Program Overview

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MEng Civil Engineering

Overview

As a civil engineer, you'll help create the built environment around us. Bridges, airports, highways, buildings, and railways present their own problems and challenges and need efficient and effective engineering solutions.

You'll learn the fundamentals of civil engineering and develop skills in structural analysis, transport systems, ground engineering, water resource management, and transport planning.

You'll gain industry insights from site visits, a week-long survey camp, an overseas field trip, and input from engineering companies.

Mode of Study:

• Full-time

Duration:

• 5 years

Start date:

• September

UCAS code:

• H202

Course details

In year one, you will learn the principles of Civil Engineering via an introduction to Materials, Structural Analysis, Construction Process, and methods of Engineering Communication, including use of industry-standard software platforms. The formative stages of your studies are specific to Civil Engineering and are not taught as part of a common first and second year. All areas are underpinned by developing competency in relevant mathematical techniques and approaches to problem-solving.

Once an understanding of the fundamental principles of Civil Engineering has been established, you will then progress on to more advanced areas of Structural Design, Geotechnics, Fluid Mechanics, and Transportation Engineering. You will implement practical solutions across a range of applied applications and develop your skills in lateral problem-solving and innovative thinking.

In your final year of study, you will develop, manage, and undertake a program of independent investigation under the guidance of an associated research supervisor. You will also work as part of a team to fulfill a client's project brief relating to the development of a substantial piece of Built Environment Infrastructure – the successful fulfillment of this brief will require you to utilize all of the skills developed over the course of your studies with us.

How you'll be taught

• Lectures and tutorials, three modules each semester.

Assessments

• No exams in year 1. Each module has one coursework and one exam.

Study abroad

• As part of this course, you may apply to study abroad as part of a tailored civil engineering exchange scheme or the Erasmus+ program.

Popular modules

Year 1

• Construction Engineering
• Principles of Civil Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Materials Engineering
• Communication
• Foundation Mathematics
• Construction Surveying

Year 2

• Civil Engineering Principles and Materials 2
• Fluid Mechanics
• Structural Analysis and Design
• Geotechnics 1
• Intermediate Mathematics
• Project Management

Year 3

• Water Resources Engineering
• Geotechnics 2
• Transport Engineering Construction Methods
• Structural Engineering 1
• Further Intermediate Mathematics

Year 4

• Geotechnics 3
• Railway Engineering
• Structural Engineering 2
• Integrated Engineering Design 1
• Honours Project (Dissertation)

Year 5

• MEng Dissertation and Integrated Engineering Design 2
• MSc Advanced Structural Engineering Options

In addition, students must select four modules from the following:

• Advanced Mechanics of Materials and Finite Element Analysis
• Advanced Structural Concrete
• Advanced Structural Steel Design
• Forensic Engineering
• Foundation Design to Eurocode 7
• Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Design

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Civil Engineering?

Our entry requirements indicate both Standard and Minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year, and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

Year 1

Minimum Year 1

• SQA Higher: ABBB to include Maths (Higher Applications of Maths not accepted).
• A level: BBC to include Maths
• Irish Leaving Certificate: H2, H2, H2, H3 at Higher Level to include Maths
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Award of Diploma with 29 points overall with three Higher Level subjects at grades 6, 5, 5. Standard Level Maths at grade 5 also required.
• BTEC National Extended Diploma (Level 3): DMM (Distinction, Merit, Merit) in a related subject. BTEC must include Maths or A level Maths must have also been achieved.
• T level: Merit. T Level must be completed in a Maths subject or A Level Maths will be required.

Year 2

Minimum Year 2

• SQA Advanced Higher: BBB to include Maths (Applications of Maths not accepted).
• A Level: ABB to include Maths
• HNC: Pass in Civil Engineering with grade A in the Graded Unit. Must include passes in the modules Mathematics for Construction (SCQF Level 6) and Maths for Civil Engineering (SCQF Level 7).

Year 3

Minimum Year 3

• HND: Pass HND in Civil Engineering with grade A in all SCQF Level 8 Graded Units. Must include passes in the modules Maths for Construction (SCQF Level 6), Maths for Civil Engineering (SCQF Level 7), and Applied Maths for Civil Engineering (SCQF Level 8).
• Irish Ordinary Degree: Pass in a relevant subject with 60% overall and with a minimum of 50% at first sitting in all final year subjects.

Year 4

Minimum Year 4

• Irish Ordinary Degree: Pass in a relevant subject with 70% overall, with a minimum of 50% at first sitting in all final year subjects.

English language

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

International students

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances, and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees for 2024/25

• Students from Scotland: £1,820
• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,250
• Overseas and EU students: £19,340

Careers

What can you do with a MEng Civil Engineering degree?

A degree in civil engineering from Edinburgh Napier University allows for a wide scope of career options, including:

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Transport and Urban Planning
• Water Engineering and fluid mechanics
• Construction Management

As a civil engineer, you have the option to be involved in many different projects, from simple structures (residential or office buildings) to more complicated ones, such as stadiums, bridges, hospitals, schools, etc.

Depending on your specialization, you may be involved in different aspects of a project, such as the foundation design (geotechnical engineer) or the structural design (structural engineer). If you are interested in transportation systems and how to enhance them, a career in transportation engineering is the right for you.

If you are interested in construction, a career in construction management may be the right for you.

Some of our civil engineering graduates have even taken their numerical and mathematical skills gained during their studies to work in banking and financial industries.

The average salary for civil engineering professionals in the UK is around £40,300, and employment opportunities are everywhere, with good career progression opportunities.

The career options are wide and diverse, making civil engineering an exciting, in-demand, and transferable course.

What does a Civil Engineer do?

Civil engineers are creative individuals who enjoy problem-solving and contributing to the built environment around us. They plan, design, and oversee nearly all aspects of construction projects. Projects can come in many different forms, whether that is large buildings or essential infrastructure systems like railways and water management facilities.

Very often, civil engineers are involved in the monitoring and retrofitting of existing structures (such as older bridges) as they check their structural integrity and implement advanced technologies for their upgrading so that they satisfy the latest design standards.

In addition, civil (geotechnical) engineers are involved in the risk assessment and mitigation of natural hazards, such as landslides, floods, and earthquakes.

You could be responsible for planning, designing, and overseeing the construction of large-scale buildings and our roads and railways systems, airport, bridges, and harbors, as well as tall buildings like the Shard in London and large structures built to withstand any weather condition. Civil engineers also work on projects that have huge environmental benefits such as waste and water management, or buildings and venues that may surprise you.