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BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering

Develop the skills to lead in civil engineering, shaping critical infrastructure from skyscrapers and bridges to airports and highways. Study in cutting-edge facilities, mastering modern techniques and sustainability for a highly employable future.

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90.1% for overall student satisfaction (NSS, 2023)

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2nd in the East of England for Civil Engineering (Complete University Guide, 2024)

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The School has over 50+ years' teaching experience and a strong international reputation

Course overview

Civil engineers provide the critical infrastructure that makes our world work. Through our BEng Civil Engineering course, you’ll master the principles of structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydraulics and hydrology, environmental engineering, materials, surveying, and construction. Stay ahead with the latest civil engineering techniques and developments, such as low-carbon materials and sustainability.

Why choose this course?

This civil engineering qualification will help shape your career, providing you with essential skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience.

State-of-the-art learning environment: Learn and be inspired in our brand-new School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science (Spectra building). Explore experiential learning zones, modelling and water engineering labs, advanced heavy structures testing facilities, and innovative construction materials research labs.

Industry connections and career opportunities: Leverage our strong industry links for additional expertise and career-boosting opportunities.

*based on an average of questions 1-25 of the NSS survey 2023.

Professional accreditations

Our civil engineering course is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE), and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) on behalf of the Engineering Council as:

  1. Fully satisfying the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng)
  1. Partially satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

A programme of accredited further learning will be required to complete the educational base for CEng.

Your future career

This course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to step confidently into a career in civil engineering.

Possible roles of employment include:

  • Building control surveyor
  • Water engineer
  • CAD technician
  • Design engineer
  • Structural engineer

The practical experience and knowledge you’ll gain will equip you for employment and help you join the 93% of Herts graduates who go on to work or further study after graduating (Graduate Outcomes, 2021/2022).

What you'll study

The civil engineering degree is innovative in its teaching and learning. Modules are delivered through a mix of face-to-face teaching and the University's StudyNet, where you can access electronic resources and speak with staff and other students.

A heavy emphasis is on theory and practical learning, incorporating case studies, problem-based learning, and hands-on activities.

You will apply principles of civil engineering, including structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, environmental engineering, materials science, surveying, and construction. You'll explore the latest techniques and developments, such as low-carbon materials and sustainability.

An industry-related project will let you simulate professional roles in civil engineering, covering highways, fluids, structures, materials, and geotechnics. Whilst studying civil engineering at Herts, you will use industrial standard software like Ansys, AutoCAD, MATLAB, and Oasys.

Our teaching staff are experts in civil engineering fields. You’ll also gain additional insight and develop contacts through regular guest lectures and our Industry Advisory Group.

In Year 1, you’ll gain an understanding of the basics of civil engineering, including materials, forces in structures, fluid mechanics, and surveying.

In Year 2, you’ll build on the foundations of what you’ve learnt, deepening your understanding of soil mechanics, fluids, structural design, surveying, and materials, and become confident using programmes such as AutoCAD.

In Year 3, you’ll showcase all your knowledge through an individual project and a group project, focusing on specific areas such as highways and flood management.

What if I need support?

You’ll be assigned a personal tutor to guide you through your course. Additionally, all our sites have practice education facilitators with whom we work closely with, who will support you in practice, alongside your lecturers.

You might also want or need extra support during your time at university. From help with study skills, including referencing, essay writing and presentations, you’ll have access to our academic support services. You can attend workshops, 1-to-1 sessions and online tutorials. Both our LRCs run drop-in study skills sessions.

Where you'll study

You’ll share College Lane campus with future nurses, scientists, artists and more. You can use the common rooms to relax with friends, work out in the 24-hour gym or have a drink in our on-campus pub or cafes. We also have restaurants for you to eat in or grab something on the go. Our Learning Resources Centres are open 24/7, which means you can study whenever suits you best. Want to pop over to the other campus? You can take the free shuttle bus or walk there in just 15 minutes.

New School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science building now open

Learn in our new state-of-the-art building called Spectra, where you’ll experience a range of experiential learning zones. You will have access to modelling, simulation and research labs, our Merlin Flight Simulator and automotive workshop (complete with electric vehicle facility), wind tunnel, welding bay and controls testing suite.

You will also benefit from our Academic Support Hub, which is aimed at helping you build your employability and academic skills. Plus, you’ll have access to industry mentors who will provide you with pastoral support, vocational guidance, and career progression opportunities.

