MEng Civil Engineering

There is a compulsory field course for Civil Engineering students which incurs a subsidised fee* (approx. £100) that contributes to travel, accommodation and subsistence. You are expected to bring your own wet weather clothing and footwear.

The exact cost and dates of the trip are confirmed at the start of your second year.

* In accordance with current University policy, this fee is restricted to be not more than 1% of the annual tuition fee of the course

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about scholarships and bursaries please see our undergraduate fees pages and check the Department's funding pages .

1. Globally Responsible Engineering
2. Systems Thinking for Complex Engineering Problems
3. Introduction to Engineering Ethics 
4. Engineering Ethics in Practice
5. Engineering for Sustainable Futures
6. Lifecycle Assessment and Environmental Lifecycle Costing
7. Risk Management and Security
8. Designing for Safety and Resilience in Engineering Environments
9. Codes of Conduct and Professional Practice
10. Legal Issues for Engineers
11. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
12. Future Global Challenges and Wicked Problems for Engineers

Engage students with the changing economic, social, ethical and environmental contexts within which engineers currently work; Equip students with the knowledge and thinking skills that will allow them to better understand the global challenges that engineers engage in today, and from that have them fully embrace how the engineering profession will need to diversify in both knowledge and practice in order to be better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

ILO 1: Recognise the role engineers play in the rapidly changing world of economic, social, ethical and environmental context (M 5,7) (Developed and Assessed)

ILO 2: Understand the role of engineering ethics in the formation and execution of decision making in engineering environments (M8) (Developed and Assessed)

ILO 3: Examine the impact of engineering decisions in the determination of a sustainable future. Appreciate the role of life cycle assessment and costing in managing sustainability and environmental impact (M7) (Developed and Assessed)

ILO 4: Assess the impact of engineering in managing technical risk and in enhancing security of both physical and digital environments (M9,10) (Developed and Assessed)

ILO 5: Ability to apply the concept of systems thinking to the evaluation of complex engineering and societal problems (M6) (Developed and Assessed)

ILO 6: Better understand the importance of diversity and inclusion in making sure the engineering profession attracts the best people to ensure a robust future. (M11) (Developed and Assessed)

ILO 7:Facilitate the understanding of a broad perspective as to how complex problems require a variety of thinking styles in order to fully appreciate the impacts and requirements. (M16) (Developed)

ILO 8: Appreciate the importance of communication within teams, both technical and non-technical, in defining complex, or wicked, problems. (M17) (Developed)

ILO 9:Understand the importance of diversity in team selection and working in order to fully appreciate differences in perspectives. (M11) (Developed)

12 weekly lectures of 2 hours, as detailed above;

One hour tutorial every 2 weeks to support lecture materials;

E-learning course from Engineers Without Borders (EWB) to support understanding of the global responsibilities of engineers;

Participation in the UK people challenge from EWB;

On-line discussion forum to support lectures and tutorials; weekly challenges posed for students to engage with and form possible outcomes.

Group Project (M5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17): Issued week 2, hand in week 8

MCQ (M5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11): Taken during week 12

Group Project (M5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17): Grading and Feedback delivered in week 10

MCQ (M5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11): Grading and Feedback delivered in week 10

Core Text:

‘Ethics Within Engineering’ Wade L. Robison, Bloomsbury 2024 ISBN 978-1-3503-4044-2

Recommended Reading:

‘Thinking in Systems’ Donella H. Meadows, Chelsea Green Publishing 2008 ISBN 978-1-60358-055-7

‘Sustainability -Short Introduction’ Saleem H. Ali, Oxford 2025 ISBN 978-0-19286962-3