Intro

Civil engineers don’t just build roads, they contribute much of the  built environment we see around us, including planning and developing railway networks and even helping to protect our coastlines by designing sea walls and harbours.

Our Civil Engineering BEng(Hons) course will develop the skills you need to become a highly skilled civil engineer. You’ll work in interdisciplinary project teams on industry-based scenarios, from design briefs to real-world case studies.

You’ll learn with staff active in research and consultancy. Our Industrial Advisory Board share their expertise with you and offer invaluable advice and networking opportunities.

Our Civil Engineering MEng degree offers an extra year of study at masters level.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code H201

Full-time 3 years
With placement year 4 years

Accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM)

What are my next steps?

Apply now with UCAS for 2025

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBB–BCC (120–104 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DDM–DMM. You will be considered if your predicted grades fall above or within this range.

A-level maths, or its equivalent, is normally a requirement for entry. BTEC should include at least an M in further maths. 

International Baccalaureate
26 points, with three subjects at Higher level. Higher level subjects to include maths at grade 5.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall in engineering or science diploma. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at merit or above with overall distinction profile. Must achieve maths level 3 units at distinction.

Foundation degree/HND
International foundation may be considered. Applicants with an HND may be considered for year 2 entry.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits, or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

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.

View our English language courses

For pre-sessional English 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.

Contextual 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 about contextual admissions.

Graphic with the text 'Potential + possibility'

Course content

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 Guide 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.
  • Accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators.
  • Specialist facilities including concrete lab, dynamics lab, hydraulics lab, soils lab, and wave tank room.
  • Option of a salaried placement year to build your experience and confidence.
  • Learn Building Information Modelling (BIM) and gain a professional advantage.
  • Shared first year with the option to transfer and specialise in Civil with Environmental Engineering or Civil Engineering with Construction Management.
Students wearing hard hats and high vis jackets on a site visit

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.

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.

 

Three students walking outside carrying a total station

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

Final year

You will embark on an individual project and choose from option modules giving you the opportunity to explore areas of interest.

Projects include a multi-disciplinary group design project as well as the design and build of a simple small-scale structure which you test in the lab.

Modules

  • Individual Project 
  • Design of Steel Structures
  • Integrated Approach to Design of Structures

Options*

  • Dynamics of Structures
  • Geotechnical Engineering 2
  • 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

Meet the team

Dr Imran Rafiq, Dean of the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering.

My research focuses on quantifying deterioration in structures, and how this impacts on their performance.

I am a firm believer of enquiry-led learning, which is reflected in the way I teach. My teaching activities are designed to engage students through practical work (using coursework, group projects, workshops and tutorials). 

I strongly believe that we cannot develop successful engineers unless we embed our latest research into teaching. My lecture materials incorporate the latest research and reflect the current thinking, best practice industry guidelines, and codes of practice. I link the subject’s theory to real-life examples, making it easy for the students to appropriately visualise the importance of the topic and engage actively in the class.

Dr Imran Rafiq

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Careers

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 www.jbm.org.uk for further information and details of Further Learning programmes for CEng.

As part of this accreditation, we have achieved AHEP 4 standard meaning that our degrees meet the requirements of the Engineering Council’s Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (Fourth Edition) in engineering, in line with the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence.

JBM accrediting bodies logo montage 2023

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, and network with industry representatives.
  • 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.
Student testing some concrete

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.

Take a virtual tour of the civil engineering lab space

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 

If you achieve the required standard in year 2, you can choose to progress directly to the third year of the MEng and study towards a masters-level qualification.

We have opportunities for further study at postgraduate level in this field.

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 about our Careers Service...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Employable

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,535 GBP

International (full-time) 17,250 GBP

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

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 are included and any extras that you may be expected to pay 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.

Architecture, interior architecture, design and product design additional costs

  • 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.

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Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

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.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

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 there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

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 about how we support your wellbeing.

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.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

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.

Course specification

Course specifications are the approved description of each course. They contain a breakdown of the content and structure of the course, learning outcomes and assessment. Course specs are updated following course changes.

Course specification

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