Civil Engineering BEng

Course overview

Civil engineering is shaping the built environment that surrounds us every day. Roads, railways, hospitals, offices, schools, infrastructure, water and power supply – we depend on civil engineers to design and manage the projects that improve the world we live in and protect the natural environment.

This JBM-accredited degree develops civil engineers who actively contribute to sustainable and economic growth whilst maintaining the highest ethical standards and delivering the infrastructure we all rely on in everyday life.

At Leeds, sustainable development is integrated into teaching and learning throughout the degree. You'll focus on design and engineering projects which minimise society’s impact on the environment, reduce the temporary borrowing of finite materials and resources, while maximising societal benefit. You’ll also develop and fine-tune theoretical and practical abilities and learn to solve problems using analytical, technical and decision-making skills – all attributes sought after by employers in industry.

This is a practical course, so you’ll also have access to excellent laboratory facilities and a design studio, as well as extensive library facilities and computing equipment, including industry-standard software such as Revit (Building Information Modelling), IES (dynamic thermal modelling) and Robot (structural analysis). Our impressive laboratory facilities include specialist facilities for structures, materials, public health engineering, building services and geotechnics – everything you need to get started on your career as a civil engineer.

Qualified civil engineers are in demand across the construction sector. Exciting roles are also found working for consultancies, local authorities, government departments, utility companies and environmental organisations in the UK and internationally.

Why study at Leeds:

• This course is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM).
• Work on your own construction design projects to solve real-world problems, putting into practice what you have learned, building scale physical models and developing graphical presentation and computer modelling skills using industry-standard software.
• Benefit from our globally-renowned research here at Leeds, which feeds directly into your course and shapes what you learn with the latest thinking in addressing societal, technical and environmental challenges with infrastructure around the world.
• Take part in valuable fieldwork opportunities to apply your knowledge and practical skills outside of the lab and classroom.
• Access specialist facilities including our new design studio, computing laboratories and extensive study spaces.
• Develop your experience and boost your career prospects with our industrial placement opportunities.
• All degree courses within the School of Civil Engineering share a common first year, which gives you the flexibility to switch between these courses at the end of your first year.
• At the end of your first or second year, there’s the possibility of transferring to the four-year integrated Masters (MEng, BEng), subject to performance on the course.
• Our Civil Engineering Society (CivSoc) gives you the chance to meet like-minded people who share your passion for civil engineering with industrial networking events and site visits to build your experience and connections in the field, alongside exciting social events like paintballing and the annual CivSoc Ball.

Related courses

Want to give your CV that competitive edge? Take a look at our degree that includes an industrial placement year, giving you the opportunity to build key professional skills and gain invaluable work experience that could set you apart in the jobs market when you graduate.

Accreditation

Joint Board of Moderators

Accreditation is the assurance that a university course meets the quality standards established by the profession for which it prepares its students.

This course is professionally accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) on behalf of the Engineering Council. The JBM represents the five main professional bodies in the UK registering Civil Engineers, including the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Permanent Way Institution (PWI), Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE), and The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT).

This BEng degree is accredited as fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng), and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Course details

This course lets you sample the whole breadth of civil engineering, with opportunities to specialise as you progress. You’ll study all the major subjects that you need to master as a civil engineer, such as structures, fluids, geotechnics, materials, communications, environmental impact, surveying and mathematics – all reinforced with world-class research and practice. You’ll be exploring creative design issues in practical, real-world project settings.

Every degree course within the School of Civil Engineering shares a common first year. You’ll complete six compulsory modules across the range of programmes offered, giving you a firm basis on which to specialise in later years, and the flexibility to switch between courses.

Ethics plays an integral role in the engineering practices of today, which is why you’ll study engineering ethics as part of your course. Covering a wide range of topics such as professionalism and codes of conduct, corporate social responsibility, engineering and responsibility, ethics in innovation and research ethics.

The ethics training will advance your critical thinking, communication and creative problem-solving skills which are crucial to employers, but it will also help you identify and respond effectively to ethical dilemmas that you may encounter in your professional life in the engineering industry.

Each academic year, you'll take a total of 120 credits.