Spectra also provides space to collaborate, with plenty of workshops, social and meeting spaces available. Even better, the building has been designed with the University’s net zero carbon target in mind, and forms part of our plan to replace or upgrade older sites that are energy inefficient.

Check out our student blogs

How we support our students

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible.

We offer a range of support services, from childcare to counselling, ensuring that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying, having fun, and have the support you need.

Student in overalls using pillar drills

My week at a glance

I am currently in the third year of my civil engineering degree and this academic year has been significantly different compared to the previous two years. The course has been divided into six modules across two semesters. Individual major project and group design project each worth 30 credits run throughout both semesters while two added modules each worth 15 credits are covered in semester A and semester B.

My week starts with a group meeting with the client as part of the group design project assessment on Monday mornings at 09:00. So, I usually wake up at around 08:00 in the morning. All my lectures and classes are held in the College Lane campus and are only a few minutes walk from my flat as I live in accommodation halls. Most of my lectures and classes start in the morning although there are some slight changes to the timetable each week. On the days when I do not have lectures or classes in the morning, I go to the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) to do some work as I find myself more productive working in the library.

The lectures are two hours long, and the tutorials and practical sessions are usually about an hour long. Before attending the lectures, I go through the lecture slides whenever possible. I have found this to be especially useful in helping me to get a better understanding of the topic. Additionally, there are various activities in which I actively take part such as presentations, group discussions, quizzes, and mock tests. Every now and then, there are talks and seminars on relevant topics from experts and industry professionals and I try my best to attend these when possible.

As there are fewer lectures and classes this year, I am usually free during 12:00 to 14:00. During this time, I return to my flat to have lunch. Occasionally, I head over to the canteen in the Forum whenever I am feeling too lazy to prepare my lunch. If there are no lectures or classes in the afternoon, I usually spend my time in the library doing an independent study or working with my friends for the group project. We usually do this by booking a group study room in the library where we sit down as a group and work together and prepare for the next client meeting.

After a long day, I usually wind down in the evening. I prepare my dinner at around 19:00 and relax for a few hours before going to bed unless I have some urgent work such as upcoming deadlines for assignments.

Since there are no lectures for individual major project and group design project modules, they require a lot of independent study/research. I give a specific day of the week for focusing solely on my individual project. Each week, I spend some time planning for the week ahead to tackle the overwhelming workload. Depending on my weekly timetable and assignment deadlines, I set out a plan. This helps me to track and check the progress for each assignment as well as make necessary adjustments. I believe proper planning and good time management is the key as completing the assignments can be quite challenging.

Student in overalls using pillar drills

Why I love Civil Engineering

Hi, my name is Gyan and I am currently in the third year of my civil engineering degree. Here are some of the things that I love about my course.

First, I love the course itself. Studying civil engineering involves more than just sitting in a lecture room for hours and hours. There are lots of practical sessions and hands-on work. Although lectures are crucial to the understanding of the topic, the practicals and various other activities make it more engaging and I always prefer learning this way as I can put the knowledge into practice.

Studying civil engineering involves a lot of fieldwork and there are many opportunities for site visits which help to broaden my understanding as some of the challenges involved with fieldwork cannot be fully understood through lectures. I also love the fact that I get to travel to various places as part of my course and learn new things. For instance, as part of surveying modules, I had the opportunity to carry out fieldwork in Bayfordbury and Yorkshire.

The course is tailored in a way that it prepares us as future civil engineers. There are certain assessments which involve working with other students as part of a group. It helps us to understand the importance of proper planning and team coordination. In addition to this, there are several activities in which I actively take part such as presentations, group discussion and quizzes. These are designed to simulate real-life situations in the industry, and I find them extremely helpful.

All the lecturers and teaching staff are very friendly and helpful. They make the lectures interesting and engaging by using a variety of tools and teaching methods. Most of them have an industrial background and they adopt a practical approach to teaching/learning which is helpful for me. They are also easy to approach and welcome any questions. Although they do have preferred drop-in hours, most of them have an open-door policy and are always happy to help. Assignments can be quite challenging, and some can take a long time to complete but the teaching staff are always happy to supply guidance and support. I like the fact that some of these assignments are tailored to reflect real-life problems and sometimes require thinking out of the box. Constructive feedback is supplied for all assignments within four weeks and most of the time, it is much quicker. This feedback provides me with valuable information on how to get better and how to overcome my shortcomings in the future.

