Civil and Coastal Engineering

Waves, tides, storm surges and a changing climate. Our coastal engineers are specialists with the knowledge needed to protect coastal communities and our crucial infrastructure from the aggressive and complex marine environment.

Be a coastal specialist
At Plymouth you have specialist teaching and student experience dedicated to coastal engineering and water management, so you'll become expert in designing infrastructure that withstands coastal challenges and manages flood risk.

High-spec industry facilities
You’ll learn to use all the latest specialist equipment in our innovative engineering facilities, from our COAST lab to STEAM labs, so you graduate with sought-after knowledge and experience.

Professional
Our strong links with industry ensure that our courses remain current and feature live site visits, placement opportunities, specialist seminars and personal mentoring from professional engineers.

This course is for you if...

• you're passionate about designing and finding solutions to problems

• you'd love to tackle challenges posed by climate change

• you seek hands-on experience in projects to put your learning into practice

• you're keen to learn from industry-experienced professionals and researchers.

Course Modules

Year 1
Get ready for an exciting start to your career as a civil engineer! Our 'learning by doing' ethos is at the heart of our teaching approach. You will join forces with fellow engineering students in our unique, purpose-built laboratories to experience the fascinating world of engineering materials, structures and fluid mechanics. Alongside this hands-on approach, you will develop insight into the underpinning engineering science and mathematics that govern how the real world behaves.
By the end of this year, you will have developed capabilities in core IT and computer aided design skills, and used your imagination and creativity to resolve real-world engineering challenges.

Year 2
In your second year, you will deepen your core understanding of civil engineering required for the creatation of infrastructure essential for our society. This will include structural design, geptechnics, fluid dynamics and the management of large-scale projects. You will grow your creative skills with advanced CAD tools and industry-standard software, while learning to think like a civil engineer. In parallel, an extensive programme of career development support will supercharge your professional and transferrable skills in readiness for the workplace, helping you to find the perfect placement.
You will be introduced to coastal engineering, a specialism of the University of Plymouth. You will start to explore how engineers protect coastal communities from the impacts of climate change, developing the expertise to tackle some of the world's most urgent challenges.

Optional placement year
The optional placement year is a fantastic opportunity to advance your career as a professional engineer by working in a commercial engineering team. The placement gives you invaluable experience beyond the classroom environment, developing skills crucial to your future employment. This will be your opportunity to experience day-to-day life on a construction site or in a design office, for example, in ports and harbours, coastal defences, and flood alleviation schemes.

Final year
The most significant element of this year is your dissertation project where you will apply all the skills and knowledge that you have learned to explore a topic that you find truly fascinating. This hands-on research challenge allows you to develop deeper insight and knowledge into an area that aligns to your careers aspirations.
Alongside your dissertation you will deepen your understanding of the core technical subjects in civil engineering with a particular focus on designing sustainable infrastructure solutions in a coastal context.

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

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
• Permanent Way Institution