BEng in Civil Engineering

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Exeter

Program Overview

The University of Exeter’s BEng in Civil Engineering is a forward-thinking program designed for students eager to help shape the world by building safer, smarter, and more sustainable infrastructure. This course is perfect for those who thrive on tackling real-world engineering challenges, learning alongside industry partners, and developing both technical expertise and essential management skills for the modern workforce.

Curriculum structure

Year 1: In your first year, you’ll build core skills through modules like Engineering Mathematics and Scientific Computing, Fundamentals of Mechanics, Fundamentals of Materials, and the Multi-Disciplinary Group Challenge Project. You’ll learn basic mechanics, materials behaviours, and begin applying maths and computing to engineering problems, plus work in teams to solve design challenges.

Year 2: The second year introduces deeper topics such as Soil Mechanics, Solid Mechanics, Structural Behaviour, and large-scale Civil Engineering Project modules. You’ll explore how soils and solids respond under load, learn how structures behave in more realistic settings, and take part in project work that requires you to plan, model and present engineering designs.

Final Year (Year 3 or with Placement Year variant): In your last year you work on an Individual Project plus take advanced modules like Civil Engineering Hydraulics, Geotechnical Engineering and Foundation Design, Construction Project Management, Structural Engineering and Digital Engineering and Building Information Modelling. You’ll apply your academic learning to a substantial piece of work, use BIM tools, manage project planning, and deepen your structural and geotechnical design skills

Focus areas- Structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources and pollution control, project management, digital engineering.

Learning outcomes- Acquire technical proficiency in civil engineering disciplines; effectively design and manage infrastructure projects; apply digital and computational techniques; communicate complex ideas within multidisciplinary teams; understand sustainability and ethical engineering practice.

Professional alignment (accreditation)- This BEng is fully accredited by professional bodies such as the Joint Board of Moderators (Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation, Institute of Highway Engineers), meeting the requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.

Reputation (employability rankings)- Exeter ranks 20th in the UK for Civil Engineering in The Guardian University Guide 2025 and 8th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, with 91% of graduates in work or further study 15 months after graduation (HESA)

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This programme is designed to give you a fantastic hands-on education, blending strong theoretical knowledge with practical application right from the start. You'll have access to our excellent facilities in the Harrison Building, which houses modern civil engineering laboratories, including our structures lab, hydraulics equipment, and geotechnics research apparatus, where you can apply theory to real-world scenarios.

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.
Exeter Design Projects: A key feature of your degree is the series of group design projects where you'll work in teams to solve complex civil engineering problems, developing crucial project management and teamwork skills.
Structures Laboratory: You will conduct hands-on experiments using our modern testing equipment for analysing structural components and understanding material performance under various conditions.
Hydraulics Laboratory: You'll use our flow measurement equipment and hydraulic benches 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 Exeter’s BEng Civil Engineering programme often move into exciting roles such as Civil Engineer, Project Engineer, Transport Consultant, or Infrastructure Designer. Because the degree blends strong academic grounding with real-world exposure—from site visits and field-based learning to project-based modules—you’ll finish ready to solve real engineering challenges with both skill and confidence.

Here’s how Exeter backs you throughout your journey:

Career Services & Employability Support
You’ll benefit from close engagement with employers throughout your studies. Professional engineers visit campus for guest lectures and mock interviews—helping you build confidence and chart your career direction early.
Employment Stats & Salary Figures
Exeter engineers enjoy strong outcomes: 91% of graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months. Median salaries are approximately: £28,000 at 15 months, £31,000 after 3 years, and £36,500 by year 5—well in line with national trends.
University–Industry Partnerships
Exeter designs its curriculum with input from leading academia and industry. From industry-linked challenge projects to authentic problem-solving work, you’ll graduate armed with both knowledge and practical experience.
Accreditation & Long-Term Professional Value
The degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (ICE, IStructE, CIHT, IHE), fully meeting the academic requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially for Chartered Engineer (CEng)—requiring further accredited learning to complete chartered status.
Graduation Outcomes & Recognition
Civil Engineering is consistently ranked among the top programmes in the UK—Exeter is Top 10 for General Engineering across key league tables, and Top 20 for Civil Engineering. That reputation speaks volumes when you’re stepping into the job market.

Further Academic Progression:
Once you complete your BEng, here’s how your path can continue to evolve:

You can advance into an MEng Civil Engineering degree, beginning a more direct route toward full Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration.
You may pursue MSc or PhD-level study in expert areas like water resource management, structural resilience, or vibration engineering—leveraging Exeter's research strengths.
Alternatively, with accreditation, industry awareness, and a solid academic foundation, you’re well positioned to launch an engineering career with both impact and upward mobility.