BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering (Foundation Entry)

This programme is expertly designed to build your practical engineering skills and confidence from the ground up, creating a solid pathway into degree-level studies regardless of your previous background. Your foundation year will introduce you to hands-on learning in our state-of-the-art Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC), where you'll use modern laboratories and workshops to develop core skills before progressing to more advanced civil engineering facilities. 

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

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

• Introductory Software Training: You'll learn fundamental engineering software including AutoCAD for technical drawing and basic modelling tools, building digital skills that prepare you for degree-level studies.

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

• Materials Testing: You'll work with basic concrete and construction materials testing equipment, learning about material properties through hands-on experimentation.

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

Graduates of UCLan’s Civil Engineering (with Foundation Year) programme regularly step into meaningful roles such as structural, geotechnical, or transportation engineers, leveraging their practical experience and industry-accredited qualification. With a strong median salary around £29,000 just over a year after graduation, and notable employment outcomes, you'll be set to begin a solid and impactful civil engineering career.

Progression & Future Opportunities:
Let’s break down how UCLan supports your journey—from foundation year to professional readiness:

• University Services to Boost Employability

  • Careers Service: Offers one-on-one career guidance, CV and interview preparation, access to job platforms like Handshake and CareerEDGE, and hosts annual careers fairs featuring over 240 employers.

  • Industry-Embedded Learning: Through live project work, field trips, guest workshops, and an annual careers event, you’ll build real-world skills from day one.

• Employment Statistics & Salary Figures

  • Median Salary: Around £29,000 15 months post-graduation.

  • Salary Progression: Median earnings increase modestly to £27,500 at three years and around £33,000 at five years.

  • Employment and Skills: Impressively, 0% are unemployed 15 months after graduating, and 65% are in highly skilled roles.

• University–Industry Partnerships

  • Optional 48-Week Sandwich Placement between Year 2 and Year 3 offers valuable in-industry experience.

  • Engineering Innovation Centre: Use state-of-the-art facilities to work on real-world projects with commercial partners

  • Field Trips & Guest Speakers: Learn through trips to real engineering sites and sessions led by professionals and ICE contributors.

• Long-Term Accreditation Value

  • This foundation-year route still leads to a degree accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) and backed by institutions including ICE, IStructE, IHE, and CIHT —securing the academic foundation for your progression to professional engineer status.

• Graduation Outcomes

  • You'll graduate not just with academic knowledge but with real, practical experience—placement opportunities, industry-aligned learning, and top-tier facilities mean you're work-ready and professionally credible from day one.

Further Academic Progression:
Once you've completed your BEng (Hons) with Foundation Year and established your professional base, many students choose to advance their expertise through postgraduate study. A natural next step could be an MSc in Civil Engineering, with options that include project-focused research and enhanced technical specialization—ideal for accelerating toward full Chartered Engineer (CEng) qualification and deepening your expertise.