Enter OTP
If you're the kind of person who loves solving real-world problems and wants to shape the future of our cities and communities, this programme could be a perfect fit. Civil Engineering at Glasgow combines science, creativity, and hands-on experience to prepare you for designing everything from bridges and buildings to flood defences and transport systems.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1 – Build your foundation
Your first year is all about getting a strong grounding in engineering principles. You'll take core courses like Civil Engineering 1, Engineering Mathematics, Statics, Materials, and Thermodynamics. It’s a great mix of theory and practical skills, helping you understand how physical forces work and how engineers solve problems — with some teamwork and hands-on projects to bring it to life.
Years 2 & 3 – Start specialising
In these years, things really start to focus in on civil engineering. You’ll dive into subjects like Structural Design, Soil Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, and Transport Engineering. You'll work on real design problems, manage mini-projects, and get your hands dirty with fieldwork and lab testing. Courses like Environmental Process Engineering and Construction Management show how engineering works in the real world — and where you might take your career.
Years 4 & 5 – Deepen your expertise (MEng only)
If you’re on the MEng route, you’ll move into more advanced technical work in your final years. Think: Advanced Steel and Concrete Design, Finite Element Analysis, Hydraulics, and Geotechnical Engineering. You’ll also take on major projects — both individually and as part of a team — where you tackle real engineering challenges, often linked with industry. It’s a fantastic way to prepare for professional practice, and you’ll graduate with a qualification that puts you ahead in the job market.
Focus areas
Structural engineering, water and environmental systems, transport and infrastructure, soil and foundation design, and full-scale design projects.
Learning outcomes
You’ll graduate with a solid understanding of how to analyse and design civil engineering systems, use digital and physical modelling tools, work effectively in teams, manage projects, and apply engineering solutions to real-life environmental and infrastructure challenges.
Professional alignment
This degree is fully accredited by UK engineering bodies, meaning it counts toward becoming a Chartered Engineer — a key step in your professional career.
Reputation & Employability
Glasgow ranks consistently among the top 15 universities in the UK for Civil Engineering (Guardian, Times, Complete University Guide). Graduates from this programme go on to work with top employers like Arup, Jacobs, and Balfour Beatty — or pursue further study and research. It’s a degree that’s respected across the industry.
Students in the BEng Civil Engineering programme at the University of Glasgow gain practical skills through extensive hands-on work including laboratory classes, physical and computational modelling, and real-world design projects. The curriculum emphasizes teamwork and problem-based learning with opportunities for fieldwork, site visits, and interdisciplinary group projects alongside students from architecture and quantity surveying disciplines.
Experiential learning includes:
Participation in a week-long residential construction project called "Constructionarium" where students build scaled versions of iconic buildings using various construction materials
A five-week multidisciplinary "Interact" project collaborating with students from Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow Caledonian University
Use of advanced engineering laboratories for materials testing, structural analysis, and environmental engineering
Access to digital tools and industry-standard software for computational modelling and design
Regular site visits and surveying fieldwork to gain real-world professional experience
Active engagement in engineering-focused student societies such as Glasgow University Civil Engineers (GUCE) and the Female Engineering Society (FemEng)
Opportunities for internships and industrial placements enhancing employability and practical knowledge
This hands-on experience ensures graduates are well-prepared for professional engineering roles with a strong blend of theoretical knowledge and applied skills.
Graduate outcomes for the BEng Civil Engineering at University of Glasgow are outstanding, with graduates securing roles as civil engineers, structural engineers, project managers, and environmental engineers in leading firms. The programme prepares students for careers in designing, building, and maintaining vital infrastructure, blending scientific inquiry with practical engineering design.
Employment support and opportunities include:
Dedicated Careers Service offering CV workshops, interview preparation, and industry networking events tailored to engineering students
Strong employment rate with average graduate earnings approximately £29,000 within 15 months of graduation
Established partnerships with major employers like ARUP, Jacobs Engineering, Balfour Consultancy, Laing O’Rourke, and WSP Group
Long-term accreditation from the Institution of Civil Engineers and other professional bodies ensuring recognition for Chartered Engineer status
Graduates report high satisfaction using their skills in work, benefiting from industry-aligned problem-based learning and design projects
Further Academic Progression:
After completing this BEng programme, students can further enhance their qualifications by pursuing the University of Glasgow’s accredited MSc Civil Engineering “Further Learning” programme, topping up academic credentials required for Chartered Engineer status, or specialize with postgraduate research degrees.
IB standard entry requirements BEng: 34 (6,5,5), MEng: 38 (6,6,6) Additional requirements: HL Mathematics (Analysis & Approaches) and Physics. (SL6 can be accepted for either Mathematics or Physics).A-level standard entry requirements: BEng: AAB – BBB, MEng: AAA, Additional requirements: A-level Mathematics and Physics. (Design & Technology may be accepted in place of Physics, 3D or Product Design options only).IELTS: 6.5 with no subtests under 6.0, IELTS One Skill Retake AcceptedWidening Participation articulation programmes and summer schools may support eligibility.TOEFL: Level 1: Overall score of 92 with 24/30 in reading and writing and 20/30 in speaking and listeningAmerican Curriculum: Equivalency AP plus SAT Reasoning test/ACT: 5,5,5,5 in four distinctive AP subjects, plus a combined score of 1280 in SAT (1) Reasoning test or a composite score of 27 in ACT taken in the final three years of high school.CBSE (All India Senior School Certificate) AAA = 80% AAB / BBB = 75%, ISC AAA = 80% AAB/ BBB = 75% State Board – AAA = 85% AAB = 80% BBB = 75% Site EngineerStructural EngineerGeotechnical EngineerTransportation EngineerEnvironmental EngineerWater Resources EngineerConstruction Project EngineerUrban PlannerCivil Design EngineerQuantity SurveyorProject ManagerBuilding Services EngineerInfrastructure EngineerSustainability ConsultantResearcher/Academic
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University of Glasgow
