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BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering

Key information

Solve the civil engineering problems of tomorrow's world. Civil Engineering ranked 8th in the UK and 2nd in Scotland for overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2020.

UCAS code
H200
Level
Undergraduate
Degree qualification
BEng (Hons)
Duration
4 years
Location
edinburgh

BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering covers materials, structures, geotechnics, water engineering, and transportation engineering, and will provide you with the key skills and knowledge required to continue onto chartered status as a civil engineer.   

You’ll concentrate on analysis and behaviours of materials in the early years of the degree, with a focus on design and management as you progress through your studies.  

Your personal development within a professional environment will be supported and developed throughout your studies to ensure you gain the core technical skills and personal qualities required to strive within the dynamic built environment industry at the highest possible technical level. 

Your student experience

Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active civil and structural engineers, construction professionals, industry-leaders, and academics. 

96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh. 

Our BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering programme is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Sustainable Built Environment (ISBE) which sits within the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS). EGIS is one of the United Kingdom’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity. The institute’s academic team conduct high-value and high-impact research on fields covering sustainability, digital innovation, design, and management of the built environment. The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused. 

This School is also part of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design, a leading body recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Centre is one of only four such centres established at United Kingdom universities that jointly form a national network to demonstrate and exchange best practice in teaching and research for the sustainable built environment. 

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.

European Exchange

This Exchange Programme enables you to study or work in Europe as part of your degree programme, usually for a full academic year.

Worldwide Exchange

This Exchange Programme enables you to study outside of Europe as part of your degree programme, usually for a full academic year.

Inter-Campus Transfer: Dubai

Discover new friends and places with an inter-campus transfer to Dubai.

Inter-Campus Transfer: Malaysia

Discover new friends and places with an inter-campus transfer to Malaysia.

Course content

September Intake - Edinburgh

Note that the below course structure is subject to developmental change.

 

Mandatory September

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

Mandatory January

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

Optional January

  • Building Services Technology

Programme Video

Built Environment at Heriot-Watt University

Entry requirements

We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.

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 BBC - 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.

Why Heriot-Watt

We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.

We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.

Employability

Work and study

This is what our BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering students are doing 15 months after graduating:
84%
are working
4%
are studying
4%
are studying and working

Salary

£28500
The average salary of students 15 months after graduating
£29000
The average UK salary of students 15 months after graduating from a similar course

Potential career paths

  • Engineering professionals

Student life

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