4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
Glasgow Caledonian University’s BSc (Hons) Environmental Civil Engineering is a forward-looking program that combines the essential skills of civil engineering with specialist knowledge in environmental management and sustainability. The course is ideal for students seeking to design, build, and manage sustainable infrastructure addressing global and local environmental challenges.
Curriculum structure
Year 1: Students are introduced to core principles through Engineering Mathematics, Fundamentals of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Practical Skills for Engineers. This year builds essential analytical and technical knowledge.
Year 2: Learning expands into applied areas such as Soil Mechanics, Hydraulics and Hydrology, and Structural Mechanics. Students explore how environmental systems interact with civil engineering structures.
Year 3: The focus shifts to advanced topics like Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering Design, and Transportation and Highway Engineering. Emphasis is placed on solving real-world environmental infrastructure problems.
Year 4: Final year modules include Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), Infrastructure and Environmental Management, and a major Honours Project. Students demonstrate their ability to integrate engineering knowledge with sustainable practices.
Focus areas
Environmental engineering, sustainable infrastructure, structural engineering, water management, contracts and project planning, flood prevention.
Learning outcomes
Apply civil engineering and environmental principles; evaluate environmental impact and develop mitigation strategies; design sustainable solutions for complex infrastructure projects; manage projects across environmental and technical domains; communicate professionally with clients and stakeholders.
Professional alignment (accreditation)
The program is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators, including the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, and Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, ensuring graduates are recognized by leading industry bodies.
Reputation (employability rankings)
Ranked #35 for civil engineering by The Guardian 2025, GCU’s graduates are equipped for careers in consulting, government, and industry, with strong outcomes in graduate employment and advancing sustainable engineering solutions
This programme is uniquely designed to give you a practical, hands-on education at the intersection of civil engineering and environmental sustainability, preparing you to design infrastructure that works in harmony with the natural world. You'll have access to our excellent facilities in the School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment, which include dedicated environmental engineering laboratories, water quality testing equipment, and geotechnical research tools where you can test sustainable solutions and understand environmental systems. Your learning is enhanced by industry-specific software and features design projects that focus on creating resilient, low-impact infrastructure, giving you highly specialised experience that addresses today's most pressing environmental challenges.
Here’s how you’ll gain practical, industry-relevant experience:
Environmental Engineering Software: You'll gain proficiency in essential professional tools including AutoCAD for technical drawing, Revit for BIM, GIS applications for environmental mapping, and Modflow for groundwater modelling.
GCU Environmental Design Projects: A key feature of your degree is the series of group design projects where you'll work in teams to develop sustainable drainage systems, water treatment solutions, and eco-friendly infrastructure designs.
Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory: You'll use our flow measurement equipment and hydraulic benches to model water behaviour, pollution dispersion, and sustainable drainage processes.
Water Quality Laboratory: You'll conduct water and soil analysis using our environmental chemistry equipment, testing parameters relevant to civil engineering projects and environmental impact assessments.
Geoenvironmental Laboratory: You'll work with advanced apparatus for testing soil-contaminant interaction, landfill design properties, and sustainable ground improvement techniques.
Field Monitoring Equipment: You'll gain hands-on experience with environmental monitoring tools for field measurements of water quality, air pollution, and ecological impact assessment.
Graduates of GCU’s BSc (Hons) Environmental Civil Engineering programme typically begin their careers as civil or environmental engineers, working on sustainable infrastructure, flood prevention, or resilient design. The programme boasts a 100% employment or further study rate within 15 months, with salaries in line with strong civil engineering outcomes, placing you firmly on a path to early professional success.
Progression & Future Opportunities:
Here’s how GCU supports and accelerates your journey toward a thriving career:
University Services to Boost Employability
Integrated Practical Learning: The programme offers frequent site visits to projects like the M74 motorway extension, White Cart flood prevention scheme, the new Forth Crossing, and Whitelee Wind Farm—plus a five-day European study trip via Erasmus.
Placement & Construction Experience: You can complete a third-year industrial placement or attend a hands-on Constructionarium course to build real-world skills in on-site scenarios.
Employment Statistics & Salary Figures
Employment Success: An outstanding 100% of students are in employment or further study 15 months after graduation.
Earnings Outlook: Civil engineering graduates at GCU earn median salaries of approximately £28,000 at 15 months, rising to £28,500 after 3 years and around £32,000 after 5 years—aligning closely with national benchmarks.
University–Industry Partnerships
Professional Accreditation: The programme is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (ICE, IStructE, CIHT, IHE), as well as the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and carries the EUR-ACE label via ENAEE—ensuring industry recognition and academic credibility.
Long-Term Accreditation Value
Your degree fully satisfies the academic foundations required for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status, positioning you well on the route toward Chartered Engineer (CEng) status through further experience or study.
Graduation Outcomes
With accreditation, hands-on site experience, and professional exposure, you'll graduate ready to make meaningful impact—working in fields such as sustainable infrastructure, flood risk management, water systems, and urban resilience, backed by enviable employability outcomes.
Further Academic Progression:
With your BSc (Hons) well accredited and professionally grounded, a compelling next step is postgraduate study—such as an MSc in Environmental or Civil Engineering, focusing on water resource management, sustainability, or resilient design. This could accelerate your path to Chartered Engineer status and allow you to deepen technical expertise or explore leadership roles in the engineering sector.
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