Course Structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Most courses consist of compulsory and optional modules. There may be some optional modules omitted below. This is because they are currently being refreshed to make sure students have the best possible experience. Before you enter each year, full details of all modules for that year will be provided.

For more information and a list of typical modules available on this course, please read Civil Engineering BEng in the course catalogue.

Year 1

In your first year, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of the fundamental subjects that underpin civil engineering and the materials and methods available to civil engineers in different contexts. You’ll also take a weeklong in-depth field course where you’ll get to apply the surveying and team working skills you have developed earlier in the year. This is a great opportunity to use industry-standard equipment to undertake a range of site surveys.

Compulsory modules

Architecture and Sustainability – 20 credits

Learn the history, theories and cultural context of the built environment and architecture, and its impact on people, society and environment. There’s a focus on the sustainability and environmental impact of projects and infrastructure, especially in the context of climate change.

Surveying, Construction Technology and Management – 20 credits

You’ll be introduced to construction processes and will highlight applicable codes of practice and industry standards. The module covers some aspects of management, particularly those associated with a construction project. There’s focus on surveying techniques including use of commonly used industry equipment and technologies along with how these can be used to produce survey plans and set out structures.

Structural Analysis and Design – 20 credits

In this module, you’ll learn about the fundamental principles of structural analysis and design, which are used to determine and describe the behaviour of a variety of structural and architectural forms. On completion, you’ll have the basic skills in structural and stress analysis and design to study more advanced courses in years 2 and 3.

Materials, Water and Soils – 20 credits

You’ll get to grips with understanding the fundamentals of the behaviour of water, soil, steel and other key materials, and understand the relevance of this in relation to design of structural elements. Additional topics covered include application of fundamental mechanics principles to fluids, design and analysis of simple hydraulic structures and the geological processes that result in the formation of engineering soils.

Engineering Mathematics and Modelling 1 – 20 credits

Develop an understanding of the principles of general basic mathematical techniques relating to civil engineering. This will give you sufficient mathematical competence to manage the compulsory content of your degree.

Integrated Design Project 1 (including Design Studio 1) - 20 credits

Learn how to prepare and present building design projects in response to a brief. You’ll also learn about the constructional and structural systems, the environmental strategies, and the regulatory requirements that apply to a comprehensive design project.

Year 2

In year 2, you’ll consolidate your technical knowledge, build skills in structural design and analysis as well as engineering mathematics and modelling techniques, learn about the properties of a wide range of materials and then apply your knowledge in context with a design project. This year also allows you to choose optional modules to explore your interests and help you decide what you might choose to focus on in your third year.

Compulsory modules

Water Engineering and Geotechnics – 20 credits

Build on the knowledge you’ll gain in year 1 in geotechnics and water engineering. You’ll address ultimate load problems, discuss the concepts of fluid friction in pipes and understand the demand and requirements for water.

Engineering Mathematics and Modelling 2 – 20 credits

Throughout the course of this module, you’ll build on mathematical techniques learnt in year 1 to further your understanding of how mathematical models can be applied to real-life civil engineering problems. You’ll develop confidence in your mathematical abilities so that when mathematics arise in the solution of an engineering problem, you’re able to understand, rather than merely accept – the results.

Integrated Design Project 2 – 20 credits

On completion of this module, you’ll have increased your knowledge and understanding of the engineering design process. You’ll attain an understanding of Building Information Modelling (CAD) and a practical ability to use this type of application software.

Structural Design and Materials 1 – 40 credits

This module covers the behaviour of structures and how their design is influenced by the characteristics of structural materials. You’ll gain understanding of cement, concrete, and steel, with a focus on their relevance to buildings and civil engineering structures, the elastic analysis of statically indeterminate structures, and the design of structures in steel and reinforced concrete. You’ll learn to determine force actions in structures and how to measure and compute the solutions to complex structural stress problems. In terms of design, you'll develop an understanding of limit states and an integral view of the design process informed not just by performance specifications but also by sustainability and durability. You’ll learn to design reinforced concrete elements (slabs, beams and columns) from first principles and structural steel elements for flexure, shear and axial loads.

Highway Engineering – 10 credits

Learn the highway engineering process including planning and route location, geometric design and structural design, construction, condition monitoring, and maintenance.

Optional modules

Please note: The modules listed below are indicative of typical options.

