MEng Civil Engineering

The MEng Civil Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast delivers a full master’s-level education in the core disciplines of civil engineering—structures, materials, geotechnics, hydraulics, surveying and construction management—preparing students for professional and leadership roles. It’s suited for students who want both strong theoretical foundations and hands-on experience, solving engineering problems in real and demanding environments. 

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In Year 1 you build your fundamentals: you’ll take Mathematics 1 to gain strong skills in calculus, algebra, vectors and statistics; Solids & Structures 1 introduces structural behaviour, materials under load, and matrix methods; Construction Materials teaches you about the properties, selection, and environmental impacts of materials, as well as basic soil behaviours. You will also learn surveying and measurement via Surveying & Measurement 1, gaining practical skills in site mapping, use of instruments like total stations, levelling, and setting out works. 

Year 2

Year 2 deepens your technical breadth: you will study modules such as Structural Mechanics, Geotechnics 2, Hydraulics 2, which expand knowledge of soil mechanics, fluid flow in open channels, and the analysis and design of beams, shear, bending, etc. You’ll also engage in Project Management & Coding, where you begin to understand management and contracts, plus software tools and basic coding relevant to civil engineering. Meanwhile Design & Communications 2 helps you develop professional communication skills—report writing, oral presentations, design sketches, CAD etc.—and understand ethics and sustainability in design. 

Year 3

In the third year, students focus on more advanced engineering analysis and integrating design with environmental and geotechnical contexts. Core modules like Geotechnics 3 teach slope stability, retaining wall design, ground improvement techniques; Structures 3 and Hydraulics 3 examine dam design, storm sewers, flood routing, subsystem design under dynamic load; large design-oriented modules such as Project 3 or Design & Communications 3 push you to solve real and complex civil engineering problems in group or individual projects. 

Year 4 (and beyond)

In the final year(s), you move into specialism and professional practice. You’ll take advanced modules like Geotechnics 4, covering advanced soil models, unsaturated soils, soil-structure interaction; Bridge & Structural Engineering, focusing on design and analysis of bridges, finite element modelling, structural health monitoring; Assessment of Environmental Impacts, where you learn life-cycle assessment, sustainability, environmental impact regulation; Construction & Business Management to understand business, law, H&S, project performance. You’ll also complete a major project (honours-level project) that demonstrates capacity for independent work, engineering judgement, and integration of multiple technical and management aspects. 

Focus areas: Structures, Foundations, Hydraulics & Infrastructure, Construction Management, Environmental Sustainability

Learning outcomes: Graduates leave with the skills to design and analyse civil engineering projects, manage construction processes, apply sustainability principles, solve complex technical problems, and communicate like industry professionals.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (ICE, IStructE, IHE, CIHT), meeting the academic requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status and partially fulfilling those for Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration.

Reputation (employability rankings): Civil Engineering at Queen’s is highly regarded, ranked Joint 9th in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Complete University Guide 2021), and known for producing industry-ready graduates.