BEng Civil Engineering

Curriculum renewal

We are undertaking an ongoing curriculum renewal, which may result in changes to this degree programme.

The renewal is being carried out with:

• industrial partners
• accreditation bodies
• our students

This renewal makes sure we equip you for an exciting career in the ever-changing world of engineering.

Year 1

Engineers are creative problem-solvers. They are skilled at working in interdisciplinary teams to deal with society's ever more complex challenges.

Introductory courses

In Year 1, you will take introductory courses and develop skills that you will later rely on as a professional engineer, including:

• confidence
• critical thinking
• teamwork
• problem-solving skills

Engineering Principles

In this course, you will experience a wide range of challenges and develop essential engineering skills. Plus, you will understand the subject's breadth, as well as the role of your chosen discipline.

Engineering Design

In this course, you will work as part of a team on an interdisciplinary engineering task. You will get involved in design and use your engineering judgement to test your solution.

Additional courses

You will also study mathematical topics that have particular relevance to engineers.

You will choose courses from across the University to complement your engineering studies, with options available in the sciences, arts and humanities.

Year 2

In Year 2, you will take courses across the breadth of Civil and Environmental Engineering, to prepare you to take more specialised courses in later years. We will introduce you to:

• structural mechanics
• engineering materials
• soil and rock mechanics and engineering geology
• fluid mechanics
• environmental engineering and aspects of sustainability afforded through infrastructure
• engineering mathematics
• land surveying

You will also have the opportunity to choose Engineering optional courses covering, amongst others, fire safety engineering, programming, and ethics, as well as courses from outside of Engineering to broaden your general knowledge.

Year 3

You will focus entirely on the study of core materials in civil engineering, such as construction management, structural engineering, and sustainability and design, plus two courses of your choice in relevant specialisms.

This is when you can begin to focus on your particular interests.

Progression routes

At the end of Year 3, you will have the option to complete one more year for a BEng degree, or a further two years for an MEng degree.

The latter is subject to you achieving an average of 55% or higher in Year 3.

Year 4

You will take a mix of compulsory and optional advanced courses to deepen your fundamental knowledge of civil engineering and any of technical specialisation streams.

You will undertake a substantial design project supported by experienced industrialists.

A third of your final year credits are allocated to your honours thesis. The thesis should be an original study of a challenging engineering problem.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2023/24)

Our facilities

In Year 1, the majority of your learning will take place at the King’s Buildings campus, depending on courses selected. The King’s Buildings campus is around 15 minutes from central Edinburgh by bus or bike.

You may also study at various University campus locations in the vibrant city of Edinburgh, depending on the option courses selected.

Access to facilities

You can access the University's:

• libraries
• study spaces (some study spaces are open 24 hours)
• IT facilities
• social spaces
• leisure facilities
• the brand-new shared learning, teaching and social hub, the Nucleus

Take a virtual tour of our school

You can take a closer look at the School of Engineering and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Virtual visit – School of Engineering

Study abroad

In Year 3, you will have exciting opportunities to study abroad through the University's international exchange programmes.

Many of our students spend their third year abroad in Europe or further afield gaining invaluable academic and life skills.

What are my choices for going abroad?

How will I learn?

The exciting nature of engineering means you will have a diverse learning experience throughout your degree.

Teaching can be through a mixture of:

• lectures
• tutorials
• laboratory sessions
• projects
• group work

In your final years, you will dedicate more time to private study. So you will need to be well-motivated and organised.

You will also receive individual supervision with final year thesis projects.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through coursework and examinations.

For detailed information you please check the Programme Structure - Degree Programme Table to see compulsory and option courses. You can find this information under 'What you will study'.

Refer to individual course details to see the types of assessment included.

Studying engineering at the University of Edinburgh prepares you for a career as a professional engineer in the UK or abroad.

All our courses meet the requirements of the UK's professional engineering bodies.

On graduating from this programme, you will have:

• core thorough knowledge
• analytical skills
• practical skills
• design skills
• communication skills

This enables you to join a design, production or research team; or move rapidly into management and leadership roles. Some of the companies our recent graduates have gone on to work in include:

• Balfour Beatty
• Deloitte
• Halcrow
• Network Rail
• UBS

Many graduates join larger companies on training agreements, which provide accelerated progression to Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Civil Engineers (usually achieved after three to six years appropriate experience and a professional review).

On the other hand, many of our graduates go on to work in other areas, including:

• the civil service
• education
• the armed forces
• the financial sector
• law

Careers Service

We support you to recognise the wealth of possibilities ahead, during your time at the University and after graduation.

Our award-winning Careers Service plays an essential part in your wider student experience and provides:

• tailored advice
• individual guidance and personal assistance
• internships and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)
• access to the experience of our worldwide alumni network

We invest in your future beyond the end of your degree and studying at the University of Edinburgh will lay the foundations for your future success.

Careers Service

Internships

We encourage you to undertake relevant work experience during your degree.

We advertise internship opportunities and arrange company presentations with the Careers Service.

We support you in developing graduate skills through our Edinburgh Award for Civil and Environmental Engineering Industrial Placements. After completion, this will be recognised on your academic transcript.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: AABB by end of S5 or AAAB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB – BBB (Revised 10 August 2023 to change entry requirement from AAA – ABB.)
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL - 32 points with 555 at HL (Revised 10 August 2023 to change entry requirement from 37 points with 666 at HL – 32 points with 555 at HL.)

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: AABB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: BBB (Revised 10 August 2023 to change entry requirement from ABB.)
• IB: 32 points with 555 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: Mathematics at A and one of Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or Engineering Science at B. Higher Applications of Mathematics is not accepted in place of Higher Mathematics. National 5s: Physics or Engineering Science at B and English at C.
• A Levels: Mathematics and one of Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science/Computing, Design & Technology (excluding Food Technology) or Engineering at B. GCSEs: Physics or Science at B or 6 and English at C or 4.
• IB: HL: Mathematics (Analysis and approaches only) and one of Physics (preferred), Biology, Chemistry, Computing Science or Design Technology at 5. SL: Physics at 5 (if not at HL) and English at 5.

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

For direct entry to second year the standard requirements must be exceeded, including the following:

• SQA Advanced Highers: AA to include Mathematics and either Physics, Engineering Science, or Technological Studies.
• A Levels: AAA in one set of exams to include Mathematics and either Physics, Engineering, or Design & Technology (excluding Food Technology), or AAB in one set of exams to include Mathematics and Further Mathematics at A and either Physics, Engineering, or Design & Technology (excluding Food Technology). (Revised 10 August 2023 to change entry requirement from A*AA / AAA.)
• IB: 37 points with 666 at HL to include Mathematics: Analysis and approaches and Physics or Design Technology at 6. (Revised 10 August 2023 to change entry requirement from 38 points with 666 at HL.)

Other entry pathways

Entry to many degrees in Science & Engineering is possible via other qualifications (eg HNC/D, Access, SWAP).

• Science & Engineering applications

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• GCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 54 in each component.

(Revised 29 August 2023 to remove PTE Academic Online)

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for BEng Civil Engineering

Additional costs

There is a surveying field trip in Year 2.

The cost is approximately £250, covering:

• transport
• accommodation
• materials
• other subsistence

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

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