• Transport Planning and Modelling 1 – 10 credits
• Sustainable Engineering Solutions – 10 credits
• Data and Research methods for Engineers – 10 credits
• Building Physics 1: Fundamental Principles – 10 credits

Year 3

You’ll benefit from a greater variety of optional modules in year 3, allowing you to focus on topics such as transport or public health engineering. Core modules will help you to enhance and refine your skills in structural analysis and design, as well as building your knowledge of key topics like water engineering and foundation engineering and allowing you to complete a substantial research project.

You may also take part in a weeklong “Constructionarium” field course where, in teams, you’ll plan, manage and execute the construction of a scaled-down real construction project under site conditions. Previously, students have worked on replicas of the Millau Viaduct, Kingsgate Bridge, Ravenspurn Oil Rig, Brewery Wharf Footbridge and the Gherkin.

This brings together many aspects of what you’ve studied to allow you to fully appreciate the planning and execution involved in managing contractors, health and safety and delivering to a client’s deadline.

Compulsory modules

Water Engineering and Geotechnics 2 – 20 credits

You'll cover the principals for water engineering and geotechnics gained in years 1 and 2. You’ll develop the concepts of integrated river management and examine the use of numerical methods in open channel flow. In respect to geotechnics, this module will build on the understanding of soil to cover the range of foundations available for structures, including shallow foundations such as strip, pad and raft foundations, deep foundations such as caissons, shafts and piles; and composite foundations such as piled rafts. It will cover the approach to design, analysis and construction.

Structural Design and Materials 2 – 20 credits

Build the knowledge acquired in the first two years to develop a more profound understanding of steel and concrete structures complemented by an introduction to more complex structural analysis methods (stiffness matrix method, plastic analysis, finite element analysis). You'll learn to design multi-storey buildings, considering advanced aspects such as progressive collapse, sway stability, bracing, and connections. In relation to concrete, this module covers the technological principles and the analysis of prestressed concrete elements, and you'll learn to design prestressed structural elements. You'll also gain an understanding of masonry and timber construction including the specification of alternative forms of masonry and different species of timber and forms of timber construction.

Integrated Design Project 3 – 40 credits

On completion of this module, you should be able to undertake a feasibility study of a civil engineering project considering various aspects, resulting in a recommended general scheme, followed by an element of detailed design, demonstrating that the proposal is practicable. This module includes further CAD-thread teaching, providing you with an understanding of software used in route alignments, and a practical ability to use this and other software in drawing production.

Individual Research Project 1 – 20 credits

This module requires you to choose one aspect of civil engineering and develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of it. This will include the underlying principles and an awareness of current and future developments within a chosen field of research. You’ll hone independent learning and research skills, critical analysis, self-direction and decision making.

Wastewater Engineering – 10 credits

The main objectives of this module are to understand the design and operational concepts behind wastewater treatment and the collection of sewage, and to understand the options available for the treatment and disposal of sewage sludge. You’ll learn how to apply mathematical and statistical methods, tools, and notions to the above, and develop the ability to analyse performance of different wastewater systems.

Optional modules

Please note: The modules listed below are indicative of typical options.

• Transport Planning and Modelling 2 – 10 credits
• Environmental Health Engineering in Developing Countries – 10 credits
• Highway Engineering 2 – 10 credits
• Computational Methods for Civil Engineering – 10 credits
• Building Physics 2: Services Design – 10 credits
• Engineering Geology – 10 credits
• Architectural History and Theory 3 - 10 credits

Project work

Civil engineers work on projects that combine skills and knowledge to deliver a solution to a client, so we place a strong emphasis on project work throughout the degree. This gives you the opportunity to explore your subject further as well as developing valuable skills in problem solving, design, project management, communication and teamwork.

One-year optional work placement

During your course, you’ll be given the opportunity to advance your skill set and experience further. You can apply to undertake a one-year industrial work placement which will extend your degree by 12 months.

Learning and teaching

You’ll benefit from our integrated style of learning and teaching. Laboratory classes, project work, and industry-sponsored fieldwork allow you to gain hands-on experience investigating and applying material from your lectures and tutorials to real-life work situations.

