Advanced Diploma in Structural Engineering

Fundamentals of Engineering Drawings

• Study how to create professional 2D CAD drawings.
• Understand the topics of sectional views and material symbols as the main foundation.
• Cover technical drafting principles based on the ISO or BS 8888 standards.
• Learn about Building Information Modelling (BIM) for structural quantification.

This is where you will understand more about how engineering drawing works and how to make an ideal structure according to building standards.

Construction and Civil Engineering Technology

• Develop a strong knowledge of health and safety laws used in structural engineering.
• Learn to identify construction design and management (CDM) regulations.
• Look at the design of substructures and superstructures in the design performance of buildings.
• Discover how renewable energy systems can be included in structural design.

After completing this course, you will be able to develop the structural design by looking at the aspect of superstructures

Structural Fundamentals

• Learn the essentials of classifying structural materials.
• Apply key principles of structural stability and analysis that are essential in this Structural Engineering course.
• Observe how fundamental blocks such as cables and arches react to the various design scenarios.
• Analyse the main physics principles by using Hooke’s Law and Young’s modulus.

For this module, you will have better awareness around the fundamentals of structure. It will help in stabilising the building by looking through the physics principles and how the blocks play parts in this section.

Soils and Foundations

• Understand how building foundations are designed through the principles of Geotechnical Engineering.
• Observe the work of rock and soil formation as well as looking through the shallow foundation design.
• Learn advanced knowledge about soil improvement methods and foundation stability.
• Use British Standard or BS 5930 to explore the code of practice for site investigations.

After you complete this unit, you will understand more about rock and soil, and how they work as a building foundation.

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics

• Study practical civil engineering hydraulics and Bernoulli’s equation.
• Maintain buildings to hold pressure from liquids and gases by understanding the work of hydrostatics.
• Study the equation of Darcy-Weisbach to apply in basic hydrodynamic math.
• Discover the way how submerged surfaces act and the rules of laminar flow.

This fifth unit will be important for you to see the importance of hydraulics and choosing suitable equations in examining fluid mechanisms.

Engineering Mathematics and Modelling

• This Structural Engineering course uses engineering maths like calculus and regression to solve engineering issues like performance prediction.
• Use MATLAB software to model engineering design and also identify its flaws.
• Learn the Finite Element Method to analyse physical and engineering problems.
• Observe the linear and non-linear numerical steps through every engineering structure to check its safety.

After you learn this module, you will have better awareness of the use of maths in engineering and how to utilise softwares in building engineering models.

Structural Analysis

• Analyse structural materials related to steel or timber and the section properties of beams and columns.
• Discover techniques similar to virtual work and analysis of rigid jointed frames.
• Discuss the Torsional Effects and Stability of a building.
• Investigate every building stability criterion that aligns with Eurocode 1.

You will be able to identify structural materials efficiently while also observing whether the stability is aligned with national standards.

Structural Design of Concrete

• Grasp the knowledge of using reinforced concrete as a building material.
• Design several fundamental elements like beams, slabs, and columns for construction purposes.
• Learn how to apply Eurocode standards to build structures.
• Study safety rules and prestressed concrete elements in modern infrastructure.

After this module, you can apply the Eurocode standards to concrete structure design and also ensure the design meets the structural safety requirements.

Structural Design of Steel

• Understand the use of cover steel as a structural element.
• Structural Engineering course will let you design steel frames by utilising beams, columns, and joints as primary elements to support the loads.
• Study combined stress in steel structures and how it relates to bolts and welds.
• Identify ways to reduce possible instability, like lateral torsional buckling, to ensure the building’s durability.

This module will help you understand more about reinforced and prestressed concrete for various construction areas.

Advanced Structural Design

• Address the complex structural system by applying safety rules.
• Observe information about conceptual design and each of its factors.
• Learn about advanced strategies for designing the building.
• Explore modern design methods like prestressed concrete, with its application in construction.

Through this unit, you can select appropriate modern structural design methods, including prestressed concrete solutions, to be more efficient.

Design and Computing

• Study how to apply computing solutions to clear up real structural problems.
• Observe the engineering design codes through the intersection of computational power.
• Manage various software tools like ANSYS and STAAD Pro for design verification.
• Discover structural load paths by creating 3D computational modelling.

This module will give you the chance to use software tools to design the structural building as well as using the computing device to improve the design.

Structural Engineering Design Project

• Study ways of interacting and working with stakeholders or clients in a future career.
• Learn how to develop clear design concepts and documents for project planning.
• Discuss strengthening communication and teamwork abilities.
• Identify the methods to complete structural engineering design from the first brief to the final blueprints.

Lastly, from this module, you can understand more about how to produce a complete structural engineering design from the initial brief to the final design documentation.

Delivery

All learning delivery will be through live online lectures, offering you an interactive classroom environment. If you need any course materials, they will be delivered through Moodle. It is also a self-paced study where you can learn from anywhere, whilst having all the benefits and feel of a classroom study.

Duration

The Advanced Diploma in Structural Engineering course is a 2-year programme. So, each module will take around 8 weeks to complete. Thus, the College of Contract Management will invite you to join 1-2 live online classes per week, each lasting for 2 hours. Also, you will need to add a few hours of independent study per week to continue the learning activity.

Near your exams, these faculties might conduct extra revision and group study sessions based on the timeline and their availability. This will be the best time to revise and brush up on your knowledge to perform well.

Assessment

To get the Advanced Diploma in Structural Engineering certificate, you are required to finish this course successfully. In the final project, there will be a written assignment where you are going to demonstrate practical understanding when it comes to solving real-world problems. After that, you will pass this programme and receive a certification in this field.

Q1. What happens if I miss a live evening lecture?

All live sessions in this Structural Engineering course are recorded in full. From that, you can still watch the recording that will be uploaded directly to the Moodle platform.

Q2. Does graduating automatically grant me EngTech status with the ICE?

This diploma does not automatically give EngTech status. This qualification will help you meet the academic requirements. You must still apply directly to the ICE and pass their professional review.

Q3. Will I need to attend an offline study when joining this course?

No, the Structural Engineering course is conducted entirely online. You will study only through the Moodle portal using a computer and learn virtually using simulation software.

Q4. What happens if I fail a written assignment or the final project?

You will be given a formal resubmission time to apply feedback from your lecturer and correct your work. Academic support is available if you need help to pass.

Q5. Will there be any assistance from the College with the engineering job placements once I’m done with this course?

No, this institution does not guarantee direct job positions. Instead, the College will provide experienced mentors to help by giving CV advice and evaluating your portfolio professionally.

Q6. Are there any hidden extra costs required for textbooks or exams?

There are no hidden fees. Tuition fees already cover the entire cost of enrollment, and it includes reading materials and recorded sessions that can be accessed through Moodle.

Q7. Is it possible to stop my studies for a while if something urgent happens at my workplace or personal situation?

Yes, you can pause the Structural Engineering course. If you have certain urgencies, do make sure to send an inquiry to the admin team before pausing your study progress.

Q8. Will there be extra fees when getting certificates at the end of the course?

No, the certificate and digital transcripts are covered by the tuition fees. Once you have completed the course, both of those items will be issued as proof of your improvement. So, there will be no hidden fees applied during completion of the course.

Q9. What kind of academic support can I expect if I get stuck on a difficult engineering concept?

You will get multiple layers of support from the College. Not only will you have live Q&A sessions during the online lectures, you can also email your course tutors for personalised feedback whenever you feel stuck on the assessment after the course.