BEng Civil Engineering

This programme is built around a practical, industry-focused approach to learning, ensuring you develop the real-world skills and confidence to excel as a civil engineer from the very start of your career. You'll have access to our excellent facilities in the Millennium Point building, which houses modern civil engineering laboratories in the School of Engineering and the Built Environment, including our structures lab, concrete testing equipment, and geotechnics research apparatus. Your learning is enhanced by industry-standard software and features live project briefs from our industry partners, giving you genuine experience of current engineering challenges right here in Birmingham, a city undergoing massive regeneration.

Here’s how you’ll gain practical, industry-relevant experience:

• Industry-Standard Software: You'll gain proficiency in essential professional tools including AutoCAD for technical drawing, Revit for Building Information Modelling (BIM), and Tekla Structures for structural analysis and design.

• Live Project Work: You'll work on real-world briefs set by our industry partners, tackling current civil engineering challenges and developing solutions that meet professional standards, with many projects focused on Birmingham's urban regeneration.

• Structures Laboratory: You will conduct hands-on experiments in our dedicated structures lab, equipped with modern testing frames and a strong floor for analysing structural components and material performance.

• Concrete Technology Laboratory: You'll work with our concrete mixing and testing facilities, including non-destructive testing equipment, learning about material properties and performance characteristics.

• Geotechnical Engineering Equipment: You'll test soil properties and foundation behaviour using our advanced geotechnical testing apparatus, gaining practical insight into ground engineering principles.

Graduates of BCU’s BEng Civil Engineering typically step into roles such as site engineer, design engineer, project coordinator, or building surveyor—with strong industry readiness, helped by the fact that this course is ranked among the Top 5 in the UK for quality of teaching in civil engineering. You’ll leave with not just academic knowledge, but real-world skills employers value.

Progression & Future Opportunities:
Here’s how BCU equips you to launch (and grow) your career with confidence:

• University Services to Boost Employability

  • Professional Placement Year: You can take an optional year-long placement between years 2 and 3, tapping into BCU’s broad employer network, with some students returning to the same employers post-graduation.

  • Graduate+ Scheme & Employability Integration: Through BCU’s Graduate+ extracurricular scheme, you’ll hone essential career-readiness skills—like CV building, presentations, and portfolio work—on top of industry-linked, practice-based learning embedded in your course.

  • Work-Integrated Learning & Building Birmingham Scholarship: Positioned in a growing city, students benefit from hands-on experience via local construction projects, placements, and scholarship programmes like Building Birmingham from the City Council.

  • Ongoing Career Support: The CEBE Employability Team works alongside you to secure internships and placements in roles aligned with your course—like Mohamed’s year with Dyer & Butler or Abdo-Malek’s placement at Atkins.

• Employment Stats & Salary Figures

  • Median salary for engineering graduates from BCU stands at about £27,500, fifteen months post-grad, dipping slightly to £23,500 around year three, before returning to £27,000 by year five.

  • More broadly, engineering graduates from BCU earn approximately £30,000 at 15 months, rise to £31,500 at year three, and reach £37,000 by year five.Discover Uni

  • Employers across sectors remain in demand for civil engineers, with many graduates starting out in engineering-specific roles with starting salaries well over £25k.

• University–Industry Partnerships

  • BCU’s civil engineering degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM)—comprising ICE, IStructE, IHE, CIHT, and more—ensuring solid professional recognition.

  • Industry engagement is woven into student experience, from field trips and real-world projects to partnerships like those with Taylor Wimpey and Blue Thorn, as well as involvement with infrastructure firms such as Kier.

  • Long-Term Accreditation Value

• • Completing the JBM-accredited BEng gives you the academic foundation for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status and partial progress toward Chartered Engineer (CEng)—a valuable stepping stone in your professional development.

• Graduation Outcomes

  • You graduate with a blend of accredited academic training, hands-on placement experiences, project-based learning, and city-wide industry connections—setting you up for a career that’s not only employable but also meaningful, progressive, and grounded in real-world application.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing your BEng at BCU, many students choose to build on that solid foundation by pursuing postgraduate studies—such as an MSc in Civil Engineering or Infrastructure Management—to deepen technical skills and work toward full Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. These routes can sharpen your expertise and position you for leadership roles or specialized consultancy pathways in your field.