BEng(Hons) Civil Engineering (with Foundation Year)
This course is open for applications.
Introduction
Get industry ready on this degree, which has high graduate employment rates and provides learning opportunities in the class room, laboratory and in the field. This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM). See under Features/Professional accreditation for more details.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study civil engineering?
Civil engineers are creative problem solvers who tackle some of the world's biggest challenges.
From the world's tallest buildings to resilient water supplies in developing countries, civil engineers work on the design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure.
This puts them in a prime position to shape the world around us, and protect and enhance our environment through the sustainable use of resources.
Why UWE Bristol?
BEng(Hons) Civil Engineering introduces you to the broad spectrum of civil and environmental engineering, with a focus on the climate emergency.
Learn about structures and materials, soil mechanics, hydraulics, hydrology and risk management. Get involved with research in transport, flooding, bridges and sustainability. You'll also explore topics of international interest, such as earthquakes.
Develop vital professional skills in management, creative skills in design and practical skills in surveying, geographical information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design (CAD).
Apply what you've learned through projects based on real-world scenarios. Complete placements provided by our partner employers and get their advice on CV-writing and interview techniques.
Gain an inside track on the profession through site visits and guest lecturers.
Where can it take me?
This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM). See under Features/Professional accreditation for more details.
This course is your first step on the path to becoming an Incorporated Engineer. By completing a programme of accredited further learning, you could also become a Chartered Engineer.
See the JBM website for further information and details of Further Learning programmes for CEng.
Careers will be varied, with opportunities in the UK and overseas in areas such as structural design, water, power, road or railway infrastructure engineering, business planning and cost forecasting.
Take a look at the Engineering building
Step inside our new School of Engineering building at UWE Bristol.
Structure
Content
You normally need to pass your foundation year before going into Year one.
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
Year zero (foundation year)
You'll study:
- Engineering Experimentation
- Foundation Group Project
- Foundation Mathematics: Algebra and Calculus
- Foundation Mechanics
- Introduction to Mechatronics.
Year one
You'll study:
- Civil Engineering Design and Technology
- Civil Engineering Field Skills and Surveying
- Construction Materials and Sustainability
- Engineering Practice 1
- Engineering Principles for Civil Engineering.
Year two
You'll study:
- Computational Civil Engineering
- Engineering Practice 2
- Engineering Research
- Hydraulics and its Applications
- Integrated Structural Engineering
- Soil Mechanics.
Placement year (if applicable)
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.
Final year
You'll study:
- Advanced Structural Analysis
- Engineering Project
- Geotechnics
- Infrastucture Design and Implemenation Project
- Professionalism for Engineers*
- Transport Engineering Design.
Plus one optional module from:
- Assessment and Mitigation of Natural and Anthropogenic Hazards
- Engineering Geology
- Traffic Management and Safety
- Water Management.
*You won't study this module if you complete the placement year.
This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.
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.
Learning and Teaching
Our lecturing staff achieve consistently high scores on the National Student Survey and provide a friendly environment for learning. They're active researchers or industrial consultants and stay aware of advances in the field.
Find out more about our School's approach to learning and teaching.
The structure of the course provides a balance between theory, practice and design.
Learn through a blend of lectures, seminars, small group work, laboratory classes, fieldwork and practical work.
Gain skills and apply knowledge through problem-based and work-based learning in project modules. Get involved in national competitions to build your skills and experience.
Attend presentations from visiting professionals to learn about industry challenges and decide which area to go into. Develop key analytical, communication and business skills that will help you succeed in the workplace.
Receive mentoring from more advanced students through our Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Showcase your work
Present your final year project work at the annual degree show.
Network with industry
Attend careers fairs and engineer 'speed dating' events to help you find work as soon as you graduate.
Take part in workshops with our partner employers and get advice on careers, CV-writing and interview techniques.
Study time
Study this course three years full-time, four years sandwich (with a placement year after year two) or five years part-time by day release.
If you're a part-time student, you'll study the same core modules as full-time students, but they'll be spread over five years.
This is a popular route as it lets you earn while you learn and your work provides a practical context for your learning. Work-based learning routes are available for some modules.
Assessment
Modules are assessed through a diverse pool of assignments, combining exams and coursework. Exams take place at the middle and end of each year.
You'll complete most coursework individually but there are some group assignments. Coursework can comprise of portfolios, essays, reports, presentations, teamwork exercises and progress tests.
We encourage you to do formative work, for example, practice tests, to prepare for assessments. This doesn't count towards your marks but feedback will help you to improve your performance.
Support is available if you have difficulties with numeracy, IT, literacy and study skills.
Features
Professional accreditation
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 partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).
Candidates must hold a masters or doctorate accredited as further learning for CEng to hold accredited qualifications for CEng registration.
See the JBM website for further information and details of Further Learning programmes for CEng.
Placements
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 placement after year two.
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 the calibre of 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
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.
Study facilities
Learn in a modern building with new studios, teaching rooms and well-equipped laboratories for concrete and environmental science, hydraulics, environmental physics, earth sciences and surveying technology.
Measure angles, distances and topography and carry out level surveys in our surveying lab.
Model and test hydrological and surface water drainage, map locations and design structures using industry-standard geographic information system (GIS) and statistical software in our computer labs.
Create and test structures in our concrete and physics labs and explore and test theories in our hydraulics labs.
Study and collaborate on group assignments in our teaching areas.
This mix of traditional and highly creative learning environments enables you to learn essential knowledge and real-world skills, standing you in good stead for your professional career.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Engineering facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Life
Accommodation
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Careers
Careers / Further study
Careers are varied, with opportunities both in the UK and overseas. Work in areas like structural design, water, power, road or railway infrastructure engineering, business planning and cost forecasting.
With the relevant work experience, you could become an Incorporated Engineer.
See the JBM website for further information and details of Further Learning programmes for CEng.
Many graduates continue studying on MSc courses, either full-time or part-time alongside their Initial Professional Development.
Several recent graduates have secured research studentships to complete an Engineering Doctorate or PhD.
Get inspired
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Fees*
Full-time; Sandwich course
Indicative Additional Costs
Supplementary fee information
*The UK Government recently proposed that tuition fees for Home students will increase by 3.1% to £9,535 from 1st August 2025. This increase is subject to Parliamentary approval and the vote is expected to take place later this year.
Any tuition fee which is impacted by this change will be updated following approval.
Please see GOV.UK for further information.
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.
Additional costs
Additional costs are for 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.
Entry
Typical offers
- Tariff points: 80
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
- English Language Requirement:
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*). *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language requirements section.
- A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: No specific subjects required.
- Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
- Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
- Welsh Baccalaureate: We accept tariff points achieved from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.
- Cambridge Technical: No specific subjects required.
- T Levels: No specific subjects required.
Entry requirements
If you exceed the entry requirements you may be eligible for BEng(Hons) Civil Engineering.
International applicants
If you are an international student your recommended route of study for this degree is through our International College, which upon successful completion to the required level and with good attendance, guarantees entry to year one of the degree.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.ukInternational/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644