Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is one of the oldest and most visible engineering disciplines, responsible for the infrastructure that modern societies depend on: roads, bridges, tunnels, water systems, flood defences, and the built environment of our towns and cities. Civil engineers design, construct, maintain, and rehabilitate these structures, balancing technical performance, safety, environmental responsibility, and cost. The work operates at scales from a local drainage scheme to a major transport network, and it engages increasingly with the challenges of climate resilience, sustainable construction, and the refurbishment of ageing infrastructure.

At Leeds Beckett University, this three-year, full-time programme gives you the engineering fundamentals, including structural mechanics, geotechnics, hydraulics, and materials science, alongside the project management and professional skills that the sector values. A sandwich year is built into the programme, allowing you to spend a full year working with a civil engineering employer and gaining the practical experience that makes a genuine difference to your employability. A year abroad option and work placement opportunities are also available, giving you exposure to engineering practice in different contexts.

The programme is designed with industry engagement at its core, preparing you to enter the profession with both academic knowledge and hands-on competence.

Graduates of civil engineering programmes go on to careers in structural, geotechnical, environmental, and highway engineering, as well as construction project management, consultancy, and infrastructure planning. Employers include engineering consultancies, contractors, local authorities, national highways bodies, rail organisations, water utilities, and major developers. Many graduates pursue professional registration with the Institution of Civil Engineers, working towards incorporated or chartered engineer status.

Postgraduate study in civil engineering, structural engineering, or project management is another route for those who wish to develop their specialism further.