Please note there are no vacancies on this course for September 2024
Please note that the part-time route of this course is no longer being offered to new applicants.
Page last updated 16 August 2024
Ideal for creative problem-solvers, this innovative, practice-led course will set you up for a varied and rewarding career. This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM). See under Features/Professional accreditation for more details.
Combining innovation and theory, civil engineers develop solutions to the world's biggest challenges.
Civil engineering is a creative and technical subject which appeals to inventive, enthusiastic problem-solvers. It opens the door to a wide range of careers, from structural engineer to project manager.
The MEng Civil Engineering course consists of core areas of structures, materials and geotechnics, with a focus on the climate emergency. You'll study these areas alongside more specialist topics such as hydrology, transport engineering, coastal engineering, geology and surveying. You'll also explore topics of international interest, such as earthquakes.
Be taught by a dedicated, diverse teaching team with a mix of industry and academic experience. Access modern, well-equipped, laboratories and industry-standard technology.
You'll apply your learning through projects based on genuine issues, giving you valuable insights into challenges you may face in your career. During the group Capstone design project you'll learn to present cross-disciplinary solutions as if to a genuine client.
And if you choose, you can develop your professional skills further through a placement year with one of our unique partner employers.
This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM). See under Features/Professional accreditation for more details.
The MEng Civil Engineering course will equip you with the knowledge and expertise to succeed in a range of disciplines. Your next step might take you into business planning; water, power, road or railway infrastructure engineering; or structural design the possibilities are boundless.
And thanks to our links with major industry employers in the South West, many of those opportunities will be right on your doorstep.
Step inside our new School of Engineering building at UWE Bristol.
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
You'll study:
You'll study:
If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work or study placement after year two.
You'll also complete a placement learning module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
You'll study:
Plus one optional module from:
*You won't study this module if you complete the placement year.
You'll study:
Plus one optional module from:
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
We tailor our teaching methods to suit the subject matter of each module. In general, you'll attend lectures and tutorials, as well as participating in field work, laboratories and group work.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:
| Year | Scheduled learning and teaching study | Independent Study | Placement Study |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29% | 71% | 0% |
| 2 | 25% | 75% | 0% |
| 3 | 20% | 80% | 0% |
| 4 | 29% | 71% | 0% |
*calculated from compulsory and option module choices (where applicable) each year.
Study this course full-time over four years or choose the five-year sandwich course and spend a year on a work or study placement.
We make sure that assessment in each module suits the topics you have studied, so it will vary across the course. Our diverse pool of assessments will include written examinations, presentations, practical examinations, coursework reports, group work and portfolios.
Learn more about assessments.
Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:
| Year | Written exam assessment | Coursework assessment | Practical exam assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36% | 54% | 10% |
| 2 | 36% | 58% | 6% |
| 3 | 40% | 44% | 16% |
| 4 | 41% | 48% | 11% |
*calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year.
This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Permanent Way Institution, on behalf of the Engineering Council, for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
See www.jbm.org.uk for further information.
This course is also professionally recognised by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). ICE works to allow our world and the people within it to thrive through engineering and infrastructure.
Students who get work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought after graduate.
If you choose the five year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work or study placement after the second year.
Placements are available with our partner employers, as well as organisations across the region. Past students have worked for water companies, local authorities, regional and international consultancies. Many of these employers have been so impressed with our placement students that they employed them on graduation.
You can also volunteer to help develop the infrastructure in developing countries through initiatives like Engineers without Borders.
Fieldwork helps you gain valuable practical experience and a number of modules include site visits.
Destinations include South Wales, the South West of England and the wider Bristol area.
You'll study in a modern building incorporating well-equipped laboratories for concrete and environmental science, hydraulics, environmental physics, earth sciences and surveying technology.
Carry out topography level surveys with our industry-standard surveying equipment.
Model and test hydrological and surface water drainage, map locations and design structures using geographic information systems (GIS) and statistical software in our computer labs.
Create and test structures in our concrete and physics labs, and explore theories in our hydraulics labs. Study and collaborate on group assignments in our teaching areas.
This mix of learning environments will give you the best chance of absorbing essential knowledge and real-world skills, so you're all set for your professional career.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a Virtual Tour of the Engineering facilities and see what's on offer here for you.
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
We provide support in the way you need it.
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Civil engineers are in high demand, with numerous opportunities overseas as well as in the UK.
Graduates can choose from a range of disciplines. From geotechnical or civil engineering through to transport engineering, this qualification opens up extensive employment possibilities.
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the five year course and then transfer to the four year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible for BEng(Hons) Civil Engineering or BEng(Hons) Civil Engineering (with Foundation Year).
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
If you have HND or FdSc qualifications in closely related subjects, you may be able to join the course in the Year two. If you have an HNC or other cognate qualifications, you may be credited with individual modules, which will shorten the course for you.
Read more about entry requirements.
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
International/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333
International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644