Civil Engineering MEng (Hons) | University of Nottingham

International student

Course overview

Civil engineers are instrumental in building a sustainable and more resilient future. By designing, constructing and maintaining the infrastructure that underpins people’s lives, they play a vital role in tackling global challenges such as climate resilience, sustainable development and urban regeneration. At Nottingham, our Civil Engineering programmes empower you to become a part of – and lead – that change.

Our MEng Civil Engineering programme equips you with the technical expertise, creative thinking and leadership skills to deliver high-profile projects and be a future leader in the industry. From buildings and urban developments to transport networks and water systems, you’ll learn to engineer solutions that are safe, efficient and environmentally responsible.

Course highlights

Accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators of the ICE, IStructE, CIHT, IHE and PWI.
Dedicated careers and placement support within the Faculty of Engineering and outstanding career prospects. Graduate destinations include Arup, AECOM, Mott MacDonald, GRAHAM, Network Rail and Pell Frischmann.
Opportunity to study abroad, including at the University of Nottingham China or University of Nottingham Malaysia.

Proven results

11th in the UK for civil engineering (The Guardian Good University Guide 2026).
94.7% of civil engineering undergraduates secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2021/22-2022/23).

How you will learn

Teaching methods

Group study
Independent study
Lab sessions
Lectures
Practical classes
Supervision
Tutorials
Workshops

Teaching is delivered through a mix of in-person and online methods. The majority of your teaching will be in-person.

How you will be assessed

Assessment methods

Coursework
Group coursework
Dissertation
Examinations
Presentation
Investigative project
Practical assessment

Contact time and study hours

On average, you will have at least 20 contact hours a week in year one and two. Combined with coursework and self-study, you may spend over 40 hours a week on your studies.

Modules

6 modules

Hydraulics 1

This course introduces students to the subject of hydraulics in civil engineering. Here we focus on studying hydrostatics, i.e. civil engineering applications involving a body of static fluid. The topics covered include:

Units and dimensions
The fundamental properties of fluids
Hydrostatic pressure
Hydrostatic loads
Buoyancy

Introduction to Construction Management and Design

This course is a problem-based group project. During Phase 1, you will learn the various roles and responsibilities of a civil engineer and be introduced to fundamental techniques for using engineering drawing as a key format of engineering communication.

Key principles underpinning construction planning and risk management will then be introduced in Phase 2, and applied in the context of a group-based civil engineering project. During Phase 3, you will work in groups to design and analyse a timber truss structure, and then prepare a plan of construction for your design. You will then execute your plan during a field-work type construction exercise.

Portfolio of Civil Engineering Studies 1

This module introduces core skills and professional competencies of a civil engineer, including:

developing sketching, Computer Aided Design (CAD) and technical writing skills to communicate ideas,
developing expertise in practical surveying techniques,
developing an appreciation for how construction contract law, ethics and equality, diversity & inclusion help shape the roles and responsibilities of a professional engineer.

Structural Analysis 1

On completing the module, students will be able to describe the relation between structures and structural models, analyse determinate structures and compute stress and deformation in structures.

Civil Engineering Mathematics 1

After consolidating key A level concepts, you’ll progress to topics including differential equations, advanced integration techniques and methods for solving systems of equations. The focus is on developing confidence and fluency, so you can apply mathematics as a practical tool for engineering problem solving and design.

Geotechnics 1

Giving you an introduction to the core areas of geotechnics, this module covers topics such as: origin and types of soil, soil as a 3-phase material, soil description and classification, compaction, water in soils, basic mechanics, and stresses in soils and ground investigation.

7 modules

Hydraulics 2

On successfully completing the module, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of fluid dynamics, such as mass conservation, Bernoulli's equation and the force momentum principle. You’ll be able to solve simple pipe flow, reservoir discharge and transfer problems and characterise open channel flows with hydraulic structures.

Fundamentals of Materials

In this module you will explore engineering materials and their fundamental properties, principles in material selection and sustainability and develop an understanding of the behaviour of construction materials.