Additionally, there are various events such as relevant talks and seminars which supply insight to the industry. Careers and employment team also supply excellent advice and support. Overall, Herts is a great place to study civil engineering and I am enjoying my course here as it provides a wonderful opportunity to shape the world around us and be a part of the future.

Student in overalls using pillar drills

Why I chose Herts

Hi, my name is Gyan and I am currently studying Civil Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire. I am in my third year and the last three years have been a wonderful experience.

Before joining the university, I attended one of the applicant days and that was when I decided this was the place for me. It was hosted by the Dean of the school and a few other members of the staff. I was incredibly happy to learn that the Dean himself was also a civil engineer. They were all very enthusiastic and friendly. I was at once captivated when I got a tour of the campus facilities. I really enjoyed the programme on that day.

The location was perfect for me too. I wanted to live away from my family home in west London and be more independent. It was far away enough for me to move out, but at the same time not too far away as I could always go back home during the weekends whenever I wanted to. I was also given a tour of the accommodation halls and I loved how well kept all the rooms and buildings were. It seemed like a safe and friendly place and I am glad that I was not wrong. Moreover, I liked the neighbourhood and the surrounding areas. There were lots of open space and it felt like a place where I could relax, learn, and grow as an individual.

I was also impressed by the other facilities. The Learning Resources Centre with designated silent study areas and group study rooms was a place where I could picture myself using for when I would be studying and doing my assignments. In addition to that, there are excellent sporting facilities in the Hertfordshire Sports Village and a 24-hour gym at the Oval.

With over 25,000 students from all over the world, Herts has a diverse population and I’m glad that I picked Herts because it is a wonderful place to learn, live and be more.

Entry requirements

The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. The entry requirements listed on the course pages provide a guide to the minimum level of qualifications needed to study each course. However, we have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis.

Typical offer (UCAS points)(enter tariff range)
Typical A Level offer(enter range)
Typical IB offer(enter range)
Typical BTEC offer(enter range)
Typical T Level offer(enter range)
GCSEEG: Grade 4/C in English Language and 4/D Mathematics
Access coursesEG: An overall merit profile in 45 credits at Level 3.
Additional informationFind out more about our standard and contextual Undergraduate Entry Requirements.

English language

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

Additional information

Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

UCAS pointsA LevelBTECAccepted T LevelsAccess Course TariffIB requirement
112–120

BBC–BBB

Mandatory subjects:

From three A levels only, to include A Level Mathematics at minimum of grade C . Other A Levels may come from a selection of either engineering or technology, science, design, computing or business related subjects. General Studies/Critical Thinking not accepted

DMM–DDM

Mandatory subjects:

Extended Diploma in Engineering, to include distinction in Further Mathematics

NoneNot accepted

112–120 UCAS points from three HL subjects at grade 5 or above, to include HL Mathematics and either engineering, technology or environmental subjects

English language

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

For more details on the University of Hertfordshire's entry requirements, please visit our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page.

Additional information

Find out more about International Entry Requirements.

Ready to apply?

UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK
Start date Study typeApply
September 2025Part time Apply with Herts
Full time/sandwichApply via UCAS
  
 
September 2026Part timeApply with Herts
Full time/sandwich Apply via UCAS

International and EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Fees and funding

At Herts, we’re dedicated to providing world-class teaching supported by industry-level facilities and incredible social spaces. We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to higher education, and we strive to keep both our standard and additional costs as low as possible.

Study typeFees
UK studentsFull time£9,250 for the 2025/2026 academic year
Part time£1,155 per 15 credits for the 2025/2026 academic year
EU studentsFull time£15,965 for the 2025/2026 academic year
Part time£1,995 per 15 credits for the 2025/2026 academic year
International studentsFull time£15,965 for the 2025/2026 academic year
Part time£1,995 per 15 credits for the 2025/2026 academic year

Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

Scholarships, grants  and bursaries

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a non-repayable scholarship, grant or bursary to support your studies.

Disabled Students' Allowance

The Disabled Students’ Allowance can cover any study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability.

Student loans

Find out about securing a student loan, from how much you could be eligible for to when you need to start making repayments.

Accommodation costs

We offer a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

Additional course fees

Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet.

More about the course

Course fact sheets
BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering (revised 2023) Download PDF
Programme specifications
BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering (revised 2023) Download PDF
Additional information

Applications open to international and EU students

Yes

Course length

Part Time, 6 YearsSandwich, 4 Years

Not ready to apply?