Intro

We offer an integrated year at foundation level to prepare you for your degree. The foundation year gives you the support, knowledge and skills you need. Once you have successfully completed the foundation year you will progress directly onto the first year of our accredited Civil Engineering MEng(Hons).

The MEng course gives you the opportunity to explore civil engineering to master’s level. You will develop strong leadership skills and detailed scientific knowledge to prepare you for a career as a highly skilled civil engineer.

You will learn with staff active in industry, consultancy and research, with opportunities to get involved in lecturer’s research as part of your studies.

Visiting industry experts will share their experience with you and give you a feel for what the working world is like. The option of a salaried placement year and the opportunity to learn Building Information Modelling (BIM) will give you professional advantage.

There is also the opportunity to study abroad in your third year.

Open days

Book your place:
Moulsecoomb campus open day

Open days are the best way to find out about your course, the campus where you'll be based, and get a feel for the University of Brighton.

Book your place

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code H203

Full-time 5 years
With placement year 6 years

Accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM)

Apply now with UCAS for 2023

Course content

Course structure

The first year explores the fundamental elements of civil engineering. Modules become more tailored from year two. In your third and final years you will have the freedom to choose your own option modules and research project.

You will learn through lectures, tutorials, group practicals, design weeks and laboratory work. You will also take part in field courses ranging from geological studies to surveying and have the option of a placement year.

Foundation year

Your foundation year introduces you to core areas of engineering.

Modules

Core Mathematics
Core Science
Engineering Mathematics
Engineering Science
Mechanics with Geometry
Foundation Year Project

Technician talking to two civil engineering students in concrete lab

Year 1

In your first year you will explore the fundamental elements of civil 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.

Female civil engineering student using total station Dec 2021

Year 2

In your second year, you will build on the knowledge and skills you have acquired in your first year. Group project work will include working on the design of a simplified structure.

Modules

Construction Methods and Technology
Structural Analysis
Concrete Technology and Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures
Geotechnical Engineering 1
Hydraulics
Computational Mechanics

Student working with civil engineering facility for testing concrete

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 enhances your CV.

Our students have been placement in organisations including: Mackley, Laing O’Rourke, Balfour Beatty, Mott MacDonald, and South East Water.

There is also the opportunity to study abroad.

Civil engineering students making concrete

Year 3

The third year gives you flexibility to explore areas of interest. Mock interviews are conducted with industry partners to prepare you for work as part of the Design for Reinforced Concrete Structures module. Options also include application of design, which is delivered by Mott MacDonald.

Projects include study of vibration of structures and their mitigation, a multidisciplinary group design activity as well as the design and build of a simple small-scale structure which you will test in the lab.

Our optional Application of Design module is delivered by Mott MacDonald.

Modules

Design of Steel Structures
Integrated Approach to Design of Structures
Dynamics of Structures
Geotechnical Engineering 2

Options*

Application of Design
Applied Hydraulics
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Project Planning and Analysis
Sustainable Construction
Environmental Impact Assessment
Water, Sanitation and Health

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

Civil engineering concrete lab view from above

Final year

In your final year, you will embark on a major individual project. You will continue to focus on your engineering specialisms and have the freedom to choose from a range of option modules.

Module

Individual Project

Options*

Bridge Loads and Analysis
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
Dynamics of Structures with Earthquake Engineering Applications
Sustainable Construction
Wave Mechanics and Structural Loading
Rock Mechanics
Random Vibration of Structures
Repair and Strengthening of Existing Reinforced Concrete Structures
Transport Modelling for Civil Engineering Applications
Project Risk and Financial Analysis

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

Male civil engineering student with mask on mixing concrete

Our latest news

A taste of student life at our Applied Science and Engineering residential summer school

Our on campus residential summer school is open for applications from year 12 students who are thinking about applying to science and engineering courses at university.

Get ready for uni – live event 28 April

Our 2023 online get ready events will help you prepare for university and to meet other students that’ll also be joining this year.

Learn more about your chosen courses

We have a number of events for offer holders and applicants giving you the chance to chat to staff and students to help you in your decision making.

Need civil engineering career advice? We offer one-to-one meetings with industry experts

Civil engineering students studying at University of Brighton are given the opportunity to take part in 1-1 ‘surgery’ meetings with professionals that form our Industrial Advisory Board.

Careers

Accreditation

Our accreditation is being reconfirmed with the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) as part of a regular review. JBM comprises the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, the Institute of Highway Engineers and the Permanent Way Institution. We have every expectation that our accreditation will be renewed later in the academic year.

Prepare for your career

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your degree.

Our Industrial Advisory Board contributes to the content of the course to make sure it reflects industry practice

Visiting experts from industry share their insight with you and offer a chance to network

Site visits, case studies and mock interviews with industry partners all help give you a competitive edge.

You’ll have the opportunity to see live projects up-close, network with industry representative and take part in a module taught by external industry experts from Mott MacDonald.

You will undertake a group project linked to the Engineering for People Design Challenge – an Engineering Without Borders initiative that challenges students to work on global issues.

Facilities for learning

You will gain practical skills right from the word go. With access to our specialist labs and equipment and you will be supported by highly skilled and knowledgeable technicians.

We have a concrete lab, dynamics lab, heavy structure labs, hydraulics lab, soils and wave tank room, all housing specialist facilities and equipment that replicate industry.

Click to view a virtual tour of our civil engineering lab facilities.