Civil and Structural Steel Design Project

This module provides students with an opportunity to take a design project from concept through to detailed design stage. The project will run year-long with the first semester focusing on how to assess a brief and site conditions, generating conceptual designs, an introduction to the Eurocodes, loading calculations, and design development. The second semester will focus on the detailed design stage, focusing on steelwork design calculations and the production of civil and structural engineering drawings. Students are shown how sustainability should be considered at each of the design stages, with a focus on how design decisions by the engineer can have an impact on addressing the Climate Emergency.

Portfolio of Civil Engineering Studies 2

This module further develops core skills and professional competencies of a civil engineer, including:

developing knowledge of and practical skills in Building Information Modelling software.
developing an understanding of different construction materials.
developing practical laboratory skills.

Structural Analysis 2

The fundamental behaviour established in the first year is extended to cover the concepts of: virtual work, analysis of indeterminate structures, instability of structural systems, plastic analysis and design and vibration.

Geotechnics 2

This module aims to develop further understanding of fundamental behaviour of soils with a focus on soil strength and how it is used to evaluate the stability of geotechnical systems.

Civil Engineering Mathematics 2

Develop the mathematical understanding and analytical skills needed for civil engineering analysis and design. You’ll draw on real civil engineering problems in areas such as structural analysis, geotechnics and hydraulics. The focus is on developing confidence and fluency, so you can apply mathematics as a practical tool for engineering problem solving and design.

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4 modules

Structural Concrete Design

This module introduces reinforced concrete construction and the relationship between structural behaviour and the design of reinforced concrete elements. It includes the structural design procedures for reinforced concrete elements in flexure, shear and compression. On average you will spend about four or five contact hours per week in lectures, laboratory classes or in the design studio for this module.

Geotechnics 3

This year-long module introduces consolidation theory, including; the different components of settlement, 1D & 2D water flow through soils, and ground improvement techniques. In addition, you will learn how to conduct geotechnical design of shallow and deep foundations, and retaining walls, using both a fundamental and Eurocode approach. Students will also see how sustainability can be improved in geotechnical design.

Construction Management and Retrofit Design

Working in groups, students use digital design, planning, analysis and presentation tools to support the collaborative design and planning of a retrofit project.

Hydraulic Design

This module involves learning, understanding and applying the design methods behind a number of real-world examples of water management. These include the design of sewers, highway drainage, culverts, municipal water supply, reservoirs and, finally, river management. In each case, you will discover how the design methods relate to your theoretical knowledge of fluid dynamics.

6 modules

Engineering Risk Assessment

The module assesses the risk of injury posed to the general public and workforce through the operation of engineering systems and infrastructure. This is considered in the context of civil and transportation systems and an indication is given of acceptable risk. You will spend three hours a week in lectures to study this module.

Traffic Engineering

This module introduces some of the theory that forms the technical basis of the management and control of urban road networks, including; traffic flow theory, transport modelling and operation of traffic signal control systems.

Assessment method

This module will be assessed 100% by exam.

Advanced Mathematical Techniques in Ordinary Differential Equations for Engineers

This module covers advanced analytic mathematical techniques used to provide exact or approximate solutions to common classes of ordinary differential equations (ODES) typical in Engineering.

Techniques covered include: method of variation of parameters, Laplace transform methods, Taylor series method, Frobenius method, asymptotic regular perturbations and strained coordinates and multiple scales. Each week there will normally be a one one-hour lecture and a two hour workshop to introduce key mathematical knowledge on module topics.

Advanced Site Surveying

The module is a combination of the theoretical and practical aspects of site surveying for Civil Engineering.

The theoretical aspects will provide students with the knowledge and understanding to undertake the practical aspects, where students will work in small groups to design, plan, undertake and report on a series of practical surveys involving different engineering surveying techniques and associated inter-disciplinary tools such as CAD and BIM (individuals and groups are responsible for management and organisation of their projects, with staff members available for consultation and guidance).

