BEng Civil Engineering

Civil engineering at Manchester enables you to lay the right foundation for a career in civil engineering with a three-year course that will not only lead to a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) qualification, but also arm you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to enter an industry that, at its core, makes modern society work.

Civil engineering deals with the design, construction and maintenance of our built environment, from buildings to bridges, roads to railways - and considers what this means for the future of our planet and society.

In the first two years of our BEng in Civil Engineering you will develop a strong understanding of essential topics such as structural analysis, hydraulics, geotechnics, construction materials, engineering design, project management and mathematics. What's more, you will study these topics using our fantastic array of facilities and equipment.

You will then undertake an individual research project in your final year, when you will have the flexibility to study emerging subjects such as renewable energy systems and resource efficiency and management.

Upon completion of the course you will be equipped to enter civil engineering professions - the degree fully satisfies the base for becoming an Incorporated Engineer (IEng), and partially satisfies the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng). This can then be completed with a programme of accredited Further Learning.

You will also benefit from our welcoming community, where you can join some of the Department's various student societies, such as The University of Manchester Civil Engineering Society, to meet like-minded people, make new friends and explore all things civil engineering.

The course aims to:

• Provide you with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of engineering science, analysis, and management.

• Give you an in-depth understanding of design.

• Help you to learn important transferable skills, such as problem-solving, team working, creativity, IT skills, and oral and written communication.

• Develop an understanding of the economic, social, ethical and environmental contexts that are relevant to becoming a professional civil engineer.

World-leading facilities

Learn in our brand-new, purpose-built space for innovation and creativity that is transforming the way our students study, research, and shape the world forever. Explore   Our Home for Engineering and Materials .

Welcoming community

You can join some of the Department's various student societies, such as the Civil Engineering Society, Sustainable Engineering Initiative, Volunteering and Outreach, Women in Science and Engineering and many more. Meet like-minded people, make new friends, master your subject, and discover just how powerful collaboration can be!

Study, your way

You can extend your degree and transfer to an integrated master's (MEng) course, or the MEng with industrial experience.

Championing gender diversity

It's our priority to make sure students feel seen and supported on their Engineering journey, so we're always looking to spotlight and uplift women, non-binary, and otherwise marginalised voices. Get first-hand guidance and insight from students, lecturers, and industry professionals from all different stages of their journey, on our podcast Big Sisters in STEM .

Start with a Foundation Year

You can prepare for the full degree course if you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry by undertaking our  foundation course first.

At Manchester you will be taught by academic staff who are leading experts in civil engineering, in a diverse and inclusive learning environment.  

We use a combination of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, tutorial classes, practical laboratory sessions and computer-based sessions.  

There is a design project each year, which involves teamwork in small groups, and allows you to apply and develop your problem-solving and project management skills.

In the third year, you will undertake an individual project, allowing you to pursue an emerging subject or application area in greater depth.

Most course units are assessed through an examination (at the end of the semester) and coursework which is undertaken throughout the year. Parts of the coursework are, in many instances, associated with practical laboratory sessions, whilst others may be based on problem sheets, reports etc. A few subjects, for example Design, are assessed purely on coursework. For detailed information about how different subjects are assessed, please see the course unit specifications below.

Would you like to discover authentic stories when it comes to life at, and after, The University of Manchester? Engage with our student community at @uomscieng on Instagram and TikTok, and tune into our conversations with students, lecturers, and industry professionals on our popular podcast, Big Sisters in STEM .

Come to our Home of Engineering and Materials - a place like no other. This is where engineers, material scientists, and fashion students collaborate, innovate and make their mark on the world. Unleash your potential in our creative, academic playground that signals the evolution of a proud history of innovation spanning almost 200 years.

In this very special place, we’re ripping up the rule book, offering you a truly innovative teaching and learning experience. As well as our creative classrooms, you’ll also have access to world-leading sustainable research facilities in our new buildings.

Our variety of spaces allows for greater collaboration for all our students, and it is the place to connect and tackle real-life challenges together. So, a civil engineer designing futureproof buildings will bump into aerospace engineers researching satillites and drones, and a chemical engineer sat alongside a materials scientist working on clean water. It is a place like no other for interactions and one of the biggest communities of engineers and materials scientists in any University in the world.

Dive into a world of possibilities, whether you are interested in aerospace, robotics, or sustainable fashion, there’s a home for you here. 

Explore  Our Home for Engineering and Material Science . 

What's more, our strong, ever-growing links with industry not only help to inform our courses, but also boost our excellent teaching and research facilities. These include: 

• National Instruments Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory 
• Concrete Labs
• Hydraulic Labs
• High Voltage Lab
• Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre 
• Oxford Instruments VG Semicon Molecular Beam Epitaxy facility 
• National Graphene Institute
• Dalton Nuclear Institute
• Computer Clusters equipped with industry-leading software

The University of Manchester also offers an extensive  library and online services , helping you get the most out of your studies.