Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering is all about the environment and infrastructure that makes up the modern world. Civil Engineers design, build and maintain our roads, railways, airports, dams, industrial facilities, power stations, coastal protection and harbour works, hospitals, sports stadiums and much more.

If you are interested in making lasting, positive improvements to society, in sustainable design for the protection of the natural environment on land or at sea, in improving the quality of life for millions of people using novel building techniques and materials, then civil engineering is an excellent choice.

Civil Engineers design, build and maintain (and decommission where appropriate) everything from transport infrastructure to power stations, from oil refineries to renewable energy schemes, hospitals, stadiums and much more. Civil Engineers also design water supply and effluent treatment systems and flood protection and environmental protection schemes and help keep our infrastructure working effectively by adapting to challenges like population growth or climate change.

At Aberdeen, you will be taught by leading Civil Engineering experts whose research covers areas such as environmental and industrial fluid mechanics, soil mechanics, structural mechanics and transport studies. Our teaching is supported by our excellent workshop and laboratories, with state-of-the-art equipment, including some of Scotland’s very best hydraulic equipment.

The first two years of our engineering degrees cover general engineering, with elements of chemical, mechanical, petroleum and electrical/electronics, as well as civil. In the later years, you specialise, following your chosen discipline in greater depth. You do not need to finalise your choice of specialisation until you begin your third year.

Our 4-year Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) programmes are accredited as fully meeting the educational requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially meeting the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng). After the first two years, students on the four-year Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) have the opportunity to pursue the 5-year Masters of Engineering in their chosen discipline.

The School of Engineering has strong links with industry, including local, national and international organisations, who support our teaching through guest lectures and seminars, placement opportunities, site visits and scholarships.

Course Modules

The first two years cover general Engineering, with elements of Chemical, Mechanical, Petroleum and Electrical/Electronics, as well as Civil. In the later years you specialise, following your chosen discipline in greater depth. You do not need to finalise your choice of specialisation until you begin third year.

It is possible to move between MEng and BEng and this can be accomplished at any point until the second half session of fourth year. Successful BEng candidates will be offered the chance to change to the MEng and there is no quota, meaning that if grade requirements are met that transfer is guaranteed.

The use of various forms of assessment and learning environments facilitates the development of generic transferable skills enhancing student employability.

Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods: coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course; practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; and written examinations at the end of each course. The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.

Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• Civil Engineers, Institution of
• Highway Engineers, Institute of (IHE)
• The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation
• Structural Engineers, Institution of
• Engineering Council