Course summary
A Brighton Civil Engineering degree (with Integrated Foundation Year) prepares you to design, plan and build the vital infrastructure that keeps communities connected and safe — roads, bridges, water systems, railways and more. At Brighton you’ll become part of a welcoming, supportive community that helps you grow, no matter what your background. This course starts with a foundation year to build core skills if you don’t yet meet the standard entry requirements. Once you pass that year, you move seamlessly into the full civil engineering degree, giving you the confidence, knowledge and tools to succeed. Brighton graduates go on to work in civil engineering consultancies, construction firms, infrastructure agencies, water companies and local or national government. Some continue to specialise further or progress to postgraduate study or chartered engineering pathways. Top reasons to choose this course
- Start your degree with confidence – the foundation year builds your knowledge in maths, science and engineering principles, preparing you for success in the full BEng course.
- Ideal for a wide range of backgrounds – perfect if you don’t have the required A-level subjects, are changing career or returning to education.
- Smooth progression to an accredited degree – successfully completing the foundation year guarantees entry to the Civil Engineering BEng(Hons), accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) for professional recognition.
- Excellent career prospects – Brighton’s civil engineering courses rank 2nd in the UK for student satisfaction and 12th for graduate prospects (Complete University Guide).
- Industrial Advisory Board support – benefit from expert advice, networking opportunities and one-to-one meetings with professionals to help you plan your career and secure placements.
- Hands-on learning from the start – work on real-world engineering problems and develop practical skills in specialist labs including concrete, hydraulics and soils.
- Industry-focused projects – take part in initiatives like the Engineering for People Design Challenge to help solve global infrastructure challenges.
- Expert teaching and industry links – learn from academics with consultancy experience and benefit from advice and networking through our Industrial Advisory Board.
- Placement opportunities – choose an optional paid placement year to gain valuable experience with leading employers such as Balfour Beatty, Mott MacDonald and South East Water.
- Pathway to further study – progress to our Civil Engineering MEng for an extra year at masters level or explore specialist postgraduate degrees.
- Shared first year with flexibility to transfer to Civil with Environmental Engineering or Civil Engineering with Construction Management.
Modules
Foundation year Your foundation year builds the core maths, science and mechanics you need for engineering. You’ll progress from algebra to calculus, explore physics and electromagnetism through labs and tutorials, and learn how forces and motion shape mechanical systems. You will finish with a team project that develops your research, problem-solving and presentation skills so you’re ready for year one. Core modules Core Mathematics Core Science Engineering Mathematics Engineering Science Mechanics Foundation Year Project Year 1 In your first year, you’ll build the core skills that shape every civil engineer. You will learn how to survey land and construction sites, analyse simple structures and understand how materials like concrete, steel and timber behave in real conditions. You’ll explore soil mechanics and geology through labs and fieldwork, and develop the maths and statistics needed for engineering problem-solving. You will also learn how the profession works – from sustainability to safety – and collaborate with others on the Engineering for People Design Challenge to apply your learning to real communities. Core modules Land and Construction Surveying Structural and Stress Analysis Construction Materials Engineering Geology and Soil Mechanics Mathematics for Civil Engineering Civil Engineering Practice Year 2 In your second year, you will push your engineering skills further and take on more advanced design challenges. You’ll learn how structures behave under load, how materials and construction methods shape real projects, and how to design reinforced concrete safely and sustainably. You will build confidence with numerical modelling and programming in computational mechanics, deepen your understanding of soil behaviour for foundations and earthworks, and explore hydraulics through hands-on lab work. Group design tasks help you apply these skills to a simplified structure, strengthening your teamwork and preparing you for industry or placement. Core modules Construction Methods and Technology Structural Analysis Concrete Technology and Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures Geotechnical Engineering 1 Hydraulics Computational Mechanics Optional Placement Year You can choose a salaried professional placement after your second year to gain hands-on experience in the civil engineering industry. This year allows you to apply your academic knowledge to real-world projects, develop technical and professional skills, and build valuable industry contacts. The placement enhances your employability and confidence, giving you a competitive edge when starting your career. Final year In your final year, you’ll complete an individual research project and advanced design modules, focusing on steel structures and integrated structural design. You can tailor your studies with option modules covering hydraulics, geotechnical engineering, dynamics of structures, sustainable construction, environmental impact assessment and building information modelling. This year develops your specialist knowledge, practical design skills and project management expertise to prepare you for professional practice. Core modules BEng 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.
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Foundation
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 72 - 80 points
A level - DDD
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MMP
Access to HE Diploma
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H4, H4, H4, H4
GCSE/National 4/National 5
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5. in each element, or equivalent English Language qualification. |
Review our English Language requirements
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Year 1 |
| EU | £17250 | Year 1 |
| International | £17250 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT
