BEng Civil and Structural Engineering with a Foundation Year

This programme is expertly designed to build your confidence and practical skills from the ground up, creating a seamless pathway into degree-level engineering studies regardless of your previous background. Your foundation year will introduce you to hands-on learning in our world-class Diamond Building, where you'll use dedicated engineering workshops and laboratories to develop core skills before progressing to more advanced facilities and projects. This approach ensures you gain the practical experience and technical confidence needed to excel throughout your degree and into your professional career.

Here’s how you’ll develop your practical engineering skills:

• Foundation Year Workshops: You'll begin with practical sessions in our Diamond Building workshops, developing essential hands-on skills and engineering intuition through targeted projects and experiments.

• Industry-Standard Software: From your first year, you'll learn key engineering software including AutoCAD for technical drawing and Python for programming, building digital skills that prepare you for degree-level studies.

• Laboratory Introduction: You'll gain early access to our structures and hydraulics laboratories, with introductory sessions that help you understand testing procedures and equipment operation in a supported environment.

• The Diamond Building: You'll learn in our £81 million facility that provides extensive workshop spaces, design studios, and computing labs specifically designed for engineering education at all levels.

• Project-Based Learning: Your foundation year includes practical projects that develop problem-solving skills and engineering thinking, preparing you for the more complex design challenges in subsequent years.

• Academic Support: You'll receive dedicated support from foundation year tutors who specialise in helping students transition into degree-level engineering studies successfully.

• Progression Opportunities: Upon successful completion, you'll have full access to all departmental facilities including advanced structures laboratories, hydrodynamics equipment, and geotechnical testing facilities.

• Careers Preparation: The programme includes early introduction to the University's Careers Service, helping you explore future placement opportunities and understand career paths in civil engineering.

Graduates of Civil and Structural Engineering at Sheffield are highly sought after in roles such as Structural Engineer, Civil Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, and Project Manager. The degree’s strong technical training, combined with design projects and industry engagement, ensures that students not only graduate with deep subject knowledge but also with the professional skills and confidence to lead on major infrastructure projects worldwide. What makes this programme stand out is that the foundation year sets you up to transition smoothly into the full BEng or MEng degree—giving you the same career pathways as direct-entry students:

• Career Support Services
  You’ll be guided by the University of Sheffield Careers Service, alongside dedicated departmental employability tutors, to prepare CVs, practice interviews, and access targeted career fairs. Students also benefit from the Year in Industry Team, which supports those seeking placements during or after their degree.

• Employment Stats & Salary Figures
  According to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020–21, 94% of Sheffield engineering graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation. Typical salaries for graduates in civil and structural engineering start at around £26,000–£30,000, rising significantly with experience.

• University–Industry Partnerships
  Sheffield has close ties with leading employers such as Arup, AECOM, Buro Happold, Atkins, and Jacobs. Through guest lectures, design challenges, and placement opportunities, students gain direct exposure to industry practice and professional networking.

• Long-Term Accreditation Value
  Both the BEng and MEng degrees are accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), representing the ICE, IStructE, CIHT, and IHE. This accreditation ensures that the programme fully meets the educational requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status and partially or fully meets the requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, depending on whether you graduate with a BEng or MEng.

• Graduation Outcomes
  Sheffield’s Civil and Structural Engineering graduates are recognised worldwide for their ability to design sustainable, safe, and innovative structures. With the university ranked in the UK top 10 for civil engineering and 96% of its research rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021), your degree carries strong global reputation and credibility.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BEng, students can progress into the MEng Civil and Structural Engineering at Sheffield, extending their studies to gain advanced design, leadership, and project management skills. Alternatively, graduates may choose a specialist MSc programme in areas such as Structural Engineering, Earthquake and Civil Engineering Dynamics, or Urban Infrastructure. For those aiming for research careers, Sheffield also offers a wide range of PhD opportunities in cutting-edge civil engineering fields.