HNC Civil Engineering (Higher National Certificate)
- Entry year:
- 2026/27
- Start date:
- September
- Study mode:
- Full-time
- Course duration:
- 1 year
- Campus:
- City
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 The Library and 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 engineering
- 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.
Find out more about the course from Dr Ed Loffill
Course modules
What you will study on this degree
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.
Core modules
Design Principles
20 credits
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Your Learning Experience
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 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.
Where you will study
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 City Campus Library is just minutes away on Tithebarn Street.
Career paths
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.
Tuition fees and funding
- Full-time per year:
- £9,790
Fees
Tuition fees for home students beginning their studies in September 2026 will be £9,790 for the 2026/27 academic year, subject to Parliamentary approval.
In England and Wales, tuition fees for home undergraduate students are set in accordance with the Government’s regulated fee cap. The Government has confirmed that this cap will be £9,790 for 2026/27 and £10,050 for 2027/28, in both cases subject to Parliamentary approval.
The Government has also stated that from the 2028/29 academic year onwards, the fee cap will be adjusted annually in line with inflation. As a result, tuition fees in future years may increase accordingly. We will provide confirmation of any changes as early as possible in advance of each academic year.
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus Wi-Fi.
Financial Support
The University offers a range of scholarships to support students through their studies. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist funding pages, including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.
Additional Costs
In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:
- Accommodation
- Travel costs including those for placements, visas and travel for studying abroad and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
- Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire
- Full-time per year:
- £18,250
International Scholarships and payment plans
Liverpool John Moores University is committed to supporting international students by providing a range of scholarships and flexible payment plans to help students manage their tuition fees.
Scholarships
LJMU provides a variety of undergraduate scholarships to support international students. Scholarships are available to self-funded students who have accepted their offer and met all the conditions outlined in their offer letter. Students must also demonstrate that they can cover living costs, travel, and other expenses associated to studying at the university.
All self-funded international students are eligible for an automatic scholarship worth up to £3,000. For more details and to view our full list of scholarships, visit the international scholarship webpages.
Deposit
All students must pay a £5,000 deposit before they can receive their CAS letter.
For more information view our deposit page.
Tuition Fee Payment Plan
After paying their £5,000 deposit, students have the option to pay their fees in full or in three equal instalments minus any internal scholarships and discounts. There are two payment options available for international students. You can either pay your tuition fees in full before enrolment or opt for a payment plan. With the payment plan, you can pay your fees in three instalments after making your £5,000 deposit. The first instalment is due before enrolment.
All payments should be made through Flywire. Full details can be found in the How to Pay Guide.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: CDD (80)
Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.
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
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.
Further information
-
Contextual Offers
At LJMU, we are dedicated to widening participation in education. We understand that academic potential isn't always accurately represented by grades alone. Therefore, we consider additional information included in your application. If you meet certain eligibility criteria, we may make an offer lower than our typical entry requirements.
International requirements
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
Further information
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
How to apply
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.
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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.