The module will use the most advanced engineering surveying techniques related to:

the determination of the plan coordinates and the heights of control points using GNSS surveying with a GNSS instrument;
the determination of the plan coordinates and the heights of control points using levelling, traversing and/or resection with a total station instrument;
the determination of the plan coordinates and heights of detail points using radial detailing with a total station instrument;
the determination of the plan coordinates and heights of detail points using intersection with a total station instrument;
the determination of the plan coordinates and heights of a point cloud using terrestrial laser scanning with a terrestrial laser scanner instrument to survey the façade of a building.

The practical surveys will have a specific focus on the creation of a 3D digital model of a building in REVIT software, along with an assessment of the quality of each of the engineering surveying techniques used.

Machine Learning for Engineers

This is an introduction to machine learning with an emphasis on practical use in engineering applications, such as control theory or decisions under uncertainty. The module is structured around a subset of the following topics:

Inference, or model-driven predictions
Supervised learning: the basics, optimization and beyond least squares
Unsupervised learning
Neural networks and deep learning
The Bayesian approach and Gaussian processes
Generalized linear models: going beyond normality

Construction Practice

This module involves students in a scaled-down construction project by going through the stages of design appreciation, construction planning and scheduling, organisation of work, execution of the construction phase and review. The main phase involves the construction phase and takes place in a time-limited 'field course' environment at a residential facility that offers the resources needed for carrying out the construction work. There is some advance preparatory work and post-construction phase reporting required to complete the course. The course runs with the support of industrial partners who help guide the student teams. Students work in teams of approximately 18 to try to complete their assignment on time and on budget. The residential stage requires an additional payment by the student in line with charges applied to other field courses.

The field course for this module takes place in the Easter vacation with final reporting at the end of the Spring Semester. It is a residential at a specialist location with the required construction resources available. An extra cost must be paid for this element of the module.

2 modules

MEng Individual Investigative Project

You will undertake an individual research project appropriate to your particular interests. It normally takes the form of an investigative, development or design project ending as a detailed final report. Projects involve lab work, field investigations, in-depth case studies or computer modelling and require data collection and analysis.

Group Design Project

Working in groups, you'll design and plan a major civil engineering project. Typical projects include water works, major highway schemes and retail parks. Staff and visiting professional engineers will provide guidance.

11 modules

Sustainable Construction and Life Cycle Assessment

This module is designed to deliver an understanding of sustainability principles and how, in particular, transport infrastructure engineering as well as the wider construction industry can contribute to sustainable development.

The module will include the following themes:

Sustainability: an introduction to sustainability, sustainable development; sustainable construction; and how transport infrastructure engineering can contribute to sustainable construction.
Environmental impacts of infrastructure construction: a review of the positive and negative environmental impacts of construction including resources and waste and energy and climate change.
Social impacts of infrastructure construction: a review of the positive and negative social impacts of construction including; corporate social responsibility, responsible sourcing, poverty reduction and sustainable development goals.
Assessment: indicators, assessment systems, environmental life-cycle assessment, life-cycle cost analysis.

Delivery

Activity	Number of Weeks	Number of sessions	Duration of a session
Lecture	11 weeks	1 week	2 hours
Workshop	11 weeks	1 week	1 hour

Assessment method

Assessment Type	Weight	Requirements
Coursework	100.00	2 hour exam

Railway Technology

This module will introduce the components of railway track structures, conventional and otherwise. It will include analysis of forces on a railway track and consequent deflections, stresses, alignment design principles, and an overview of the railway as a total system including operational issues, signalling and control.

Assessment method

This module is assessed by individual and group coursework (40%) and an exam (60%).

Delivery

Activity	Number of Weeks	Number of sessions	Duration of a session
Lecture	11 weeks	1 week	2 hours
Lecture	11 weeks	1 week	1 hour

Assessment method

Assessment Type	Weight	Requirements
Coursework 1	20.00	Track maintenance group coursework - 4 spreadsheet returns at approx. 2 hours.
Coursework 2	20.00	Track design individual coursework - 1,000 word report
Exam	60.00	One 2 hour exam

Highway and Pavement Design

This module covers the design of highway alignments, including curvatures, gradients, number of lanes, junction design and drainage. It also includes analysis and design of pavement structures and surfaces using different techniques and materials together with the deterioration mechanisms involved.

It module aims to:

embed the ability to design sensible and functional highway alignments
introduce the design of pavement structures
give understanding of the roles and design of different pavement surfaces

Delivery

Activity	Number of Weeks	Number of sessions	Duration of a session
Lecture	11 weeks	1 week	2 hours
Lecture	11 weeks	1 week	1 hour

Assessment method

Assessment Type	Weight	Requirements
Coursework 1	20.00	Highway design exercise
Coursework 2	20.00	Pavement design exercise
Exam	60.00	2 hour exam

Dynamics and Wind Engineering

This module considers the effects of wind on structures. It shows how the wind loading codes are developed from first principles and how they can be applied to predict wind induced forces in structures. The dynamic response of structures to wind is studied with the help of wind tunnel tests.

Coastal Engineering

This module is delivered through six hours of lectures and computer-based tutorials each week and covers the principles of water height variation, ocean forces (from waves and tides) and energy conversion into electrical power and to the design of energy production systems.

Managing Infrastructure and Systems

This module considers some of the most commonly-used system reliability assessment techniques applied to support system management.

It covers the construction of reliability models that use basic component failure information to describe specific system failure modes, the qualitative and quantitative analyses of these models, and the critical evaluation of systems using the analytical results. The models will be discussed in the context of their application to engineering systems and infrastructure assets.

The module aims to provide students with:

an understanding of the basic statistical, probabilistic and mathematical concepts required to predict the reliability of components and systems.
a detailed knowledge of the most commonly used system reliability assessment techniques.
the ability to critically evaluate systems and assets using mathematical models.

Assessment method

This module will be assessed by an in-class test (20%) and an exam (80%).

Advanced Structural Analysis

The module will look into advanced structural analysis methods including finite element, non-linear analysis and stability. It will also look into the analysis of dynamic systems.

Geotechnical Modelling

This module will reinforce and advance some of the principles of soil mechanics previously learnt, and describe the principles of Critical State Soil Mechanics (CSSM), a model used to predict the behaviour of soils.

It includes revision of previous concepts, shear box and triaxial tests data analysis, critical state line, elasticity and plasticity, development of an elasto-plastic soil model, and constitutive model application in numerical simulations.

Students will learn about and conduct their own triaxial tests on soil samples within the laboratory such that they can obtain constitutive model parameters for the soil. Students will learn to use a finite element method (FEM) software package that is popular for geotechnical analyses as well as the principles of physical modelling using a geotechnical centrifuge. The coursework element will require students to use constitutive model parameters obtained from triaxial testing within FEM analyses.

The FEM analyses will include

the replication of the triaxial tests and verification of results against analytical predictions (using CSSM), and
simulation of a boundary value problem (e.g. vertical loading of a foundation), for which they will compare numerical predictions against a centrifuge test data set provided to them.

Delivery

Activity	Number of Weeks	Number of sessions	Duration of a session
Computing	3 weeks	3 weeks	2 hours
Lecture	8 weeks	3 weeks	2 hours

Assessment method

Assessment Type	Weight
Coursework	50.00
Coursework	50.00

Advanced Structural Design

The module will look into the design of specialised structural systems such as composite beams and floors, portal frames, tubular trusses, and pre-stressed concrete beams and slabs. It will also look into connection behaviour, the design of steel moment connections and sway stability of buildings. A major group design exercise will illustrate the approach to the design of complete structures.

Environmental Fluid Mechanics

This course (module) introduces buoyancy driven and geophysical fluid flows relevant to civil engineering. We will explore the roles of density and rotation in determining ocean and atmopheric behaviour, and in pollutant dispersion. This content falls within 4 sections :

Rotating flows
Convection – plumes and jets
Gravity currents
Kelvin Helmholtz instability

Each section introduced through guided student-led work followed by an experiment visualising and quantifying aspects of the flows.

Advanced Setting-out

This module is a combination of the theoretical and practical aspects of setting-out for Civil Engineering.

The theoretical aspects will provide students with the knowledge and understanding to undertake the practical aspects, where students will work in small groups to design, plan, undertake and report on a series of practical surveys involving different engineering surveying techniques and associated inter-disciplinary tools such as CAD (individuals and groups are responsible for management and organisation of their projects, with staff members available for consultation and guidance).

