Civil Engineering including an Industrial Year

Civil engineering is the oldest and most broad-ranging of the engineering disciplines, encompassing the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical infrastructure on which modern society depends: roads, bridges, tunnels, railways, airports, water supply systems, drainage networks, coastal defences, and the structural foundations of buildings. Civil engineers apply mathematics, physics, and materials science to problems of extraordinary scale and consequence, working on projects that shape communities, connect economies, and protect lives. It is a profession with a direct and lasting impact on the built and natural environment.

At the University of Nottingham this four-year full-time programme includes an industrial year, providing a structured period of professional work experience within a civil engineering organisation before you complete the degree. A foundation year route is available for students who need additional preparation in mathematics and physical sciences before progressing to the main degree. You will study structural engineering, geotechnics, hydraulics, transport, materials, and construction management alongside the mathematical and analytical foundations that underpin all engineering work.

The industrial year is a defining feature of the programme, giving you real project experience, professional relationships, and an understanding of how engineering knowledge is applied in practice.

Civil engineering graduates are in consistent demand across the construction and infrastructure sectors. Major contractors, specialist consultancies, local authorities, government agencies, and public bodies including Network Rail, Highways England, and the Environment Agency all employ civil engineers in significant numbers. The profession offers clear progression towards chartered engineer status, which is a recognised mark of professional competence and a significant career asset.

Many graduates work in design, project management, site engineering, or technical consultancy, and the breadth of infrastructure types they can work on provides real variety across a career. Postgraduate study is an option for those wishing to specialise further.