BEng Hons in Civil Engineering with Construction Management

At the University of Brighton, we believe the best engineers are made through hands-on experience. This programme is designed to immerse you in the real world of civil engineering and construction from day one, using our industry-standard facilities to bridge the gap between theory and practice. You'll tackle authentic challenges, use professional software, and learn to manage projects just as you would in your future career, ensuring you graduate with the confidence and skills that top employers are looking for.

Your learning will be brought to life through a variety of practical activities:

• Specialist Engineering Laboratories: You'll gain hands-on experience in our heavy structures lab, geotechnics lab, and hydraulics lab, testing materials and soil mechanics and analysing the behaviour of structures and water flow.

• Industry-Standard Software: Develop vital digital skills using the same professional software used in industry, including AutoCAD for drafting, Revit for Building Information Modelling (BIM), and Tekla Tedds for structural analysis and design.

• Live Construction Projects: Apply your management skills to real-world scenarios through group projects that often involve live briefs from our industry partners, tackling the planning, budgeting, and logistical challenges of a real construction project.

• Field Trips and Site Visits: See theory in action through regular visits to major infrastructure and building sites across the South East, observing construction management techniques, ground engineering, and health and safety protocols on live projects.

• Optional Placement Year: Gain a significant competitive edge by applying for a salaried professional placement year, building your CV and professional network with companies like Balfour Beatty, Costain, or local consulting firms.

• The Digital Design Studio: Collaborate on projects in our dedicated computing suites, equipped with the latest design and project management software, mirroring a modern professional engineering office environment.

Graduating with this unique dual-focused degree positions you perfectly to become a future leader in the construction industry, equipped to both design and deliver major projects. Your combined expertise in civil engineering principles and construction management makes you incredibly valuable to consultancies, contractors, and client organisations, opening doors to a wide range of dynamic and well-remunerated careers. You'll be the essential link between the design office and the construction site, ensuring projects are not only creatively designed but also brilliantly built.

The typical, high-demand career paths our graduates pursue include:

• Site Engineer / Manager: Overseeing operations on site, setting out, and ensuring technical accuracy for contractors like Balfour Beatty or Costain.

• Graduate Civil Engineer (Design & Build): Working with multidisciplinary consultancies that offer a 'design and build' service, leveraging your understanding of both design and construction practicality.

• Project Manager: Planning and executing construction projects, managing resources, timelines, and budgets from inception to completion.

• Commercial Manager: Focusing on the financial and contractual aspects of projects, including cost planning, procurement, and claims management.

Your journey to these roles is powered by the university's dedicated Careers Service, which offers bespoke support including one-to-one CV and interview advice sessions tailored to the engineering and construction sectors, and networking events through our annual Engineering and Technology Fair where you can meet top employers.

The programme's strength is amplified by the University's excellent industry partnerships. We have strong links with major local and national employers like Balfour Beatty, Southern Water, and the Costain Group, who contribute to course development, provide guest lectures, and offer valuable placement opportunities.

This industry connection is a key reason why the University of Brighton is ranked in the top 50 in the UK for General Engineering (The Guardian University Guide 2024), demonstrating strong graduate prospects.

The professional accreditation by the Joint Board of Moderators is a critical advantage. It means your degree fully satisfies the academic requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status and provides the foundation for you to later pursue Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. This accreditation is highly valued by employers and significantly enhances your career authority, earning potential, and long-term progression into senior roles.

Further Academic Progression:

Your BEng provides a perfect springboard for advanced study. Many graduates choose to pursue a Masters degree (MSc) to specialise further or to meet the full academic requirements for Chartered Status. The University of Brighton offers relevant courses such as an MSc in Civil Engineering. For those interested in research and innovation, there are also opportunities to pursue a PhD, contributing to the university's research in areas like sustainable construction or geotechnics.