The module will use the most advanced engineering surveying techniques related to:

the determination of the plan coordinates of control points using GNSS surveying with a GNSS instrument;
the establishment of setting-out points with designed plan coordinates using a total station instrument;
the establishment of setting-out points with designed plan coordinates using a GNSS instrument;
the determination of the heights of setting-out points using levelling with a level instrument.

The practical surveys will have a specific focus on the use of total station and GNSS instruments for the setting-out of a road and a trench designed using Civil-3D software, along with an assessment of the quality of each of the engineering surveying techniques used.

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Language study as part of this degree

Our Language Centre offers many languages, and you may start as a beginner or at a more advanced level and you may be able to choose to study a language as part of this degree.

Learning another language can open career opportunities around the globe and enriches your CV. It could also help you in your studies by being able to access learning materials in other languages. If you are planning to travel or work abroad it will help you to broaden your cultural understanding.

Find out more about learning a language as part of your degree.

Select student type

Quick glance

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements listed apply to 2027 entry.

A levels

AAA

34 points overall

A level and GCSE requirements

Required subjects

Mathematics grade A at A level and one from physics, economics, psychology, 3D design, chemistry, biology, design and technology, geography, geology, computing, computer science or further maths.

Excluded subjects

General studies, critical thinking and citizenship studies, global perspectives and research, quantitative methods, thinking skills are not accepted

GCSEs

GCSE English grade 4 (C)

IB requirements

IB score

34 points overall or 666 in 3 HL certificates

IB requirements

One of HL6 in Mathematics Analysis and Approaches, HL6 in Mathematics Applications and Interpretation or SL7 in Mathematics Analysis and Approaches plus HL6 in one of physics, chemistry, biology, design and technology, geography, geology, computing/computer science, further mathematics, 3D design, design engineering, economics or psychology.

Additional Qualifications Offer Reduction Scheme

Applicants to this course may be eligible for our Additional Qualifications Offer Reduction Scheme. If you achieve a grade A in an EPQ, Core Maths*, IB Extended Essay or additional AS level qualification* then you will receive a one grade reduced offer for this course.

Please note that if you qualify for an enhanced contextual offer or receive an alternative offer based on taking four A levels, your additional qualification will not be taken into consideration as we are unable to make any further adjustments to your offer.

* Additional eligibility requirements apply. View further details on this scheme.

Alternative qualifications

We recognise that applicants have a wealth of different experiences and follow a variety of pathways into higher education.

Consequently we treat all applicants with alternative qualifications (besides A levels and the International Baccalaureate) on an individual basis, and we gladly accept students with a whole range of less conventional qualifications including:

Access to HE Diploma
Advanced Diploma
BTEC HND/HNC
BTEC Extended Diploma

This list is not exhaustive. The entry requirements for alternative qualifications can be quite specific; for example you may need to take certain modules and achieve a specified grade in those modules. Please contact us to discuss the transferability of your qualification. Please see the alternative qualifications page for more information.

RQF BTEC Nationals

RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Engineering – D*DD including Distinction in units:
- Engineering Principles
- Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems
- Further Engineering Maths
RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Engineering or Applied Science and A levels – DDD plus A in A level maths
RQF Level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Engineering or Applied Science and A levels – D*D plus A in A level maths
RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Certificate in any subject and A levels – D plus A in A level maths plus A in one of physics, economics, psychology, 3D design, chemistry, biology, design and technology, geography, geology, computing, computer science or further maths

Access to HE Diploma

Access to HE Diploma 36 Level 3 credits at Distinction (to include a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction in Mathematics and 15 Level 3 credits at Distinctions in Engineering/Science units) and 9 Level 3 credits at Merit

Contextual offers

We make contextual offers to students who may have experienced barriers that have restricted progress at school or college. Our standard contextual offer is usually one grade lower than the advertised entry requirements, and our enhanced contextual offer is usually two grades lower than the advertised entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must have Home/UK fee status and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.

