2025/26 entry
HNC Civil Engineering (Higher National Certificate)
About your course
Completing the HNC Civil Engineering at Liverpool John Moores University is the first step towards an exciting and interesting career in civil engineering, with progression routes onto BEng/MEng degrees.
- Teaching on the course is via a combination of lectures, laboratory work, tutorials, workshops, practical sessions and site visits, combined with your own research using our Library and the Web
- While there is no sandwich option with this programme, it is highly related to the work environment and you will develop the necessary skills base required by industry
- You will be assigned a personal tutor who can provide one-to-one guidance and advice on course-related issues and PDP
- Our Industry Unit and World of Work Careers Centre can help you identify and secure professional employment
- Opportunity to progress onto a number of related degree courses within the Faculty of Engineering and Technology
- LJMU ranked 16th in the UK for construction, surveying and planning courses (The Guardian Best UK Universities 2025)
If you are interested in creating the structures that support life's basic needs for water, flood control, hospitals, recreation and transport, the Civil Engineering HNC at LJMU is a good place to start. Civil Engineers design, plan and manage civil and environmental projects from concept to realisation, considering structural problems and aesthetics as well as the environmental and economic impacts. They need to be competent technically, practical in outlook and capable of giving professional advice on a variety of subjects ranging from design to construction and site management.
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Employability
The career prospects for students graduating with an HNC Civil Engineering are excellent; in fact most students find a job before they reach the end of their graduating academic year.
Academic qualifications, supplemented by further learning, provide a sound foundation to a civil engineering career and form your Educational Base. Skills and knowledge development are essential for you to become professionally qualified - this is known as Initial Professional Development (IPD). Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is a life-long activity, starting with IPD and progressing to professional qualifications. CPD keeps you up-to-date with technological and commercial advances necessary to maintain your professional competence.
Graduates take a range of career paths, normally at Technician status in disciplines ranging from Land Surveying, Project Designers, Trainee Structural Surveyors, Highways Technicians and Analysts.
Those going on to further study gain access to degrees in Civil Engineering, Railway Engineering and Structural Engineering.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
A life-changing experience
There's so much more to university than just studying for a degree.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 4
Core modules
Design Principles
20 credits
This module provides you with a fundamental understanding of the design process and engineering choices. It will help you develop the ability to apply, analyse and evaluate the design process with consideration of sustainability (including life cycle), cost, time and quality. It also aims to encourage you to reflect on your level of competency regarding employability skills and identify opportunities for developing these skills.
Engineering Geology and Soil Mechanics
20 credits
This module provides you with an introduction to the engineering characteristics of geological materials and an understanding of how geological materials are classified. It also aims to provide you with an appreciation of the significance of site investigations, the codes of practice involved, and the various methods of sampling and in-situ testing. It enables you to identify the principles involved in assessing the stability of slopes and the design of foundations and earth retaining structures. It also enables you to identify the effects that seepage and the compressibility of soil can have on structures.
Hydraulics Group Project
20 credits
This module aims to provide you with an opportunity to develop the skills needed to devise and implement a realistic project scope and scheme of work and to evaluate and present a hydraulics related project as a group. It encourages you to become confident and effective in managing own personal and professional skills.
Science Materials and Applied Mathematics
20 credits
Through theory and experiment, this module introduces you to the basic scientific principles underpinning engineering calculations. It expands your knowledge of the engineering properties of the most important construction materials based upon scientific principles. It also introduces you to the principles governing the choice and specification of materials including sustainability. Further, it aims to provide you with an opportunity to develop skills in applying statistical and analytical methods to solving engineering problems.
Site Surveying Procedures
20 credits
This module introduces you to the basic techniques for land surveying and setting out: methods of obtaining field measurements for the purpose of producing site drawings and hence the calculation of land areas and earthwork volumes and setting out points using line-of sight. It also helps to develop an understanding of the use and application of Computer Aided Design in the Built Environment and the development of 2-dimensional drafting techniques and conventions.
Structural Analysis and Design
20 credits
This module provides you with an opportunity to develop the skills required to analyse statically determinate structures in compliance with current codes of practice and standards and design and detail structural elements. It helps to demonstrate and explore structural behaviour through experimentation.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
We recognise that all students perform differently according to the type of assessment they undertake, so a variety of methods is used. This includes exams (open and closed book), coursework (projects, technical reports, reviews, etc) and presentations (individual and group). Your tutors will give prompt and constructive feedback via Canvas (our virtual learning environment), face-to-face or in writing. This will help you to identify your strengths as well as the areas on which you may need to concentrate.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
This programme is delivered in the Byrom Street complex of LJMU's City Campus. Here you'll find high quality lecture theatres, meeting and seminar rooms plus social spaces and a large café. The Avril Robarts Library is just minutes away on Tithebarn Street.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: CDD (80)
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy.
GCSE Equivalences accepted:
• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A levels
CDD
Maximum AS UCAS Points: 20
While Mathematics 'A' level is not a requirement, students would benefit from having either AS in mathematics or an 'A' level in a subject with some mathematical content
BTECs
MMP
Access awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
International Baccalaureate
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
OCR Cambridge Technical
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
Irish awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
T levels
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.
International requirements
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IELTS
6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.
https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/courses/international-entry-requirements
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.