Civil with Environmental Engineering BEng(Hons)

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Top reasons to choose this course

• Fully meets the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially meets the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng)
• We are 12th in the UK for civil engineering courses — Guardian University League 2024
• Fieldwork, site visits and guest lectures from professionals bring learning to life
• Exciting project work, including the Engineering for People Design Challenge, working to find solutions for challenges faced by developing countries
• You’ll work in interdisciplinary project teams on industry-based scenarios, from design briefs to real-world case studies
• Accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators
• Our Industrial Advisory Board offers invaluable advice and networking opportunities
• Specialist facilities including concrete lab, dynamics lab, hydraulics lab, soils lab and wave tank room
• Learn with staff active in research and consultancy
• Option of a salaried placement year to build your experience and confidence.

Year 1

You will explore the core elements of civil environmental engineering. 

You will also undertake a group project linked to the Engineering for People Design Challenge.

Modules

• Land and Construction Surveying

  This module will introduce you to the equipment and methods used in both land and construction engineering surveying. The module will provide you with a thorough grounding in both the theoretical and practical aspects of surveying and covers a range of surveying topics from basic measurement of heights, distances and angles, to setting out coordinate positions on site. As a result of the nature of the content, there is a focus on practical skills with much of the delivery taking place in a practical setting.

• Structural and Stress Analysis

  This module will introduce you to the analysis of simple structures. Through the application of the equilibrium equations, you will be able to determine the support reactions and internal forces in structural members. The study will be undertaken through rigorous analytical and graphical approach as well as through physical conceptual understanding of the structural behaviour. The calculation of displacements and stresses will be also introduced as base of the limit state principles.

• Construction Materials

  This module covers basic material science relating to construction materials such as timber, steel, concrete, masonry, polymers and bituminous materials. You will develop an understanding of commonly used construction materials, and the ability to evaluate the performance of different materials and to identify a variety of failure types. You will have the opportunity to test some of the main properties of basic construction materials through laboratory sessions.

• Engineering Geology and Soil Mechanics

  This is an introductory module covering principles of soil mechanics and engineering geology. The syllabus includes identification of soils and common rock types; engineering description and classification of soils and rocks; physical properties of soils and rocks; stresses in soils; earth’s surface processes; an introduction to geological maps. Lab classes, tutorials and a field day will give you hands-on experience.

• Mathematics for Civil Engineering

  This module will introduce you to the mathematics and statistics required to study civil engineering. Vectors, linear algebra, matrix analysis, solutions of a set of linear equations, functions of one or more variables, differentiation and integration will be covered. Statistical tools are provided for estimating uncertainty in civil and environmental engineering problems.

• Civil Engineering Practice

  This module will introduce you to the range of issues related to the content and role of the civil engineering profession. Through independent and self-managed research, critical evaluation of published studies and writing of technical reports, you will develop an appreciation of the health and safety, environmental and sustainability issues related to civil engineering projects. It is linked to Engineering for People design Challenge UK and aims to prepare you for an effective professional life by encouraging best practices in cooperation and teamwork.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Year 2

You will build on the knowledge and skills you have acquired in your first year. You also apply what you have learned to civil engineering design and construction tasks.

Modules

Core modules

• Structural Analysis

  Structural Analysis deals with the static response of structures in terms of forces and displacements, with equilibrium equations, material properties and structure deflected shape used as analysis tools. You will learn the basic tools to analyse statically indeterminate beams, simple frames and structures with axially loaded members, and gain the skills to deal with the fundamental modelling of material response beyond the elastic limit.

• Concrete Technology and Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures

  In this module, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the principles of concrete technology and ability to produce safe design procedures for structural concrete elements reinforced with conventional steel bars and/or steel fibres. You will develop the knowledge and skills for designing and applying conventional and special concrete materials. The module will also prepare you for a productive professional life by encouraging best practices in cooperation and teamwork.

• Computational Mechanics

  Computational Mechanics covers the principles of general basic numerical techniques relevant to civil engineering, such as numerical differentiation and integration, as well as approaches such as the finite difference method, the direct stiffness method and the finite element method. The module will equip you with the necessary skills in computer programming and mathematical modelling to perform numerical simulations of common civil engineering problems.