During your course, you’ll be involved in a range of interactive, team-based study, informed by sector-leading approaches. At every level of your programme, you’ll undertake an Integrated Design Project where you’ll bring together what you have learned across the programme to gain experience in finding design solutions to real-world problems. You’ll develop expertise in designing solutions that consider economic, environmental and a range of other societal and technical factors. These are often group and team projects where you'll work together successfully address the challenge.

All our courses are supported by blended learning technology, using online resources to help you develop your knowledge at your own pace. Our state-of-the-art lecture recording system ensures your lectures will be available for you to review at a convenient time. Our learning and teaching resources will equip you with in-depth knowledge and key practical skills that will put you in an ideal position to compete in science and technology-related careers.

We organise industrial visits and offer additional seminars delivered by practising engineers, researchers and other professionals. Our close links with industry also mean that you have direct contact with industry and potential employers from an early stage in your course. Each student will be allocated an industrial tutor who will provide opportunities to experience Civil Engineering working environments on and off site.

You’ll be assigned a personal tutor to guide you through your studies, and you'll receive support from fellow students through our Peer-Assisted Study Support (PASS) scheme. PASS mentors are students who are on your course but are in the years above. They’ll help you when you arrive at university and throughout your first year. You’ll meet your PASS mentors during your first week for a social activity.

Taster lecture

Watch our taster lecture to get a flavour of what it’s like to study at Leeds:

• Civil Engineering in the 21st Century

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed through a range of approaches, including assessments that closely match the type of work and tasks you might undertake in a professional work environment. This will include assessment through project work and written examinations (both open and closed book), and through coursework in the form of reports, projects, presentations and posters.

Assessments will support you in developing key transferable skills. Many of your submissions will be submitted digitally through our extensive virtual learning environment.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAB with an A in Mathematics.

Where an A-Level Science subject is taken, we require a pass in the practical science element, alongside the achievement of the A-Level at the stated grade.

Excludes A-Level General Studies or Critical Thinking.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and International Project Qualification (IPQ): We recognise the value of these qualifications and the effort and enthusiasm that applicants put into them, and where an applicant offers an A in the EPQ/IPQ/ASCC we may make an offer of ABB at A-Level (any required subjects such as Mathematics must still be at grade A).

All applicants must be studying Mathematics at level 3. For most students, this requirement is fulfilled by achieving the required grade in A-level Maths. Applicants for whom this requirement is to be fulfilled via qualifications other than A-levels (eg BTEC Maths and Additional/Further Maths modules) may be required to take a diagnostic Maths test in addition to their other level 3 maths studies. This is to ensure a suitable level of mathematical literacy.

GCSE: English Language at grade 4 or above, or an appropriate English language qualification. We will accept Level 2 Functional Skills English in lieu of GCSE English.

Alternative qualification

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds A Level offer: BBB including Mathematics.

For alternative qualification offers please contact the admissions team.

Foundation years

If you do not have the formal qualifications for immediate entry to one of our degrees, you may be able to progress through a Foundation Year. A Foundation Year is the first year of an extended degree. We’ve designed these courses for applicants whose backgrounds mean they are less likely to attend university and who don’t meet the typical entry requirements for an undergraduate degree.

We offer a Studies in Science with Foundation Year BSc for students without science and mathematics qualifications.

You could also study our Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year BSc which is for applicants whose background is less represented at university.

On successful completion of your Foundation Year, you will be able to progress onto your chosen course.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each section. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

International: £32,250 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
In November 2024 the UK Government announced that the tuition fee cap may rise to £9,535 from £9,250.

The tuition fee cap for some foundation years may also reduce to £5,760 from £9,250.

This would start from the academic year 2025/26. However, this is subject to final confirmation from the Government. Once available, we’ll publish the fees for the 2025/26 academic year and individual offer letters shall be updated via email and post.

The foundation year courses affected are:
·         Business Studies with Foundation Year BSc
·         Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year BA
·         Interdisciplinary Studies with Preparation for Higher Education BA
·         Social Science (foundation year) BA

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 and 2025/26 are available on individual course pages.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.
 

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Additional cost information

Standard travel and accommodation costs associated with compulsory field trips are covered by the University. However, you must pay for subsistence, incidental or personal expenses such as suitable clothing and footwear.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Applying

Apply to this course and check the deadline for applications through the UCAS website.

