B.Eng. Engineering Geology and Geotechnics

To be a good engineering geologist you first need to be a good geologist. In your first year we concentrate on the fundamentals of the geological sciences, as well as focusing on engineering mathematics and materials.
Core units in this year include:

• How the Earth Works
• Earth Materials
• Earth History and Life
• Natural Hazards
• Engineering Maths
• Engineering Materials – how materials behave

Specialise in the more applied areas of the subject and benefit from fieldwork that is a vital component of this geoscience degree.

You will specifically focus on the following areas:

• The mechanical behaviour of engineering soils and rock
• How to investigate the ground and interpret the results
• Ground water and flood management
• More geology, focused on structural aspects of geological interpretation and map work
• Much time is spent in our state of the art soil and rock mechanics laboratories

The sandwich year involves at least 44 weeks of paid work for a company. We arrange for you to apply to suitable companies, attend interviews and monitor your progress throughout the year.

We have a very strong association with the ground and mining engineering industry who support our students in finding work placements in both the UK and overseas.

For sandwich students the Year 2 core skills are enhanced by hands-on practical experience and academic knowledge gained over the Industrial Placement year. The placement year will normally help you to make the most of your final year of studies by helping you make sense of where you fit in the professional world and the relevance of the units you study.

Customise your studies by undertaking an independent project where you can decide the geological and engineering based topic, collect samples, carry out lab tests and report your findings. You’ll also consolidate your learning in the study of the following specialist subject areas:

• Design and construction of: tunnels, caverns, mines, dams, foundations, embankments, retaining walls and slopes for road construction
• Rock deformation and analysis
• Landslides and slope stability assessments
• Contaminated land and groundwater

*This course is also available as a 4-year sandwich (work placement)