Civil Engineering MEng (Hons)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Northumbria University

Program Overview

The MEng Civil Engineering (Hons) at Northumbria is an integrated five-year degree (including an optional placement year) that deepens your technical skills in structures, hydraulics, geotechnics, and environmental systems while embedding industrial experience. It’s aimed at students who want to graduate with mastery across civil engineering disciplines and with a strong edge from real-world exposure.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: In the first year, you’ll build core engineering foundations through modules like Engineering Mathematics, Mechanics & Materials, Introduction to Structural Design, and Surveying & Geospatial Principles. Alongside lectures and labs, early design tasks and field work help you begin linking theory with real terrain, structures and measurement.

Year 2: Year two advances into modules such as Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics, Soil Mechanics & Geotechnics, Structural Analysis & Design, and Environmental Engineering Principles. You’ll deepen your understanding of how water moves, soils behave, and structures carry load, while undertaking more complex modelling, lab and design assignments.

Year 3 (Placement Year): This year is typically spent as a placement (sandwich) year with an engineering firm, consultancy or infrastructure organisation. You’ll apply your cumulative knowledge to real projects, gain insight into professional practice, work on site or design tasks, and build your network and employability.

Year 4: Returning from placement, in Year 4 you focus on advanced and specialized modules. You might take Advanced Structural Design, Water Resources & Hydraulics II, Transport Engineering & Infrastructure, along with a design or research project. Here you integrate multi-disciplinary thinking, tackling real engineering constraints (cost, sustainability, resilience).

Year 5: In the final year you lead a major capstone / Multidisciplinary Design Project, often addressing complex infrastructure problems. You’ll also take electives such as Sustainability in Civil Engineering, Coastal & Flood Risk Engineering, Finite Element Methods, or Asset Management & Resilience. This year is about mastering your specialism, integrating your learning, and showcasing readiness for professional roles or further research.

Focus areas

Structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, fluid mechanics, surveying, materials science, project management, sustainability.

Learning outcomes

Ability to design and analyse civil engineering structures; apply classical and contemporary engineering principles; manage construction and infrastructure projects; communicate and collaborate professionally; and integrate sustainable solutions and professional judgement in real-world projects.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

Fully accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (ICE, IStructE, CIHT, IHE, PWI), the course fully meets educational requirements for registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Northumbria is ranked in the UK top 10 for overall student experience (Times Good University Guide 2025) and is a top-15 UK university for civil engineering (Complete University Guide 2025). Graduates are in high demand, with strong career prospects in engineering consultancies, construction, and infrastructure

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

You'll have access to our excellent facilities in the Ellison Building, which houses modern civil engineering laboratories, including our structures lab, hydraulics equipment, and materials testing facilities where you can test designs and understand material behaviour. Your learning is powered by industry-standard software and features live project briefs from our industry partners, giving you genuine experience of current engineering challenges from day one.

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 specialist analysis software used in civil engineering 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.
Structures Laboratory: You will conduct hands-on experiments in our dedicated structures lab, equipped with modern testing frames and equipment for analysing structural components and material performance.
Hydraulics Laboratory: You'll use our hydraulics equipment with flow channels and measurement tools to model water behaviour and environmental processes relevant to civil engineering projects.
Geotechnical Engineering Equipment: You'll test soil properties and foundation behaviour using our geotechnical testing apparatus, gaining practical insight into ground engineering principles.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MEng Civil Engineering at Northumbria leave with both advanced technical expertise and industry experience, making them highly employable. Typical career paths include: Structural Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Transport Engineer, Water Resources Engineer, or Project Manager. With the integrated placement year, students gain a competitive advantage in securing roles in consultancy, contracting, and government agencies.

Key highlights for graduate success:

Career support: Access to Northumbria’s Graduate Futures service, employer networking events, CV workshops, and an annual Built Environment Careers Fair.
Strong employability: Over 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months (Graduate Outcomes Survey).
Industry links: Collaborations with firms like Arup, Atkins, AECOM, Balfour Beatty, and Mott MacDonald provide placement, internship, and project opportunities.
Professional recognition: Accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), ensuring progression towards Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
Salary prospects: UK civil engineers typically earn £28,000–£45,000+ for early careers, with steady growth in senior roles.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can pursue PhD research in Civil or Environmental Engineering, or specialise further with MSc programmes in areas like Sustainable Infrastructure, Water Engineering, or Construction Project Management. The MEng also positions students well for professional training schemes leading to Chartered Engineer status.