12Jan
UndergraduateUniversity of Brighton has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
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Course summary
A Brighton Civil Engineering MEng 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 MEng degree, giving you the confidence, knowledge and tools to succeed at masters level. 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 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 MEng 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 MEng, accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) for professional recognition.
- Pathway to chartered status – the MEng route provides the academic foundation for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
- 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 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
Foundation year Your foundation year builds the core maths, science and mechanics you need for engineering. You will progress from algebra to calculus, explore physics and electromagnetism through lab work and tutorials, and learn how forces and motion shape mechanical systems. You’ll 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 Mechanics Core Science Engineering Mathematics Engineering Science Foundation Year Project Year 1 You’ll build the core skills that shape every civil engineer, learning how to survey land and construction sites, analyse simple structures and understand how concrete, steel and timber behave in real conditions. You’ll explore soil mechanics and geology and develop the maths and statistics needed for engineering problem-solving. You will also learn how the profession works – from sustainability to safety – and take part in the Engineering for People Design Challenge. 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 You’ll take on advanced design challenges, learn how structures behave under load, how materials and construction methods shape real projects and how to design reinforced concrete safely and sustainably. You'll build confidence with numerical modelling and programming in computational mechanics, deepen your understanding of soil behaviour and explore hydraulics through lab work. You'll apply these skills to group design tasks to strengthen your teamwork and prepare 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 A salaried professional placement after your second year will give you hands-on experience in the civil engineering industry, allowing you to apply your academic knowledge to real-world projects, develop technical and professional skills and build industry contacts. Boosting your employability and confidence, it will give you a competitive edge when starting your career. Year 3 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 like hydraulics, geotechnical engineering, dynamics of structures, sustainable construction, environmental impact assessment and building information modelling. You'll develop your specialist knowledge, practical design skills and project management expertise. Core modules Design of Steel Structures Integrated Approach to Design of Structures Dynamics of Structures Geotechnical Engineering 2 Options* Application of Design Applied Hydraulics Building Information Modelling Project Planning and Analysis Sustainable Construction Environmental Impact Assessment Water, Sanitation and Health Final year You’ll undertake a major individual research project to demonstrate your ability to work as a civil engineering researcher and apply advanced technical knowledge to complex problems. You can choose from specialist option modules that reflect the latest industry practices and challenges. Core modules MEng Individual Project Options* Repair and Strengthening of Existing Reinforced Concrete Structures Wave Mechanics and Structural Loading Rock Mechanics Dynamics of Structures with Earthquake Engineering Applications Project Risk and Financial Analysis Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Random Vibration of Structures Transport Modelling for Civil Engineering Applications Sustainable Construction Bridge Loads and Analysis *Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.
How to apply
14Jan
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, H3, H3, H3, 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
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
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
The fees listed in the table above are for full-time UK undergraduate students in academic year 2025-26. You will pay further fees in each year of your course. Fees may increase each year. UK undergraduate and certain postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government. The annual fee increase will not exceed the UK government's maximum regulated tuition fee limit set for the relevant academic year. Many of our courses include the option of a salaried placement year. Tuition fees for a placement year are charged at a lower rate of £1850. The international tuition fees listed above are for full-time courses during the academic year 2025-26. Further tuition fees are payable in each year of study. Non-regulated tuition fees, which usually apply to international students and UK postgraduate students* are subject to an annual increase of a maximum of 5% or the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), whichever is higher.
*Some designated postgraduate courses are regulated by the UK government – the annual fee increase for eligible UK / Home students on these designated courses will not exceed the UK government’s regulated tuition fee limit set for the relevant academic year.
Provider information
University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT