Civil Engineering

Civil engineering makes a difference to the world and to the quality of people’s lives. We will equip you to design buildings, bridges, dams and coastal defences. Civil engineering finds solutions to the problems of the environment, such as scarce water resources, transport and sustainable energy. Working with professional institutions, we anticipate emerging needs and the future shape of civil engineering. The research activity in the department provides a stimulating study environment and our graduates have an enviable reputation worldwide.

Civil Engineering courses

Why study Civil Engineering at Bristol?

Acknowledged to be one of the best in the UK, Bristol’s Civil Engineering Department has an international reputation for quality, with excellent teaching and research ratings, where you will learn under the guidance of leading international researchers. The course structure is continually updated to reflect changing knowledge and the latest advances in civil engineering around the world. Our degree courses are fully accredited by the Institutions of Civil and Structural Engineers.

During the first two years, you will be attached to an industrial tutor, giving you the opportunity to experience practical activity in design offices and on construction sites. The facilities at Bristol are world class and you will use these facilities in your learning. The earthquake shaking table, the most advanced in Europe, is the heart of the Earthquake Research Centre and the Bristol Laboratory for Advanced Dynamic Engineering (BLADE) laboratory.

Engineering students at Bristol also benefit from a dedicated Industrial Liaison Office, which develops engineering-specific industrial links for students.

What kind of student would this course suit?

These courses would suit a creative student with a strong interest to work in a fast-moving, challenging and rewarding profession, involving design, construction and management of the basic structure of the world we live in. You would be a good all rounder with excellent mathematical skills. Additionally, good people skills are very useful.

How is this course taught and assessed?

Our course includes a large variety of teaching methodologies: large lecture groups, examples classes with ample provision of tutoring, group work in laboratories, and design classes which allow you to interact informally with lecturers and assistants. Computer-assisted learning is a feature of some classes. Site visits, guided reading and self-paced learning are also included.

Most courses are assessed by a combination of written examinations and coursework assignments. Design activities are assessed by coursework, written tests, project reports and some oral presentations. Dissertation and poster exhibition will be produced for third and fourth-year projects.

What are my career prospects?

Our courses will develop your technical and managerial skills, enabling you to be future leaders in the civil engineering industry. Our graduates are actively sought after by top employers. We regularly feature near the top of the national graduate employment tables, and starting salaries are competitive. Further approved training with an employer is required to gain Chartered Engineer status.

Why did you choose Bristol?

Bristol University is one of the best for civil engineering, with lots of exciting research going on, and it offered a year of study abroad. I had always wanted to continue my A-level German and to live in a German-speaking country and this offered the perfect opportunity!

Elise O'Donovan
MEng Civil Engineering with Study in Continental Europe