BEng Hons Civil and Structural Engineering (with Integrated Foundation Year)

This programme is expertly designed to build your practical engineering skills and confidence from the ground up, creating a seamless pathway into degree-level studies regardless of your previous background. Your foundation year will introduce you to hands-on learning in our supportive Faculty of Engineering and Digital Technologies environment, where you'll use modern laboratories and workshops to develop core skills before progressing to more advanced facilities. This approach ensures you gain the practical experience and technical understanding needed to excel throughout your degree and into your professional career.

Here’s how you’ll develop your practical engineering skills:

• Foundation Year Workshops: You'll begin with practical sessions in our engineering workshops, developing essential hands-on skills through targeted projects and experiments that build engineering intuition.

• Introductory Software Training: You'll learn fundamental engineering software including AutoCAD for technical drawing and basic modelling tools, building digital skills that prepare you for degree-level studies.

• Laboratory Introduction: You'll gain early access to our civil engineering laboratories, with introductory sessions that help you understand testing procedures and equipment operation in a supported environment.

• Materials Testing: You'll work with basic concrete and construction materials testing equipment, learning about material properties through hands-on experimentation.

• Project-Based Learning: Your foundation year includes practical projects that develop problem-solving skills and engineering thinking, preparing you for more complex design challenges in subsequent years.

• Academic Support: You'll receive dedicated support from foundation year tutors who specialise in helping students transition successfully into degree-level engineering studies.

• Industry Visits: The programme includes introductory visits to local engineering projects and construction sites, giving you early exposure to real-world civil engineering applications.

• Progression Pathway: Upon successful completion, you'll have full access to all BEng Civil and Structural Engineering facilities for your subsequent years of study.

Graduates of Bradford’s five-year BEng Civil and Structural Engineering programme—with both a Foundation Year and a Placement Year—regularly secure roles such as Civil Engineer, Structural Design Engineer, Transport Infrastructure Consultant, or Water Systems Engineer. Because the programme delivers a solid academic base, professional experience in industry, and real-world problem-solving via the CDIO (Conceive–Design–Implement–Operate) approach, you’ll stand out in both capability and confidence.

Here’s how Bradford equips you for success:

• Career Services & Employability Support
  The Careers & Employability Services are integrated throughout the course. You’ll receive dedicated support to find part-time work, placements, and graduate positions—backed by workshops and career advisor input embedded in the curriculum.
   

• Employment Stats & Salary Figures
  The university has an impressive 97% employability rate, one of the highest nationally.
  
  LEO data shows median earnings for related civil engineering graduates are approximately:

  • £21,500 one year out

  • £26,300 by year three

  • £32,100 by year five
    
    Additionally, Discover Uni reports £28,500 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £31,000 after five years.
    
    In terms of employment type, 70% of graduates work in highly skilled roles—45% as engineering professionals, with the rest in related fields.
     

• University–Industry Partnerships
  The course follows the CDIO framework, emphasising industry collaboration from day one. The integrated Placement Year (in Year 3) gives invaluable real-world experience, and many students continue working with their placement employers through part-time roles, final-year projects, or graduate offers.
   

• Accreditation & Long-Term Professional Value
  This programme is accred ited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM)—including ICE, IStructE, CIHT, and IHE—fully satisfying the academic requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially for Chartered Engineer (CEng) (with further accredited learning required). It is also recognised by ENAEE.
   

• Graduation Outcomes & Recognition
  Bradford Civil Engineering is ranked 7th in the UK (Guardian University League Table 2022), and graduates report strong satisfaction and meaningful employment pathways.
   

Further Academic Progression:
After completing your BEng with foundation and placement years, exciting avenues open up:

• Progress naturally into the MEng Civil & Structural Engineering for a streamlined route to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
   

• Consider postgraduate study through an MSc or PhD in areas like structural dynamics, sustainable infrastructure, or transport engineering—building on Bradford’s research strengths.

• Alternatively, you’ll be excellently placed to begin your career in engineering, backed by an accredited degree, real-world experience, and strong employability credentials.