Heriot-Watt University
Study Undergraduate

MEng Civil Engineering

Go Global:

  • Inter-Campus Transfer
  • European Exchange
  • Non-European Exchange

The course

UCAS code
H201
Duration
5 years
Location
Edinburgh
Delivery type
Full-time

Solve the civil engineering problems of tomorrow's world. Civil Engineering is ranked in the UK top 20 and 3rd in Scotland for overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2021.

Find out how to apply More about this subject area

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Overview

This degree covers the main Civil Engineering disciplines of structures, geotechnics, water engineering and transportation engineering, and provides students with the key skills and knowledge required to become chartered civil engineers. The core curriculum includes instruction in all main subject areas, concentrating on analysis and materials behaviour, with a focus on design and management in the specialisation years. Throughout, there is an emphasis on the personal development of students within a professional environment.

Civil Engineering is ranked in the UK top 20 and 3rd in Scotland for overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2021. Our degrees are supported by the Civil Engineering Industry Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from major multi-national employers offering advice, guidance and work placement opportunities.

 

Highlights

In year 1 you have the opportunity to visit a range of construction sites and experience guest lectures from professional engineers.

In year 2 you have the opportunity to participate in Constructionarium, which provides hands-on construction working alongside professional engineers and tradesmen to construct scaled down versions of bridges, buildings, dams and civil engineering projects from all around the world.

There is flexibility to transfer between Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering degrees in years 1, 2 and 3.

In year 4, students undertake a week long collaborative design project working with students from across the built environment disciplines or can apply to study at a partner institution in Europe or North America.

In year 5, students have the opportunity to participate in a field trip to Barcelona, looking at the design of some of the worlds’ most iconic structures.

Students on this programme also have the opportunity to apply for an Inter-Campus transfer to Dubai or Malaysia.

Global College pathway for this degree

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, have a look at Heriot-Watt Global College, where you can follow an accelerated pathway which will get you onto the second year of this degree.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) and Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Emil Viem, Civil Engineering student

I'm very much enjoying my time here. The programme is challenging but the support and guidance from my lecturers make it very manageable.

Emil Viem, Civil Engineering student

Go Global

With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way.

You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.

Course content

Year 1

The below course structure is subject to developmental change. 

Most courses are worth 15 credits. Some courses are 30 credits. 30-credit courses are stated as such. 

Semester 1

  • Mechanics A
  • Construction Technology 1
  • Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 1
  • Shaping Tomorrow Together A

Semester 2

  • Mechanics B
  • Introduction to Materials
  • Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 2
  • Shaping Tomorrow Together B

Year 2

Semester 1

  • Analysis of Determinate Structures
  • Hydraulics and Hydrology A
  • Surveying and GIS
  • Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 3

Semester 2

  • Civil Engineering Materials
  • Stress Analysis and Element Strength
  • Design Studies A - Problem Solving
  • Statistics for Science

Year 3

Semester 1

  • Design of Steel Elements
  • Transportation Design, Infrastructure and Society
  • Indeterminate Structures
  • Geology and Soil Properties

Semester 2

  • Hydraulics and Hydrology B
  • Geotechnics A - Introduction to Soil Mechanics
  • Design of Concrete Elements
  • Environmental Technology and Management

Year 4

Semester 1

  • Dissertation 1 
  • Geotechnics B - Soil Strength
  • Optional course
  • Optional course

Semester 2

  • Dissertation 1 
  • Civil Engineering Design Project
  • Foundation Engineering
  • Optional course

Optional courses include: Sustainability for Construction Professionals, Plastic Analysis of Structures, Structural Element Design, Highway Engineering, Environmental Geotechnics, Finite Element Method Linear Analysis, Urban Drainage and Water Supply, Water and Wastewater Treatment. 

Year 5

Semester 1

  • Civil Engineering Professional Design Project (30 credits)
  • Optional course
  • Optional course

Semester 2

Students take four 15-credit courses from a range of options. 

Optional courses include: Design of Low Carbon Buildings, Advanced Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures, Advanced Design of Steel and Steel-Concrete Composite Structures, Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources, Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Finite Element Method Nonlinear Analysis, Ground Engineering, Human Factor Methods, Statistical Modelling of the Environment, River Flow and Flood Modelling, Stability and Dynamics, Structural Materials, Safety, Risk and Reliability, Urban Drainage and Water Supply, Water and Wastewater Treatment, Construction Financial Management, Project Management: Strategic Issues, Project Management: Theory and Practice, Value and Risk Management, Environmental Planning

Discover Uni course data

Discover Uni provides data on each university's degree courses across a range of measures including student satisfaction, graduate jobs and salaries.

Employability

Work and study

This is what our MEng Civil Engineering students are doing 15 months after graduating:

  • 85% are working
  • 5% are studying
  • 10% are working and studying.

Salary

  • The average salary of students 15 months after graduating: £27000
  • The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course: £28000

Jobs

These are the most common high skilled jobs students go into 15 months after graduating:

  • Engineering professionals
  • Managers, directors and senior officials

Entry requirements

Year 1

Standard entry requirements 

  • Highers AABB (including Mathematics)
  • A-Levels BBC - ABB (including Mathematics at B)
  • Int. Baccalaureate 30 points (including 5 in HL Mathematics)
  • BTEC DMM (in relevant engineering course)
  • HNC B in graded unit (including 1 unit of SCQF Level 7 Maths if you do not have Higher Maths)

Minimum entry requirements*

  • Highers BBBC (including Mathematics at B)
  • A-Levels BCC - ABB (including Mathematics at B)

* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:

  • live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20), or
  • are care experienced.

We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements.

Year 2

  • Advanced Highers BB (including mathematics plus AABB at Higher)
  • A-Levels ABB (including B in mathematics)
  • Int. Baccalaureate 35 points (including 6 in HL mathematics)
  • HNC A in graded unit (in a relevant subject area and Mathematics at SCQF Level 7)
  • HND BB in graded unit (in a relevant subject area and Mathematics at SCQF Level 7)
  • BTEC DDM (in relevant engineering course)
  • Global College Successful completion of Bachelors Degree Accelerator Foundation - Engineering and Science

Year 3

  • HND AB in graded units (in a relevant subject area and Mathematics at SCQF Level 7)

Additional information

English language requirements

  • If English is not your first language, you have to show that your English is good enough to succeed on your course. Please see our English language requirements.

Fees

Tuition fees for 2023 entry
Status* Scotland England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland International**
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £22,264

* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.

** 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above). Read more about the application process for EU nationals.

Additional costs

You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.

Scholarships and bursaries

Featured scholarships

Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales

In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:

  • Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)
View details about the Heriot-Watt University Bursary

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.