Program Overview

BEng Environmental Engineering with Foundation Year - 2026 entry

Overview

We believe that fair access to higher education is a fundamental enabler for social mobility and are committed to delivering this through our education. We aim to widen participation and raise attainment - bridging gaps in retention, progression and success - to ensure our students enjoy the best possible outcome.

In support of the University’s Access and Participation Plan this course is only open to UK domiciled students who meet our contextual offer eligibility criteria, or are classed as Mature Students, and who may not have met the entry requirements for first year entry or have not been able to take A-level Mathematics alongside a BTEC L3 Extended Diploma. Check if you are eligible to join this programme on our contextual offer webpages.

Eligibility criteria

• A-Level: BCC, C in Maths and B in an accepted Science subject*
• IB: 26/544, Maths HL4 or SL6, and HL5 in a Science subject
• BTEC: DMM, Applicants studying one of the following BTEC Extended Diplomas will be considered without GCE A-Level Maths and Science: Construction and the Built Environment, Building Services Engineering, Civil Engineering, Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
• GCSE: 4/C, Grade C or 4 in GCSE English language
• Access to HE: 18 L3 credits at Distinction grade and 27 L3 credits at Merit grade, 12 L3 credits in Maths at Pass Grade and 12 L3 credits at Merit Grade or above in another Science subject
• T-Levels: T-Levels not accepted

Accreditation

Please note: As part of our ongoing commitment towards improving the student experience at Exeter, we are introducing a new foundation-level year to our Engineering degrees from September 2022. The foundation course covers the core maths skills needed to progress onto our Year 1 of the BEng Engineering with Foundation Year programme, or have the opportunity to transfer to Year 1 of another programme with a foundation year provided you meet the entry requirements for that programme. As a result of introducing the foundation year we are currently going through a process to expand our accreditation to include this programme.

Course content

The Foundation Year is part of an integrated 4 year undergraduate degree programme. The information below relates to the Foundation Year only. Please see our 'pathways' below for further information and details of the modules available on the degree programmes you can progress to from the Foundation Year.

The course comprises of 90 credits of core maths, to elevate students’ knowledge to A-level grade A standard, plus some aspects of the further maths curriculum, but concentrating on developing core mathematical skills.

The other 30 credits comprise a project that includes key skills for university study.

Foundation year modules

• Compulsory modules
  • MTH0001: Principles of Pure Mathematics (30 credits)
  • MTH0003: Exploring Mathematics (15 credits)
  • MTH0004: Foundation Statistics (15 credits)
  • MTH0005: Science: Skills and Culture (30 credits)
  • MTH0006: Applied Mathematics (15 credits)
  • MTH0007: Programming Skills (15 credits)

Pathways

The courses listed below are the pathway options available for these integrated 4-year undergraduate degree programmes. In the second term of your Foundation Year, you will specialise in your chosen course:

• Taught at Streatham Campus, Devon:
  • Biomedical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng
  • Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng
  • Civil Engineering with Foundation Year BEng
  • Computer Science with Foundation Year BSc
  • Data Science with Foundation Year BSc
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year BEng
  • Engineering with Foundation Year BEng
  • Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng
  • Mathematics with Foundation Year BSc
  • Natural Sciences with Foundation Year BSc
  • Physics with Foundation Year BSc
  • Robotics and Artificial Intelligence with Foundation Year BEng
• Taught at Penryn Campus, Cornwall:
  • Environmental Engineering with Foundation Year BEng
  • Mining Engineering with Foundation Year BEng
  • Renewable Energy Engineering with Foundation Year BEng
  • Systems Engineering with Foundation Year BEng

Fees

Please note: The fees for students starting in 2026 have yet to be set. The fees provided below are the fees for students starting in 2025 and are for guidance only. We will post the fees for 2026 entry shortly.

Tuition fees for 2025 entry

• UK students: £9,535 per year

Scholarships

The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships.

Financial support is also available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.

Learning and teaching

The way you learn at university may be different from what you have experienced before. Depending on your course, you may encounter a variety of teaching methods.

In the Foundation year of this programme, you will experience a range of teaching and learning activities including lectures, workshops, tutorials, group projects/presentations and/or seminars. The mathematics modules at this stage comprise of 90 credits in total, while the 'Science: Skills and Culture' module is 30 credits. You should expect your total workload to average about 40 hours per week during term time including guided independent study hours.

Assessment

Modules are assessed by a combination of summative assessments. You must pass your foundation year and meet the progression criteria to progress, but the results do not count towards your degree classification.

Your future

The protection and enhancement of our natural environment sits at the heart of the sustainability agenda, with environmental engineers playing a crucial role in this effort. Upon graduation, you will have a deep understanding of the environmental, economic, social and sustainability issues that are an integral part of the professional engineer's role in society.

You will be well-equipped to apply your engineering skills and knowledge to tackle environmental challenges, preparing you for diverse careers such as key roles in multidisciplinary industrial teams, research and development groups, as well as legislative and financial organisations. The strong analytical thinking, project management and innovative problem-solving skills you develop will make you a sought-after professional, valued for your discipline-specific expertise and capability in leadership positions.

Career support

As a University of Exeter student, you will also have access to the Career Zone, providing invaluable support and tailored guidance to help you prepare for your career after university.

Related courses

• Environmental Engineering BEng
• Environmental Engineering MEng
• Renewable Energy Engineering with Foundation Year BEng
• Systems Engineering with Foundation Year BEng

View all Engineering courses

Top 10 in the UK for General Engineering

8th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Hands-on course with an emphasis on practical project work

£6.5million investment in our teaching labs, workshop spaces and equipment

92% of our Engineering research is internationally excellent

Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021