BEng Hons Civil Engineering

This programme is built around a practical, hands-on approach to learning, ensuring you develop the real-world skills and confidence to excel as a civil engineer from the very start of your career. You'll have access to our excellent facilities in the Anglesea Building, which houses modern civil engineering laboratories, including our structures lab, hydraulics equipment, and materials testing facilities where you can test designs and understand material behaviour. Your learning is enhanced by industry-standard software and features design projects that take advantage of our coastal location, giving you valuable experience with the types of challenges you'll encounter in professional practice.

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.

• Portsmouth 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, often with a coastal or maritime focus, developing crucial project management skills.

• Structures Laboratory: You will conduct hands-on experiments in our dedicated structures lab, equipped with modern testing frames and equipment for analysing structural components and material performance.

• 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.

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

• Field Trips: The curriculum includes valuable site visits to construction projects and infrastructure sites across the South East, with a particular focus on coastal and maritime engineering due to our location.

• Placement Opportunities: You can choose to take an optional salaried industrial placement year, with support from the University's Careers and Employability Service to help you secure a role with industry partners.

Graduates of Portsmouth’s BEng Civil Engineering programme often step into meaningful roles such as Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Transport Planner, Flood Risk Consultant, or Infrastructure Project Manager. 

Here’s how Portsmouth propels your career forward:

• Career Services & Employability Support
  You’ll be supported from day one with expert help—from placements and CV/interview workshops to networking events and continuous career guidance for up to five years after graduation via the Graduate Recruitment Consultancy. 

• Employment Stats & Salary Figures

  • 94% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after completing the course. 

  • LEO data shows 0% unemployment, with median starting salary around £28,000—rising to £31,500 in 3 years and £37,000 in 5 years. 

• University–Industry Partnerships
  Your teaching includes site visits to real civil engineering projects (like coastal schemes), guest lectures from institutions such as ICE, Atkins, WSP, and hands-on opportunities like PADI diving for underwater infrastructure engineering. 

• Accreditation & Long-Term Professional Value
  The degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (ICE, IStructE, CIHT, IHE), fully satisfying the educational requirement for Incorporated Engineer (IEng), and partially fulfilling criteria for Chartered Engineer (CEng) (with further learning required later). 

• Graduation Outcomes & Recognition
  Civil Engineering is officially listed in the UK Government’s skills shortage list, with average salaries ranging from £30,000–£70,000. Notably, 95% of graduates say their degree gave them a clear advantage in employment. 

Further Academic Progression:
Once you’ve completed your BEng:

• You may smoothly progress into the MEng Civil Engineering programme, positioning you to fully meet the Chartered Engineer (CEng) qualification requirements. 

• Alternatively, you can choose postgraduate paths such as MSc or PhD programmes in fields like sustainable infrastructure, structural design, or environmental engineering—supported by the university’s coastal research capabilities.