Foundation progression options

An Engineering and Physical Sciences foundation year is available for those who are not taking the required subjects.

Mature students

At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.

Study abroad

On this course, you can apply to study abroad at one of our partner institutions or at University of Nottingham China or University of Nottingham Malaysia.

If you are successful in applying to study abroad, you will get the opportunity to broaden your horizons and enhance your CV by experiencing another culture. Teaching is typically in English, but there may be opportunities to study in another language if you are sufficiently fluent.

You can choose to study similar modules to your counterparts in the UK or expand your knowledge by taking other options.

The school you are joining may also have additional study abroad options available. Please visit the school website for more information.

Please note

In order to study abroad you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet the selection criteria of both the university and the partner institution. The partner institution is under no obligation to accept you even if you do meet the relevant criteria.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university’s control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.

Tuition fees

2027/28 (UK undergraduate students)

This is the UK undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 27/28. It may increase for the academic year 28/29 and we will update our information once we have received confirmation of the fee.

For full details including fees for part-time students and reduced fees during your time studying abroad or on placement (where applicable), please visit our fees page.

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses:

Books – You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles which could cost up to £200.
Printing – Back and white printing costs 2p per side.
Trips – The department covers the travel cost of compulsory field trips.
PPE – Workshop PPE is provided to you in first year for the duration of your course.
Year in industry – If you do a work placement, any costs associated with travel or accommodation will need to be factored in.
Year abroad – If you study abroad, you will need to consider the travel and living costs for the country you choose. This could include visa costs and medical insurance.
Design materials – Although most graphical materials for use in design projects are supplied, there will be some items you may need to buy – please budget around £150 for this.
Laptop – Although there are PCs available for your use on campus, you will need to purchase your own laptop. Read more about our recommended specifications.
Calculator – While the calculator you used for your former study is usually sufficient some students will choose to purchase a new calculator which will cost around £10.

Please note that these figures are approximate and subject to change.

There may also be costs issued by the university for replacement student ID cards, additional transcripts or certification letters, reassessments and library fines.

Scholarships and bursaries

The University of Nottingham offers a wide range of bursaries and scholarships. These funds can provide you with an additional source of non-repayable financial help. For up to date information regarding tuition fees, visit our fees and finance pages.

Home students

Over one third of our UK students receive our means-tested core bursary. Full details can be found on our financial support pages.

A 'home' student is one who meets certain UK residence criteria. These are the same criteria as apply to eligibility for home funding from Student Finance.

Faculty of Engineering Scholarships

Students applying to the Faculty of Engineering may be eligible for faculty-specific or industry scholarships.

Quick glance

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements listed apply to 2027 entry.

34 points overall

A levels

AAA

IB requirements

IB score

34 points overall or 666 in 3 HL certificates

IB requirements

A level and GCSE requirements

Required subjects

Mathematics grade A at A level and one from physics, economics, psychology, 3D design, chemistry, biology, design and technology, geography, geology, computing, computer science or further maths.

Excluded subjects

General studies, critical thinking and citizenship studies, global perspectives and research, quantitative methods, thinking skills are not accepted

GCSEs

GCSE English grade 4 (C)

Additional Qualifications Offer Reduction Scheme

* Additional eligibility requirements apply. View further details on this scheme.

Alternative qualifications

We recognise that applicants have a wealth of different experiences and follow a variety of pathways into higher education.

Access to HE Diploma
Advanced Diploma
BTEC HND/HNC
BTEC Extended Diploma

RQF BTEC Nationals

RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Engineering – D*DD including Distinction in units:
- Engineering Principles
- Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems
- Further Engineering Maths
RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Engineering or Applied Science and A levels – DDD plus A in A level maths
RQF Level 3 BTEC National Diploma in Engineering or Applied Science and A levels – D*D plus A in A level maths
RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Certificate in any subject and A levels – D plus A in A level maths plus A in one of physics, economics, psychology, 3D design, chemistry, biology, design and technology, geography, geology, computing, computer science or further maths

Access to HE Diploma

IELTS/English requirements

IELTS

6.0 (no less than 5.5 in any element)

English language requirements

As well as IELTS, we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English. Check our English language policies and equivalencies for further details.

