Civil and Structural Engineering MEng, BEng

This programme is built on a 'design and do' philosophy, ensuring you graduate not just with theoretical knowledge, but with the hands-on experience and confidence to tackle real-world engineering challenges from day one of your career. You'll learn in our fantastic Sir William Henry Bragg Building, a state-of-the-art facility that houses specialist structures laboratories, concrete testing labs, and hydraulics labs with wave tanks and flumes. Your education is powered by the same industry-standard software used by top global engineering firms, and you'll work on ambitious, real-world projects that bring your learning to life and prepare you for professional practice.

Here’s a closer look at the practical opportunities that define your experience:

• Industry-Standard Software: You'll gain expert proficiency in essential professional tools like Tekla for Building Information Modelling (BIM), ANSYS for finite element analysis, and Plaxis for geotechnical design, making you industry-ready upon graduation.

• The Leeds Design Challenge: A cornerstone of your final year is this intensive group project, where you'll work in a team to design a solution to a complex, real-world civil or structural engineering problem, developing crucial project management and teamwork skills.

• Structures Laboratory: You will conduct hands-on experiments in our dedicated structures lab, equipped with strong floors and modern loading frames, allowing you to test structural components to failure and understand their real-world behavior.

• Hydraulics Laboratory: You'll use our hydraulics lab, featuring a tilting flume and wave generator, to model water flow, sediment transport, and environmental processes central to civil engineering projects.

• Concrete and Materials Laboratory: You will test and analyse the properties of concrete and other construction materials, gaining practical insight into their performance and durability.

• Field Trips: The curriculum includes valuable field courses, such as geotechnical site visits to study slope stability and ground conditions, providing crucial real-world context for your studies.

• Research-Led Facilities: Your practical work is informed by the cutting-edge research conducted within the School of Civil Engineering, particularly in areas like advanced structural materials and earthquake engineering.

• Placement Opportunities: You can choose to take an optional salaried industrial placement year, gaining invaluable experience with major companies like Arup, Atkins, or Network Rail, with dedicated support from the University's Careers Centre.

Graduates from Leeds’ Civil and Structural Engineering (BEng/MEng) programmes go on to careers such as Assistant Civil Engineer, Bridge Engineer, Project Engineer, or Chartered Civil Engineer, working with leading consultancies, infrastructure firms, and global engineering projects. Because the course blends strong technical training, placement opportunities, and industry alignment, you’ll graduate with more than just a degree—you’ll be ready to make your mark in the professional world.

Here’s how Leeds supports your journey, with clear advantages you can count on:

• Career Services & Employability Support
  You’ll benefit from Leeds for Life and a dedicated Employability Team that offer one-to-one career guidance, skills workshops, CV and interview preparation, and regular employability events—including specialist fairs involving top recruiters. You'll also have full access to the University’s large and well-resourced Careers Centre.Graduate Employment & Salary Insights
  Civil engineering graduates from Leeds typically see median salaries of around £29,000 fifteen months after graduation, rising to £31,000 after three years and £35,000+ after five years, placing you on par with—or slightly ahead of—national averages.

• Industry Placements & Partnerships
  The course offers an optional industrial placement year, supported by the Employability Team. You can work with over 100 UK and international employers, including names like Mott MacDonald, JN Bentley, Ove Arup & Partners, Farrans, and others—building real-world experience and professional connections.

• Accreditation for Professional Growth
  The programme is professionally accredited (by the Joint Board of Moderators), meaning it meets educational requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status and provides a solid foundation toward Chartered Engineer (CEng) qualification.

• Outstanding Graduate Outcomes & Recognition
  Leeds’ civil engineering students are among the top five most targeted by graduate employers in the UK, confirming just how highly the degree is seen by hiring managers across construction, consultancy, infrastructure, and beyond.

Further Academic Progression:
If your interests run deeper than day-one employment, Leeds provides excellent pathways for further study. Many students go on to MSc or postgraduate programmes in fields like structural engineering, sustainable infrastructure, or advanced design—either at Leeds or other top universities. Additionally, the MEng route already aligns with CEng educational standards, positioning you strongly for both chartership and potential future academic work, including doctoral research.