Civil Engineering and Architectural Engineering with a Foundation Year

Civil engineering and architectural engineering together address the built environment at two complementary scales. Civil engineering is concerned with the design, construction, and maintenance of large-scale infrastructure: roads, bridges, tunnels, water systems, and the foundations on which buildings and networks stand. Architectural engineering focuses on the technical design of buildings themselves, examining how structures, services, and environmental systems work together to produce buildings that are functional, safe, sustainable, and well-suited to their purpose.

Combining the two develops engineers who understand both the broader infrastructure context and the detailed technical requirements of individual structures.

At Loughborough University, this four-year, full-time programme is specifically designed to be accessible to students who have not studied the prerequisite subjects for direct entry, who have faced adverse circumstances, or who are returning to education as mature students. The additional year at the start of the programme provides the scientific and mathematical grounding needed to succeed in the full degree, and it is also open to care leavers and students whose previous commitments, such as elite sport, affected their academic preparation. The degree itself covers the full range of civil and structural engineering principles alongside architectural engineering content, developing both analytical rigour and practical design capability.

A typical entry tariff of 136 points reflects the level at which students join the programme after the foundation preparation. Graduates go on to careers in civil engineering consultancies, construction companies, infrastructure agencies, local and national government, and architectural engineering practices. The combination of civil and architectural expertise is particularly valued in roles that require coordination across different aspects of construction projects.

Professional registration as a chartered engineer is a common long-term goal, and Loughborough's strong industry links support that pathway. Postgraduate study in structural engineering, sustainable construction, or building services is also an option for those who wish to specialise further.