MEng Civil Engineering with an Industrial Placement Year

This programme offers the ultimate combination of academic excellence and extended professional experience, creating exceptionally employable graduates who are ready to lead from day one. You'll begin by mastering practical skills in our world-class Diamond Building and PAMIR research laboratories, working with industry-standard equipment that prepares you to make an immediate impact during your industrial placement. The cornerstone of your degree is your salaried placement year, where you'll apply your advanced knowledge within a leading engineering company, gaining invaluable industry insight and building a professional network that will launch your career.

Here’s how you’ll gain unparalleled practical experience:

• The Industrial Placement Year: You will spend your third year on a paid placement with a major company like Arup, Atkins, Jacobs, or Mott MacDonald, working on significant projects and developing professional competencies that enhance your final year studies.

• Advanced Engineering Software: You'll master sophisticated tools including Revit for Building Information Modelling (BIM), ABAQUS for finite element analysis, and Plaxis for geotechnical design, making you highly valuable to your placement employer.

• The Sheffield Advanced Design Project: In your final year, you'll lead a research-intensive group project tackling complex, industry-relevant challenges, applying the professional experience gained during your placement.

• PAMIR Research Laboratories: You'll conduct experiments in our pioneering facilities, which include a 3D concrete printer and smart structures testing equipment, giving you research experience that sets you apart.

• Large-Scale Structures Laboratory: You'll work in our heavy structures lab featuring a strong floor and reaction wall for testing full-scale structural components before your placement.

• Industry Collaboration: Many university projects involve direct partnership with leading companies, providing valuable professional networking before, during, and after your placement year.

• Dedicated Placement Support: The University's Careers Service provides specialised support to help you secure your placement, including application reviews, interview practice, and exclusive access to opportunities with partner companies.

• Research-Led Learning: You'll work alongside world-leading researchers in our Centre for Energy and Infrastructure Ground Research, gaining exposure to cutting-edge civil engineering challenges that enhance your industry value.

exciting careers such as Chartered Civil Engineer, Structural Design Engineer, Infrastructure Project Manager, or Transport Engineer. Because this degree combines robust academic training with a full-year, real-world placement, you’ll graduate not just with technical knowledge, but with professional experience and a network that sets you well ahead.

Here’s how Sheffield supports you on that journey:

• Career Services & Employability Support
  The Faculty of Engineering's dedicated Industrial Placement Year team, in collaboration with the University’s Careers Service, guides you through every step—from finding and applying to placements, through preparation and in-placement support, to re-entry into academic life. This includes 1-1 appointments, targeted placement events, pastoral care, and mid-placement tutor visits.

• Employment Stats & Placement Salary
  While specific post-graduation salaries aren't provided in the course description, the placement year itself is richly valuable—providing graduate-level work experience that significantly boosts job prospects and often leads to return graduate roles with placement employers. 

• University–Industry Partnerships
  Sheffield’s industrial links are strong—students have secured placements and career opportunities with leading firms like AECOM, Arup, Atkins, Buro Happold, and Kier. These partnerships extend into teaching, project work, and mentorship throughout your course.

• Long-Term Accreditation Value
  The MEng degree is fully accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM)—including ICE, IStructE, CIHT, and IHE—meeting the educational standards required for immediate Chartered Engineer (CEng) eligibility upon graduation. 

• Graduation Outcomes & Recognition
  Sheffield is consistently ranked UK top 10 for civil engineering, with 96% of its research rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021). Our graduates leave with strong technical skills, sustainability-focused design experience, and confidence to tackle real-world challenges. 

Further Academic Progression:
After completing your MEng with placement, you’re uniquely positioned for both professional and academic advancement. You may choose to:

• Pursue a PhD in areas such as structural dynamics, sustainable infrastructure, or geotechnical resilience—leveraging your research preparation and industry insight.

• Engage in specialist postgraduate qualifications, deepening your expertise in fields like transport engineering, flood risk management, or urban regeneration.

• With your fully accredited MEng, you’ll be well on your way to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status—opening doors to senior leadership roles in engineering.