BEng Civil Engineering with foundation year and placement

This programme is designed to give you an exceptional hands-on education, blending strong theoretical knowledge with practical application from your very first week. You'll have access to our outstanding facilities in the School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering, which includes our dedicated structures laboratory, hydraulics laboratory, and geotechnics research equipment that rivals professional industry standards. 

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 LUSAS for finite element analysis, ensuring you're industry-ready upon graduation.

• Surrey Design Projects: Each year features progressive design projects where you'll work in teams to solve complex civil engineering challenges, developing crucial project management and teamwork skills valued by employers.

• Structures Laboratory: You'll conduct hands-on experiments in our dedicated structures lab, equipped with modern loading frames and testing equipment for analyzing structural behavior and material performance.

• Hydraulics Laboratory: You'll use our hydraulics lab with its flow channels and wave generation equipment to model water behavior and environmental processes relevant to civil engineering projects.

• Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory: You'll test soil properties and foundation behavior using our advanced geotechnical testing equipment, gaining practical insight into ground engineering principles.

Graduates of Surrey’s  BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering with Foundation Year and Placement move into roles such as Civil Engineer, Design Engineer, Structural Engineer, or Transport Engineer. Because your degree includes a Professional Training placement program, you’ll graduate not only academically skilled but also industry-ready, well-connected, and highly employable:

• Career Services & Employability Support
  Surrey’s award-winning Careers Service—voted Best University Careers/Employability Service in 2022—offers one-to-one coaching, CV and interview workshops, employer-led networking events, and ongoing placements support through the Professional Training team. International students also benefit from SurreyConnects, a tailored careers hub. 

• Employment Stats & Salary Figures

  • 100% of civil engineering graduates are in employment or further study shortly after graduation. 

  • Starting salaries average around £31,909. By 15 months post-graduation, median earnings are £31,000, rising to £34,000 after three years and £39,500 within five years—surpassing national averages.

  • University–Industry Partnerships
    Surrey's Professional Training placement scheme connects students with industry-leading employers like Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Costain, Mott MacDonald, WSP, and Arup—often resulting in job offers before graduation. 

• Accreditation & Long-Term Professional Value
  The BEng (Hons) is fully accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) under institutions like ICE, IStructE, CIHT, IHE, and PWI. It meets academic requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially for Chartered Engineer (CEng) (further accredited learning needed).

• Graduation Outcomes & Recognition
  Surrey ranks 2nd in the South East and 12th overall in the UK for producing graduates in high-skilled jobs. Over 94% of undergraduates are in work or further study within months of graduation, and 87% describe their roles as meaningful. 

Further Academic Progression:
Upon completing your BEng, several strong pathways lie ahead:

• Progress to MEng Civil Engineering at Surrey, completing your education for full Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration. 

• Explore MSc or PhD programmes in areas like Sustainable Infrastructure, Transport Engineering, or Environmental Systems—backed by Surrey’s academic and research excellence. 

• Engage in professional development options that align with your growing expertise and ambition.