core of the first semester in year three.  The project is followed by an eight-month Co-op placement with an engineering contractor/ consultant in Ireland or abroad.

  Semester 5 Semester 6 Summer
CE 4005 Structural Theory Cooperative Education Cooperative Education
CE 4015 Soil Mechanics    
CE 4045 Professional Practice 1    
CE 4025 Transport Planning and Design    
CE 4055 Reinforced Concrete Design 1    

During Year 3 students have the choice to decide between the Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) or Masters of Engineering (M.E.) programmes – see below for further details.

Year 4/5

In year four you will learn about energy-efficient buildings, wind energy and how to design water treatment systems. A unique feature of the programme is learning from the engineering mistakes of the past; in doing so, you will investigate actual engineering failures in collaboration with law students. As a student engineer, you will act as an expert witness in a moot court (simulation) and have your expert opinions tested through examination and cross-examination by the student lawyers.

Your final year project allows you to specialise in the area of civil engineering that intrigues you most. Clear and effective communication is an essential skill for the civil engineer and is carefully fostered in every project throughout the programme. You will develop verbal, written and poster presentation skills in addition to creating video documentaries, participating in a moot court and ethical debates, and you will also act as a technical guide to creative arts students on special projects.

Year 4 Semester 7   Semester 8 Summer
CE 4057 Final Year Project CE 4078 Final Year Project  
CE 4007 Water Management Systems CE 4028 Energy Efficient Buildings: Modelling and Design  
ER 4507 Waste Management 1 CE 4048 Geotechnical Engineering Design  
WT 4507 Forensic Engineering and Ethics      
  Elective - Choose 1   Elective - Choose 1  
CE 6001 Wind, Ocean and Hydro Energy CE 4058 Project Planning and Control for the Built Environment  
ER 4417 Environmental Impact Assessment CE 4088 Reinforced Concrete Design II  
ME 4616 Finite Element Analysis ER 4508 Pollution Control 2: Waste Management  
WT 4707 Construction Technology and Management 4 EP 4008 Business Consulting  
  Semester 7   Semester 8
CE 4067 Scheme Design CE 4088 Reinforced Concrete Design II
CE 4007 Water Management Systems CE 4028 Energy Efficient Buildings: Modelling & Design
ER 4507 Waste Management 1 CE 4048 Geotechnical Engineering Design
WT 4507 Forensic Engineering & Ethics    
  Elective - Choose 1   Elective - Choose 1
CE 6001 Wind, Ocean & Hydro Energy CE 4058 Project Planning & Control for the Built Environment
ER 4417 Environmental Impact Assessment EP 4008 Business Consulting
ME 4616 Finite Element Analysis ER 4508 Pollution Control 2: Waste Management
WT 4707 Construction Technology & Management 4    

 

  Semester 9   Semester 10
EN 6151 Research Project 1 EN 6202 Research Project 2
ME 6051 Advanced Technical Communication for Engineers MP 6052 International Business Consulting
  Elective - Choose 1   Elective - Choose 2
MP 6052 International Business Consulting EN 6442 Advanced Geotechnical Engineering
MP 6031 Managing International Ventures   Engineering a circular economy
  Elective - Choose 2 EN 6472 Advanced Structures
CE 6001 Wind, Ocean & Hydro Energy ME 6052 Fracture Mechanics
En 6431 Structural Dynamics & Earthquake Engineering ME 6062 Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics
  Engineering for Net Zero Carbon ME 6071 Non-linear Finite Element Analysis
ME 4616 Finite Element Analysis ME 6192 Plasticity of conventional and 3D printed metals
ME 4037 Advanced Mechanics of Solids    
ME 4438 Computational Fluid Dynamics    

 

 

Entry requirements

Minimum grades

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.
Subject requirements

In addition, applicants must hold a minimum grade H4 in Mathematics and grade O6/H7 in one of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering, Technology, Design & Communication Graphics/ Technical Drawing, Biology, Agricultural Science, Applied Maths, Construction Studies.
Additional considerations

A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement.

We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February.

Application information for mature student applicants (PDF)
Non-EU Entry Requirements

How to apply

Where are you applying from? How to Apply
Ireland Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. 
The UK  Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. 
The EU EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website.
Non-EU country If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here.

Fees and funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.

A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.

An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.

EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €4,262
SUSI pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€7,362

EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €4,262
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€7,362

Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant

Student pays Tuition Fees €4,262
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€7,362

Non-EU Students

Student pays Tuition Fees €20,900
Student pays Student Levy €100
€21,000

Student course fees are comprised of the following components:

Student Contribution

Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.

Student Levy

All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

  1. Residency
    • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
  2. Citizenship
    • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
  3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
    • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
    • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -

  • Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
  • EU Fee Status: You satisfy both the citizenship and residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees.
  • Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.

More information about fees can be found on the Finance website

These scholarships are available for this course

These scholarships are available for all courses

Your future career

Employability skills from this degree

  • Solving problems in an analytical, logical way
  • Working in teams
  • Conducting research
  • Making decisions
  • Being flexible in dealing with unexpected situations
  • Numeracy, design and drawing
  • IT skills (e.g. CAD)
  • Project management
  • Self-reflection and continued professional development
  • Written and verbal communication

Further Study Options

Job titles for graduates with this degree

Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:

  • Assistant Engineer
  • Builder
  • Civil Engineer
  • Design Engineer
  • Engineer
  • Estimator
  • Facade Designer
  • Graduate Engineer
  • Graduate Geotechnical Engineer
  • Junior Project Manager
  • Project Coordinator
  • Site Engineer
  • Site Manager/Project Manager
  • Technician

Student profiles

Robert O'Callaghan

After completing my undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at UL, I undertook a Masters in Structural Engineering at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Along with lectures, I have been working in a team of 20 students on the structural design of a 250m tall building in Seoul, South Korea. This project was designed to be completed in the same manner as one would progress any such project in a design engineer’s office.

For the first semester I was chosen as overall team leader, and have no doubt that the skills and confidence I learned through UL's Problem Based Learning approach aided me greatly. Trying to coordinate and organise our team of 20 students with diverse backgrounds was one of our greatest challenges. My course in UL gave me great experience of working within a team in a professional and self-organised manner. Such skills proved invaluable to me during this project, meaning that I was confident to seek out and utilise new information on my own. I feel that my innovative education in Civil Engineering at U.L. prepared me for my graduate education like no other.

 

James Long

As a child I was fascinated by buildings and bridges and I loved Engineering, Maths and Physics in school so Civil Engineering seemed like a perfect choice for me.

For anyone studying Engineering UL is a great place to be and the campus is home to some amazing works of engineering, including the award winning “Living Bridge” – the longest pedestrian bridge in Ireland.

The course itself is fantastic; like anything worth doing its hard work sometimes, but we’re constantly starting new and different projects. For instance we recently completed a design and build of a 6m tall timber siege tower.  We used the siege platforms to re-inact The Siege of Limerick at King John’s castle. What better way of learning about timber design can there be?

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