Building Information Modelling

At Brighton, you will have the opportunity to learn Building Information Modelling (BIM). The industry standard BIM application is widely used in the UK construction industry to manage and deliver building construction projects from concept to completion. Gaining skills and experience in BIM, as part of your studies, can help to give you a professional advantage when you graduate.

You will begin to develop your knowledge and skills in BIM by gaining a comprehensive understanding of modelling a building in a 3D environment, applying contractual requirements and learning about the building lifecycle.

You will then have the opportunity to further investigate BIM's capabilities. The UK government currently states that all publicly-funded projects must now meet the BIM protocol, which has resulted in a push for a fast adoption of BIM in the industry, meaning there will be a growing demand for professionals who have BIM experience.

Students studying architectural diagrams on the computer

Graduate destinations

Our graduates are now working in organisations including the Environment Agency, Halcrow, HR Wallingford, WS Atkins, Mott MacDonald, Ove Arup, Hemsley Orrell Partnership and Southern Water.

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Further study

This degree also opens up a range of postgraduate study options. At Brighton you could progress to:

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more...

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Entry criteria

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff
80–72 UCAS tariff points. A or AS-level maths, or its equivalent, is normally a requirement for entry.

A-levels
CDD–BC or equivalent. Subjects should include maths at A or AS-level.

BTEC
MMP/DM. Maths, or its equivalent, is normally a requirement for entry.

International Baccalaureate
24 points, with two subjects at Higher level and at least Standard level maths at grade 4.

T-level
Merit in one of these T-levels. Other T-level subjects are not accepted.

Design, Surveying and Planning
Digital Production, Design and Development
Building Services Engineering for Construction
Onsite Construction
Digital Business Services
Digital Support and Services

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least five subjects including maths and a physical science. Mature students without these qualifications but with relevant industrial experience may be considered. EU students must have IELTS 5.0 plus UK AS-level equivalent qualifications including maths and physics (min grade C).

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Flexible admissions

When you apply to Brighton we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 15,300 GBP

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,410 for UK students and £2,180 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you’ll need to provide your own food and drink.
There will be opportunities to attend additional study trips or optional taught residential field trips throughout the school, but these are not required to pass your course. Normally, a contribution will be required towards expenses such as travel, entrance fees and accommodation. This will vary depending on where and how long the trip is, but you should budget around £1,500.
Where optional international field trips are offered, these are not required to pass your course. You should expect to budget £300–£500 for these, to cover flight, accommodation, food and entrance to museums. The total amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
If you choose to take an optional paid placement, you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.
Some students require specialist outdoor equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) and should budget up to £150.
You will have access to computers and necessary software; however, many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices, but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the University of Brighton.
Course books are available from the university, but you may wish to budget from £15 to £100 per year to buy your own copies and subscribe to design magazines.
In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.
Costs of up to £50 are included in the fees for students on engineering courses to pay for materials for their final year projects. On rare occasions where material costs exceed £50, they will need to be paid for by the student.

For architecture, interior architecture, design and product design, additional costs are as follow

Students should budget around £25 for printing and binding dissertations in their final year.
In your first year of studies, you will need to buy a drawing and modelling toolkit. Each course will suggest a list of items of which some will be essential, and others optional. You should budget around £100–£250 for these.
For most courses you will need to budget between £100 to £300 per year for printing and portfolio costs. Costs will vary depending on type of printer and type and size of paper used. Some students tend to work digitally, spending more on printing and some by hand, spending more on materials so these costs vary widely between students.
For most courses you will need to budget between £10 and £100 for material costs per design project. Costs will vary depending on how and what you use to make models. You are encouraged to recycle used materials where possible.
You will need to budget between £5–£50 to exhibit work for the end-of-year show. Fundraising by the student society, BIAAS, normally helps towards this cost.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you'll find new Students' Union, events venue, and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Student views

Polly Morris

I did my A-levels, which included maths, a while ago and decided I wanted to come back to studying. All this was taken into account when I applied and the university recommended I start on the Civil Engineering BEng(Hons). After my first year, my lecturer suggested I move to the MEng. There’s a really good, broad coverage of engineering in the first three years of the MEng, and in my final year I got to specialise in the areas I’m most interested in.

One of the highlights of my course has definitely been the staff; lecturers, technicians and support staff. They are so supportive, always willing to get involved and make themselves accessible to students. As students we have a real say in what happens and have a platform for feeding back our views, and things do change according to this. As part of your masters-level study there are also opportunities to get involved in some of the research and work that our lecturers are doing.

I would definitely recommend this course. One of the main reasons I chose it is that it’s very vocational. I knew that when I finished studying I wanted to be trained and ready to start in a job straight away. It’s also very practical so you get to put what you are learning into practice. The modules are run by industry and they come in and teach us, including well-known companies like Mott Macdonald.

I did a 12-week summer placement, between my third and fourth years, with Mott Macdonald and from that I now have a job there when I finish my course. I worked in the office in the design team. It’s the area I thought I wanted to work in and the placement helped to confirm it.

Stay in touch

Open days

Book your place:
Moulsecoomb campus open day

Open days are the best way to find out about your course, the campus where you'll be based, and get a feel for the University of Brighton.

Book your place

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

You may also be interested in our construction and civil engineering blog.

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to Brighton.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni enables you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Discover Uni data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course, and are updated following course changes.

Programme specification