• Geotechnical Engineering 1

  This module will help you develop an in-depth understanding of the principles of soil mechanics required in civil engineering practice and introduces the analytical and empirical methods to predict soil behaviour under different loading conditions. You will be able to apply soil mechanics theory to the design of common geotechnical engineering structures such as shallow and deep foundations, slopes and earth-retaining structures.

• Hydraulics

  In this module, you will be introduced to the basic principles of hydraulics in the context of civil engineering, including hydrostatics, hydrodynamics and behaviour of real fluids, and develop the analytical skills required to solve common hydraulics problems. There is a significant amount of laboratory work, so you will develop your practical skills and improve your understanding of theories through real-life observations.

Options*

• Environmental Pollution

  This module investigates how society manages pollution in order to protect human health and the natural environment. You will examine changing attitudes to pollution and how environment management and technology can be used for pollution control. You’ll also explore sustainability and technologies in relation to the management of waste, air quality, water, wastewater and noise pollution.

• Earth Surface Processes

  This module will explore the erosional and depositional processes, landforms and sediments associated with fluvial, glacial/periglacial and aeolian environments. You will learn about the factors influencing the evolution of these environments over timescales from hours to decades. It will also introduce you to key techniques used to describe geomorphic environments, such as flume simulation, particle size/shape analysis and qualitative/quantitative interpretation.

• GIS and Remote Sensing Principles and Practice

  This module will help you develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the areas of optical Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and apply this learning to real-world situations in the geographical, geological and environmental sciences. You will be encouraged to engage in spatial and digital computing, remote sensing, data handling and problem solving so you become proficient at using remote sensing and GIS software.

• Climate Change

  Many consider climate change to be the most important global-scale environmental issue of our time, and in this module you will gain an overview of contemporary debates in this area. Following an introduction to the scientific context of the subject, you’ll explore the potential environmental, social, economic and political impacts of climate change. You will discuss mitigation, adaptation and enhancing resilience, and consider the unknowns in climate change science. Practical sessions will focus on methods for generating and analysing climate change-related information.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placement year

A placement year offers an excellent opportunity to gain work experience, build a professional network, increase your confidence, develop existing skills and discover new ones. The experience also significantly strengthens your CV.

Our students have been on placement in organisations including:

• Mackley
• Balfour Beatty
• Transport for London
• South East Water.

You have the opportunity to undertake a year abroad in year 3, extending your degree to four years.

Final year

In your final year you will embark on an individual project and choose from a range of option modules. This gives you the flexibility to explore topics such as coastal environments, exploration geology and geographic information systems and to specialise in the areas that interest you the most.

Modules

Core modules

• Design of Steel Structures

  This module will provide you with a sound knowledge of the behaviour and design of structural steel members and their connections and deepen your understanding and application of modern codes of practice procedures (Eurocodes), national annex and UK building regulations. It will enable you to design a structural system, underpinned by functionality, safety and stability, buildability and economic objectives.

• Environmental Impact Assessment

  Environmental impact assessment [EIA] is an important phase in the implementation of a development, whether that is a pipeline, housing development, the Olympic park or the proposed HS2 railway. In this module, you will examine the policies and practice behind EIA and the techniques and methodologies designed to consider the environmental consequences of activities. Although focused on UK practice, the module considers the evolution of environmental assessment both in the UK and globally.

• BEng Individual Project

  This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake a research programme on a subject of particular interest. You’ll be able to perform an investigation of a specific aspect of civil engineering at a far greater depth than would be possible in any taught module and will benefit from the experience of planning, undertaking and writing up such a study. The module will extend and integrate your understanding of civil engineering topics as covered in the course modules.

Options*

• Building Information Modelling

  This module introduces building information modelling (BIM) as a tool in the design and construction management of buildings. You will develop enough theoretical insight and practical skills to be able to use BIM and demonstrate leadership and competence in advocating and enhancing it as a vehicle for cultural change in the construction industry. You will also be able to evaluate and fully utilise BIM options and its advanced features.