We may consider applications submitted after the deadline. Availability of courses in UCAS Extra will be detailed on UCAS at the appropriate stage in the cycle.

Admissions guidance

Read our admissions guidance about applying and writing your personal statement.

What happens after you’ve applied

You can keep up to date with the progress of your application through UCAS.

UCAS will notify you when we make a decision on your application. If you receive an offer, you can inform us of your decision to accept or decline your place through UCAS.

How long will it take to receive a decision

We typically receive a high number of applications to our courses. For applications submitted by the January UCAS deadline, UCAS asks universities to make decisions by mid-May at the latest.

Offer holder events

If you receive an offer from us, you’ll be invited to an offer holder event. This event is more in-depth than an open day. It gives you the chance to learn more about your course and get your questions answered by academic staff and students. Plus, you can explore our campus, facilities and accommodation.

International applicants

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students.

We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Read about visas, immigration and other information here.

If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

Contact us

School of Civil Engineering Undergraduate Admissions

Email: ugcivil@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

There are a variety of exciting career opportunities awaiting you when you graduate – from some of the largest construction organisations in the world to specialist building design consultancies and multi-disciplinary firms.

Civil engineering graduates are in great demand and University of Leeds students are among the top 5 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2024, High Fliers Research.

Typically, the majority of graduates each year secure careers in the core contracting and consulting arms of the civil engineering industry. The technical, communication and management skills you'll develop are also in demand from other sectors such as international finance, investment banking and large-scale project management.

Here’s an insight into the job roles some of our most recent graduates have obtained:

• Civil Engineer, AECOM
• Senior Transport Engineer, African Development Bank
• Contracts Manager, Alfred McAlpine Construction
• Global Highways Business Leader, Arup
• Project Engineer, Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Limited
• Senior Engineer, Capita Infrastructure
• Senior Engineer, City Engineering Services - Newcastle City Council
• Civil/Structural Engineer, Harris & Sutherland
• Principal Structural Engineer, Highways Agency
• Consulting Engineer, Jacobs UK Ltd
• Civil Engineer, Mott Mcdonald
• Head of Track & Civils, Network Rail
• Senior Civil Engineer, Taylor Wimpey plc
• Capital Project Manager, Thames Water

Read profiles of our alumni to find out more about where some of our graduates are working.

Careers support

At Leeds we help you to prepare for your future from day one. Our Leeds for Life initiative is designed to help you develop and demonstrate the skills and experience you need for when you graduate. We will help you to access opportunities across the University and record your key achievements so you are able to articulate them clearly and confidently.

You'll be supported throughout your studies by our dedicated Employability Team, who will provide you with specialist support and advice to help you find relevant work experience, internships and industrial placements, as well as graduate positions. You’ll benefit from timetabled employability sessions, support during internships and placements, and presentations and workshops delivered by employers.

Explore more about your employability opportunities at the University of Leeds.

You'll also have full access to the University’s Careers Centre, which is one of the largest in the country.

Study abroad and work placements

Study abroad

This BEng degree does not offer the option to study abroad. However, our Civil Engineering MEng, BEng degree has this option.

Work placements

An industrial placement year is a great way to help you decide on a career path when you graduate. You’ll develop your skills and gain a real insight into working life in a particular company or sector. It will also improve your employability and help you to stand out in a competitive graduate jobs market.

Benefits of a work placement year:

• 100+ organisations to choose from, both in the UK and overseas
• Build industry contacts within your chosen field
• Our close industry links mean you’ll be in direct contact with potential employers
• Advance your experience and skills by putting the course teachings into practice
• Gain invaluable insight into working as a professional in this industry
• Improve your employability

If you decide to undertake a placement year, this will extend your period of study by 12 months and, on successful completion, you'll be awarded the ‘industrial’ variant in your degree title to demonstrate your added experience to future employers.

With the help and support of our dedicated Employability Team, you can find the right placement to suit you and your future career goals.

Here are some examples of placements our students have recently completed:

• BAM Nuttall
• JBA Bentley
• Holdgate Consulting
• Mott MacDonald
• Laing O’Rourke

Find out more about Industrial placements.