Civil Engineering MSc
Civil Design Project M ENG5283
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Engineering
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 1
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course involves a design project or feasibility study performed in small groups, currently based around an options appraisal exercise for a Severn Tidal Barrage. Each group must consider: alternative barrage alignments; alternative modes of operation of the barrage; design of barrage components (turbines, generators, sluices, caissons, embankments, ship locks, fish passes); optimisation of turbine characteristics; calculation of energy outputs and water levels; costing; optimisation of barrage location and turbine numbers; discounted cash and energy flows and unit cost of energy; other positive and negative impacts (carbon savings/consumption, water quality, sediment movements, changes to ecosystems, fish populations, bird populations, flooding, shipping, leisure and amenity activities, employment).
Timetable
1 three hour session per week
Excluded Courses
Civil Design Project 4 (ENG4050)
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
80% Report
20% Oral Assessment & Presentation
Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No
It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.
[No exceptions]
Course Aims
The aims of this course are to:
■ set students the challenge of tackling a feasibility study and optimisation exercise for a large multi-disciplinary project;
■ require students to apply knowledge and techniques from their civil engineering courses but also to seek out and apply new knowledge;
■ encourage initiative and a professional approach to problem-solving and reporting.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ work in a group to tackle open-ended problems;
■ plan and undertake a design or feasibility study of a large multi-disciplinary project involving a wide range of technical issues and also broader environmental, economic and socio-political issues;
■ undertake critical appraisal of alternative options;
■ undertake calculations of discounted cash and energy flows and hence determine unit cost of energy, including sensitivity to discount rate;
■ present the outcomes of their work both orally and in writing in a professional manner.