• Geotechnical Engineering 2

  In this module, you will design site investigations and interpret the results of in situ and laboratory testing to obtain parameters for design. The module will introduce advanced constitutive models for soil behaviour and their implementation in numerical analysis. You will also study the theory and design of reinforced soil and explore practical design examples and illustrations of current practice.

• Applied Hydraulics

  Applied Hydraulics will introduce you to the theory of open channel water flow, basic coastal and estuarine processes and sediment transport and give you an understanding of the basic design principles of engineered interventions and the social, environmental and economic implications. You will learn how to simulate scenarios numerically and physically in the laboratory and have the opportunity to compare theory to practice.

• Integrated Approach to Design of Structures

  This module will deepen your knowledge of the creative and complex interdisciplinary nature of the structural design process. A group design project will bolster your existing knowledge of construction materials, analysis (structural, geotechnical and hydraulic) and member design. You will enhance your ability to design a structural system, underpinned by critical appraisal of a client brief and other considerations such as functionality, safety and stability, buildability, and social and economic objectives.

• The Frozen Planet

  The Frozen Planet module examines the processes and resulting land systems associated with glacial and periglacial environments and explores how ice interacts with and physically shapes the landscape. You will learn about glacier motion; glacial and periglacial erosion, transport and deposition; glacial and periglacial hazards; palaeoenvironmental reconstruction; sedimentology and micromorphology; permafrost and ground ice; and periglacial slope processes. The relationships between ice and sea level change, ice and climate change, and ice and engineering will also be explored.

• Water, Sanitation and Health

  Water, Sanitation and Health explores the role of water in the transmission, distribution and control of disease, including its historical context, and categorises the main water-related diseases. You will look at sanitation, public and environmental health, current water-related agents of disease and how these may be affected by climate change. Themed workshops based on emerging water, sanitation and health issues will provide an opportunity for you to develop, debate and present on issues raised in lectures.

• Sustainable Construction

  This module will highlight the demand that construction places on finite resources and the necessity to build in a sustainable manner. You will study how building design, procurement, materials and methods of construction are related to buildings solutions at both national and international level. You’ll also evaluate and critically appraise benchmarks for sustainable construction.

• Hydrology and Pollutant Transport

  The Hydrology and Pollutant Transport module introduces you to the fundamentals of surface and groundwater hydrology, focusing on precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, discharge, groundwater recharge, groundwater storage and groundwater flow. You will look at pollutant transport dynamics with a focus on pollutants in surface and groundwaters generated by human activities. The module places these topics in the context of the UK water industry structure, international legal and policy frameworks, and integrated catchment management.

• Current Topics in Aquatic Environments

  In this module you will examine the major environmental processes that are important to aquatic habitats such as rivers, coasts and marine ecosystems. Site visits will facilitate the critical evaluation of selected aquatic habitats so you can gain an understanding of anthropogenic impacts – for example climate change, renewable energy and over-exploitation of resources – as well as natural disturbances, and explore opportunities for mitigation and restoration of disturbed sites.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Meet the team 

Dr. Friederike Gunzel, course leader

“I have come to civil engineering from a background in geology, which gives me a view of the subject from a different angle. I try to pass this on to my students to broaden their horizon and to prepare them for their careers where they will work with professionals from many different backgrounds.

“I always think it is extremely important for students to understand the basic principles of a subject and be then able to apply these principles to problems given to them. To achieve this I give students a hands-on approach with lab classes, field days and exercises. I also use specialised software for my teaching. During my classes I like to engage my students in discussions where they can apply the theory taught in class, explore different options and practice critical thinking.

“I expect my students to engage in the subject, read the background material (relevant chapters from the reading list) each week and attempt their exercises every week. I am always open for questions from students to make sure they receive all the support they need.”

Course fees

This course offers a professional placement (sandwich) year in year 3. If you choose to take this placement you will pay a reduced fee during this year. For students starting their undergraduate degree in the 2025–26 academic year, the fee for the professional placement year is £1,500 for UK students and £1,850 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases in line with inflation.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Brighton Boost – cost of living help for our new undergrad students. Find out about how we can help with your study, accommodation or travel costs and more...
• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• Read our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf) for more on University of Brighton tuition fees.

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