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a Presessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP) course. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK. 

 If you successfully complete your pre-sessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent. 

Please note: For pre-sessional English or one-year foundation courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations.

High school qualifications

Check our country-specific information for guidance on qualifications from your country.

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

Mature students

Study abroad

On this course, you can apply to study abroad at one of our partner institutions or at University of Nottingham China or University of Nottingham Malaysia.

You can choose to study similar modules to your counterparts in the UK or expand your knowledge by taking other options.

The school you are joining may also have additional study abroad options available. Please visit the school website for more information.

Please note

Disclaimer

Tuition fees

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

For full details including fees for part-time students and reduced fees during your time studying abroad or on placement (where applicable), see our fees page.

Additional costs

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses:

Books – You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles which could cost up to £200.
Printing – Back and white printing costs 2p per side.
Trips – The department covers the travel cost of compulsory field trips.
PPE – Workshop PPE is provided to you in first year for the duration of your course.
Year in industry – If you do a work placement, any costs associated with travel or accommodation will need to be factored in.
Year abroad – If you study abroad, you will need to consider the travel and living costs for the country you choose. This could include visa costs and medical insurance.
Design materials – Although most graphical materials for use in design projects are supplied, there will be some items you may need to buy – please budget around £150 for this.
Laptop – Although there are PCs available for your use on campus, you will need to purchase your own laptop. Read more about our recommended specifications.
Calculator – While the calculator you used for your former study is usually sufficient some students will choose to purchase a new calculator which will cost around £10.

Please note that these figures are approximate and subject to change.

There may also be costs issued by the university for replacement student ID cards, additional transcripts or certification letters, reassessments and library fines.

Scholarships and bursaries

International students

We offer a range of international undergraduate scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Faculty of Engineering Scholarships

Students applying to the Faculty of Engineering may be eligible for faculty-specific or industry scholarships.

There are so many industries out there who really look for civil engineers because it shows you can do maths skills, you can do physics skills and it shows problem solving and team working skills too. If you study civil engineering at university it opens up so many doors for other jobs, not just civil engineering."

Eva Hallas

Careers overview

Students will be equipped to embark on a career in civil engineering, or other disciplines that require numerate problem-solving graduates.

Key sectors for our graduates are:

civil engineering consultancy
civil engineering contracting
civil engineering management
finance
surveying

Find out how our links with industry could give you a head start while you study with us.

Job prospects

Average starting salary and career progression

94.7% of civil engineering undergraduates secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual starting salary for these graduates was £32,458 (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2021/22-2022/23).

Support every step of the way

Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service will work with you to boost your employability even further – helping with job and course applications, finding relevant work experience and hosting events that connect you with a wide range of potential employers.

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers.

We’re also the top UK university for the number of graduates entering highly skilled jobs (HESA Graduate Outcomes survey data 2021–2025 for full-time, UK, UG and PG graduates).

Careers and Employability

Joint Board of Moderators

This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators of the ICE, IStructE, CIHT, IHE, and PWI

It is accredited as fully satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

See the Joint Board of Moderators website for further information.

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Civil Engineering - U7UCVENG

Course overview

Why choose this course?

Teaching and learning

Modules

Core modules

6 modules

Hydraulics 1

Introduction to Construction Management and Design

Portfolio of Civil Engineering Studies 1

Structural Analysis 1

Civil Engineering Mathematics 1

Geotechnics 1

Core modules

7 modules

Hydraulics 2

Fundamentals of Materials

Civil and Structural Steel Design Project

Portfolio of Civil Engineering Studies 2

Structural Analysis 2

Geotechnics 2

Civil Engineering Mathematics 2

Core modules

4 modules

Structural Concrete Design

Geotechnics 3

Construction Management and Retrofit Design

Hydraulic Design

Optional modules

Core modules

2 modules

MEng Individual Investigative Project

Group Design Project

Optional modules

Language study as part of this degree

Select student type

Entry requirements

4 years full-time

£10,050 per year

Entry requirements

4 years full-time

Fees

Careers

Accreditation

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