Introduction
Key information
Start date: October 2021
BEng (Hons) UCAS: H200 3 years
BEng (Hons) UCAS: H201 4 years with professional training
BEng (Hons) UCAS: H202 4 years with foundation year
BEng (Hons) UCAS: H203 5 years with foundation year and professional training
Why choose this course
Our civil engineering courses give you an industry-focused, practical training which prepares you for work as a professional civil engineer. There’s a strong emphasis on structural engineering, and throughout your course, you’ll work on integrated design projects that are centred on industry-relevant case studies.
Our close links with industry enable you to take up a salaried Professional Training placement with one of the world’s leading contractor or consultancy companies. This gives you valuable experience which contributes towards chartership.
What you will study
On our fully accredited courses, you will study a lively mix of modules which draw on Surrey’s outstanding expertise in areas such as water and environmental engineering, and advanced geotechnical engineering. You’ll learn not just through lectures, tutorials and practical challenges, but from industry speakers, site visits and a first-year field trip.
Whether you decide on a BEng or MEng, you’ll study the same content for the first three years, and conduct a major third-year project on a topic of your choice. MEng students then do a masters year which covers the full academic requirements for becoming a chartered engineer.
"Real-world experience through industrial placements has helped me gauge what really happens in the industry and has given me an edge when completing coursework." Ben Elphick, student
“I chose to study Civil Engineering at Surrey because of its excellent ties with industry.” Chris Candy, student
Surrey/ICE Scholarship
The Surrey/ICE Scholarship Scheme is a unique partnership between Surrey, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and leading civil engineering companies.
Once accepted on the scheme, you’ll be matched with an industrial company which will support you throughout your time at Surrey. You will benefit from £1,950 a year to support your studies, salaried placements throughout your course including a Professional Training placement year, and fast-track training to enhance your career potential.
Facilities
Specialised facilities include:
Structures (Instron) laboratory
Purpose-built soil mechanics and geology laboratories
Composites technology laboratory
Centre for Environmental Health Engineering (CEHE)
Six wind tunnels including an environmental wind tunnel
Professional recognition
BEng (Hons) - Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) - Accredited by the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
BEng (Hons) - Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) - Accredited by Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
BEng (Hons) - Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) - Accredited by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
BEng (Hons) - Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) - Accredited by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
BEng (Hons) - European Accreditation of Engineering Programmes (EUR-ACE) - This Programme is accredited by the European Accreditation of Engineering Programmes (EUR-ACE)
Careers and graduate prospects
We offer careers information, advice and guidance to all students whilst studying with us, which is extended to our alumni for three years after leaving the University.
Our courses produce highly employable graduates who are well-prepared for the demands of a career in the construction or wider civil engineering industry. Our graduates go on to work for a wide range of companies including major consultancies and contractors such as Costain, Atkins, WSP, Skanska, Balfour Beatty and Mott MacDonald.
One of the reasons for our excellent employability record is the quality of our Professional Training programme. Not only does this work experience contribute to chartership, it also gives our students a decided advantage when employers are making offers.
Recent graduates have entered employment in roles such as:
Graduate Site Manager, Walker Construction
Graduate Civil Engineer, Atkins
Graduate Civil Engineer, Mott MacDonald
Assistant Project Manager, Lendlease Group
Structural Engineer, GDC Partnership
Graduate Structural Engineer, ARUP
Graduate Site Engineer, Costain
"When I first visited the campus I felt at home. I loved the feel of it and the lecturers were so enthusiastic about the course." Lydia Walpole, graduate
"The people at Surrey were so welcoming that during my five years it felt like my second family. The department is amazing and so supportive." Irosha Gunatunga, graduate
Entry requirements
A-level
Overall
BEng (Hons): BBC.
BEng (Hons) with foundation year: CCD including mathematics C and either physics or chemistry or equivalent.
Required subjects: Mathematics at grade B and one of Biology, Chemistry, Design & Technology, Further Mathematics, ICT, Physics, Computer Science, Geography.
Please note: A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking are not accepted.
Applicants taking the Science Practical Endorsement are required to pass.
GCSE or equivalent: English Language at Grade C(4) and Mathematics at Grade C(4) (or equivalent).
English language requirements
IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each element.
If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
Fees
The annual tuition fees for courses starting in October 2021
UK: £9,250
Overseas: £21,400
Placements
You have the option to complete a Professional Training placement as part of this course. This will give you the opportunity to develop your professional, academic and personal potential, helping to prepare you for your future career.
A significant proportion of placement students at Surrey are offered graduate-level jobs or go onto postgraduate study.
Civil Engineering placements
Around 50 per cent of our students opt to do a Professional Training placement year. This enables them to gain experience in a specialised engineering sector, earn a good salary, enhance their CV and start to build up a network of contacts.
Going on placement allows you to apply and dee­­pen the knowledge you’ve gained at Surrey and appreciate things that can’t be learned in a lecture theatre or laboratory.
The practical experience you build in areas such as health and safety will count towards becoming a chartered civil engineer. You will also gain enhanced interpersonal and management skills which are highly valued by employers, giving you a real head start as you enter the job market.
During your placement, you’ll remain a member of the University, and a Professional Training placement tutor who will monitor your progress will visit you and liaise with your company to ensure you get the most out of the experience.
Our students go on Professional Training placements with a range of engineering companies both in the UK and overseas, such as:
Arcadis
Atkins
Bachy Soletanche
BAM Nuttall
Capita
Costain
Eurovia
Hewson
Mott MacDonald
Skanska
Tony Gee and Partners
Waterman
WSP
“My proudest achievement on placement was probably working on some of London’s biggest, most iconic buildings.” Dylan Wakerley, student
“I learned how much I enjoy working in structural design and subsea engineering; it is such a wide, challenging and interesting aspect of civil engineering." Emanuela Dyrma, student
Study and work abroad
We give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their studies by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities or by completing a Professional Training placement abroad.
Want to study at an overseas institution as part of your degree or work abroad during your Professional Training year? Perhaps you would like to volunteer in India or learn about Brazilian business and culture in São Paulo during your summer holidays? With more than 200 partnerships, from 50 different countries worldwide, there is something for everyone.
Not only is the opportunity to go abroad a hugely enjoyable experience, but you will also develop key skills and knowledge that will strengthen your CV and increase your employability.
Please note: the status of the Erasmus+ scheme is dependent on the outcome of the Brexit negotiations.
The international exchange programme offers you as an undergraduate student the opportunity to study abroad at a partner university for one semester or a full academic year as part of your course. In their second year, civil engineering students can currently study at these partner universities:
US (Texas, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Florida, Virginia and California)
Australia (La Trobe, Monash, Swinburne in Melbourne; the University of Sydney, Wollongong or Queensland in Australia)
Singapore
South Korea
Malaysia
Hong Kong
New Zealand
The exchange programme enables you to study and live in another country without paying extra tuition fees. In doing so you can broaden your horizons, meet other students and experience student life in some of the world’s most prestigious universities.
Studying abroad also enables you to become more independent, teaching you how to adapt and adjust to the culture and academic climate of another country.
You may also choose to take a Professional Training placement in another country. Students have worked at Hewson Consulting, WSP Parson Brinkerhoff, and Arup in Hong Kong, Melcro Crown in Macau, Ryobi-Kiso in Singapore and Al Shafar Contracting in India.
