Civil Engineering, BEng (Hons) / MEng (Hons)

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Course Overview

Civil engineers are vital to the design of our built environment. From bridges, tunnels and transport systems, to buildings, flood defences and water management, their performance is fundamental to modern society.

This degree gives you a strong grounding in the design and analysis of civil engineering structures. You will develop complex problem-solving skills, gain the ability to sketch and model engineering solutions, and will become comfortable preparing technical reports.

As you progress, your developing analytical abilities will combine with hands-on experience, using state-of-the-art equipment, and establishing skills which are vital to securing employment in the civil engineering industry.

Why Civil Engineering at Swansea?

You will study at our coastal Bay Campus, overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula.

You will be joining a leading department that is currently ranked:

  • Top 20 in the UK for Career Prospects (Guardian University Guide 2026)
  • Top 25 in the UK Overall (Daily Mail University Guide 2026)
  • Top 201-275 in the World for Engineering – Civil & Structural (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025), and
  • 95% of Civil Engineering Graduates are in Employment and/or study, or doing other activities, such as travelling 15 months after leaving Swansea University (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025)

You will be taught by a team of research-active academics and staff with wide civil engineering industry experience. This combination ensures that you benefit from both cutting-edge research and practical experience.

You will also benefit from having access to advanced facilities with high grade laboratories that support innovative testing across the various civil engineering sectors. The fluids laboratory has a suite of experiments to demonstrate the fundamental behaviour and properties of fluids, as well as a five-metre experimental flume with wave paddle for real-world studies. Our well-equipped geomechanics laboratory enables the analysis of a wide range of soil parameters. You can also use our sophisticated range of Topcon surveying equipment to get hands-on experience before going out on site.

Your Civil Engineering Experience

The programme is designed to provide a coherent and progressive learning journey:

  • Levels 4 and 5: Provide a strong basis in fundamental theory and design principles across each strand (structural analysis, fluids, geotechnics, design, transportation), whilst also building the professional skills required of a civil engineer.
  • Level 6: You will study advanced topics connected with each strand, with practical industrial problems providing experience. The design project brings this knowledge together with a task set by engineers currently working in industry. You will also undertake an individual project linked with the expertise of the department.
  • Level 7 (MEng): You can select from full design projects currently being carried out in industry as part of a year-long group design exercise that replicates the work of practising civil engineers. This is supported by advanced design and modelling topics in other modules.

As you progress, you’ll experience close connections to the rapidly evolving industry. You will learn about current design practice and the latest engineering standards. We will nurture your computer modelling skills by encouraging you to develop your own software to analyse real-world civil engineering problems. Your developing analytical abilities will combine with hands-on experience of state-of-the-art equipment and modelling techniques, establishing skills which are vital to securing employment in the civil engineering industry and tackling future engineering challenges.

This programme includes opportunities to undertake a Year Abroad, enhancing your learning and offering invaluable life experience. 

This course also offers you the opportunity to spend a Year in Industry, in the UK or overseas, enabling you to gain valuable workplace experience. The University advocates for paid-only placements, which on average have a salary of over £20,000. Unpaid placements are considered on a case-by-case basis. 

The optional Foundation Year for this programme can give you an exciting introduction to higher education, setting you up with the skills, confidence, and knowledge that you’ll need to be successful in your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after further education, or are returning to education after a gap. Following successful completion of the Foundation Year, you will progress onto Year 1 of your degree.

The MEng is a four-year integrated degree that goes beyond the BEng, offering advanced technical and leadership skills, deeper specialisation, and a direct pathway to professional accreditation.

Civil Engineering Employment Opportunities

Our undergraduate civil engineering programmes enable you to progress on to Chartered Engineer status with corresponding professional bodies (which can depend on additional learning if you are studying the BEng programme).

This degree has strong links with industry and provides you with numerous opportunities to gain professional experience throughout. Additionally, career development opportunities are integrated into assessments, with supporting talks provided by employers and professional bodies.

Professionalism and ethical behaviour are supported using the principles set out in the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) code of professional conduct.

Graduates of the civil engineering degree at Swansea are set on a course towards a range of stimulating future careers, which could be based across any civil engineering sector. Example graduate roles include working as a:

  • Site Engineer
  • Structural Engineer
  • Geotechnical Engineer
  • Highways Engineer
  • Coastal Engineer
  • Project Engineer

Our graduates have also gone on to work at major companies, such as Atkins, Arup, Mott MacDonald, AECOM, Jacobs and WSP.

While the focus of this programme is on developing the skills and knowledge required to work as a civil engineering professional, a civil engineering degree can also be useful in adjacent engineering fields, and is highly sought after in commercial and financial sectors. This degree also equips you with the ability to continue on to specialise in research in linked areas.

Modules

We're currently reviewing our curriculum to enhance your learning experience and embed skills that will benefit your future career. This means that some modules may be subject to change.

Entry Requirements

We consider all applicants on their own merits and welcome applications from students with a wide range of qualifications.

Civil Engineering, BEng (Hons)

Civil Engineering, MEng (Hons)

Civil Engineering with a Year in Industry, MEng (Hons)

Civil Engineering with a Foundation year, BEng (Hons)

Civil Engineering with a Year Abroad, BEng (Hons)

Civil Engineering with a Year in Industry, BEng (Hons)