Course summary
Civil engineers shape the world we live in, from roads and railways to sea walls and harbours. At Brighton, this degree equips you with technical knowledge and practical skills to design, plan and manage essential infrastructure projects. You’ll learn through hands-on experience in specialist labs, fieldwork and site visits, and work on real-world projects such as the Engineering for People Design Challenge. Our strong industry links, guest lectures and Industrial Advisory Board ensure your learning reflects current practice. Brighton graduates progress to careers with civil engineering consultancies, construction firms, infrastructure agencies and government bodies or continue to postgraduate study and chartered pathways. Top reasons to choose this course
- Accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) – 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).
- Excellent career prospects – Brighton’s civil engineering courses are rank 2nd in the UK for student satisfaction and 12th for graduate prospects (Complete University Guide 2026).
- 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.
- Learn Building Information Modelling (BIM) – gain a professional advantage with digital design skills.
- Industry-focused learning – interdisciplinary projects, site visits and guest lectures from professionals.
- 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 and industry-led modules delivered by partners such as Mott MacDonald.
- 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, Laing O’Rourke and South East Water.
- Shared first year with flexibility to transfer to Civil with Environmental Engineering or Civil Engineering with Construction Management.
Modules
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 options such as 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 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:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 104 - 120 points
A level - BCC - BBB
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DDM - DDD
Access to HE Diploma - M: 30 credits
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 26 points
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3, H3
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
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit 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
