BEng Civil Engineering

This programme is built around a practical, industry-focused approach to learning, ensuring you develop the hands-on skills and confidence to excel as a civil engineer from the very start of your career. You'll have access to our fantastic facilities in the James Weir Building, which houses modern civil engineering laboratories, including our structures lab, hydraulics lab, and materials testing equipment where you can test designs and understand material behaviour in real-world conditions. Your learning is enhanced by industry-standard software and features design projects that often involve real briefs from our industry partners, giving you genuine experience of current engineering challenges.

Here’s how you’ll gain practical, industry-relevant experience:

• Industry-Standard Software: You'll gain proficiency in essential professional tools including AutoCAD for design and drafting, Revit for Building Information Modelling (BIM), and specialist analysis software used in civil engineering design.

• Strathclyde 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 input from industry partners, 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 hydraulics lab with its flow channels and measurement equipment 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 advanced geotechnical testing apparatus, gaining practical insight into ground engineering principles.

• Concrete and Materials Testing: You'll work with our materials laboratory equipment to test and analyse construction materials, including concrete mix design and performance testing.

• Field Trips: The curriculum includes valuable site visits to major Scottish infrastructure projects and construction sites, providing crucial real-world context for your studies.

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

Graduates of Strathclyde’s Civil Engineering programme often launch into impactful roles like Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Transport Planner, or Environmental Consultant. Because the curriculum blends academic rigour with real-world design challenges, industry-led learning, and placements, you’ll graduate not only technically capable but also industry-ready and well-connected:

• Career Services & Employability Support
  The Department partners closely with the central Careers Service and Student Futures to offer tailored support—including career coaching, CV and interview prep, employer events, and placement preparation. Their mentoring scheme and personal development planning link you directly with industry professionals. 

• Employment Stats & Salary Figures

  • Around 90% of graduates are employed, studying, or engaged in other meaningful activity within 15 months of graduating. 

  • Median starting salary is about £29,000, rising to around £31,000 after three years and £36,000 after five. 

  • 85% of alumni say their work aligns with their career goals; 90% find their roles meaningful; 70% actively use what they learned at university. 

• University–Industry Partnerships
  The programme features strong ties with leading engineering firms. Students engage with BAM Nuttall, Sir Robert McAlpine, Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors, Mott MacDonald, and others through mentoring, live design challenges, and professional networking. 

• Accreditation & Long-Term Professional Value
  The degree is officially accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), and Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) under the Joint Board of Moderators. This meets the educational standards for Incorporated Engineer (IEng), and partially for Chartered Engineer (CEng), with further accredited learning required. 

• Graduation Outcomes & Recognition
  Strathclyde is widely recognized for practical, hands-on engineering education—whether through site-based Constructionarium projects, international design briefs, or participation in national competitions. These experiences consistently produce graduates who are workplace-ready and highly valued by employers.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing your BEng, you can broaden your horizons even further:

• Consider the MEng Civil Engineering pathway to deepen technical expertise and fulfill full CEng chartership requirements.

• Pursue MSc or PhD research in areas like sustainable infrastructure, transport systems, or hazard resilience, building on Strathclyde’s research leadership.

• Explore shorter postgraduate courses tailored for professional development or those designed to top-up for chartership qualification.