Meet the real world needs of civil engineering and the construction industry.
Get the experience and skills you need to engineer the next generation of essential facilities, ranging from roads, buildings, bridges, tunnels, flood protection, waste recycling, sustainable building construction, and infrastructure and project management.
Industry recognised degrees
All our civil engineering degrees are accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM), comprising the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, and the Permanent Way Institution, on behalf of the Engineering Council. On successful completion, you’ll have the full educational base to apply for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status. Our courses also partially meet the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng), however if you’re studying the MEng route, you’ll fully meet the requirements for CEng status.
Quality and rankings
Brunel's engineering programmes have earned a strong reputation, reflected in our 11th place ranking in the UK for student satisfaction, as per the National Student Survey (NSS) 2023. Our engineering graduates have enjoyed successful careers, with an average salary of £31,800 three years after graduation (LEO Data 2023), placing us at 7th among London-based universities. Our civil engineering courses are ranked top five in London by the Guardian University Guide 2024 and the Complete University Guide 2024.
Expert teaching
Our expert lecturers will offer you more than just the technical skills taught. You’ll be taught professional ethics and project management skills as well. You’ll also benefit from guest lectures from visiting professors from the Royal Academy of Engineering and other industry professionals to give you a business perspective on sustainability and construction.
Hands-on learning
At Brunel, we place great emphasis on practical learning and hands-on experience. By forging strong partnerships with industry leaders and renowned research institutions, we'll provide you with opportunities to participate in real-world projects that integrate AI, and other cutting-edge technologies, into building and infrastructure design, construction, and project management.
Advancing sustainability
A core part of our ethos is sustainability running parallel to the ‘cradle to cradle (C2C)’ approach, that’s promoted by major national and international engineering organisations, such as the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Civil Engineers. This unified approach will equip you with the multidisciplinary skills for today’s complex designs, which extend beyond the traditional engineering disciplines.
Common engineering first year to build a strong foundation
At Brunel, all engineering students, regardless of their chosen discipline (aerospace, chemical, civil, electronic and electrical, or mechanical and automotive engineering), start with the same first-year curriculum. This year covers the basics of all these subjects, giving you a broad understanding of engineering principles before you dive into your specialised studies.
Brilliant industry-level facilities
As a civil engineering student, you’ll have access to our custom-designed technical facilities to give you the room to trial, test and refine your ideas. You will have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of experiments across various disciplines, including building/structure, fluids, geotechnics, highways, materials, and advanced applications such as 3D printing. You’ll also be accustomed to the latest industry standard engineering software packages used on the course which put you one step ahead in your future career.
Strong industry connections to find your placement
Choosing a placement year means you'll acquire industry experience, setting you apart with a year of real-world work experience upon graduation. A civil engineering placement will reinforce our teaching and your practical learning experience on the course. You’ll learn to work in teams, communicate at different levels and work collaboratively on projects with industry professionals within a given timeline. Our academics and career advisers will help you through the application process to find the perfect opportunity, and will be there for you during your placement in case you need any support.
Career support
Potential careers include contractor and consultant positions on large infrastructure projects such as bridges, high-rise buildings, tunnels, flood and coastal defence schemes, water treatment, transport, highways, and modern methods of construction. To help you determine the type of career path you would like to take, we'll offer you the opportunity to speak with our industry partners such as Arup, Atkins, and Heathrow Employment Skills Academy. Our annual Brunel Engineers showcase will offer a platform to present your projects and gain recognition from industry leaders. The Brunel career advisors will be there from your first day to help with part-time jobs, placements, internships, volunteering roles, or even starting your own business. For those seeking further education, Brunel offers a range of master's courses in civil engineering.
Get ready with a foundation year
If you feel you're not ready yet for degree-level study or you don't have all the qualifications needed, choose our Engineering with an Integrated Foundation Year course. You will learn about basic engineering principles and study subjects including engineering mathematics, physics, mechanics, and materials science.