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Civil Engineering

MEng (Hon) · 4 Years · Full-time · 14/09/2026 · UndergraduateMain Site - Highfield Campus

Course summary

Civil engineering is essential to the sustainable future development of society, from planning and construction, to water supply and coastal defence.

You’ll develop the skills to design and build creative solutions to challenges in the built environment, infrastructure and cities, and the management and teamwork skills needed to succeed in industry.

In the first two years, you'll develop a solid grounding in the fundamental engineering science, as well as the basis of civil engineering. You'll be introduced to key design skills, such as sketching model-making and computing, through workshops and through design projects.

In your third year you'll explore highway and traffic engineering, and structural stability and geotechnics in more depth, and do an individual project. In your final year, you'll focus on design, management and teamwork and work on a master's level group design project.

Modules

Year 1: An Introduction to Engineering Design; Civil Engineering fundamentals; Mathematics for Engineering and the Environment I; ThermoFluids; Mechanics, Structures and Materials.

Year 2: Liveable Cities; Structural Analysis; Mathematics for Engineering and the Environment II; Structural Design; City Infrastructure Design Project; Soil Mechanics; Hydraulics; Numerical Methods.

Year 3: Individual Project; Structural Stability and Finite Element Analysis; Geotechnical Engineering; Highway & Traffic Engineering; Design 3; plus additional module options.

Year 4: Group Design Project; Project Economics and Management plus additional advanced module options.

Assessment method

Assessment is conducted through a combination of unseen written examinations and assessed coursework in the form of problem solving exercises, laboratory reports, design projects, essays, and individual and group projects. Experimental, research and design skills are assessed through laboratory reports, coursework exercises, dissertations and oral presentations.

Professional bodies

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

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

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
H201
Institution code:
S27
Campus name:
Main Site - Highfield Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

Find out about equivalent entry requirements and qualifications for your country: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/international/your-country.page

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - A*AA

A*AA including mathematics (minimum grade A). Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year. If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: AAA including mathematics, plus grade A in the EPQ. We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - Not accepted

Access to HE Diploma - Not accepted

Scottish Higher

Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D - DD

D*D in the BTEC National Diploma plus grade A in A-level mathematics or DD in the BTEC National Diploma plus grade A* in mathematics Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D* - D

D* in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA from two A-levels including mathematics or D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades A*A from two A-levels including mathematics (minimum grade A) Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year.

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) - Not accepted

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF) - D*D - DD

D*D in the BTEC Diploma plus grade A in A-level mathematics or DD in the BTEC Diploma plus grade A* in mathematics. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year.

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF) - D* - D

D* in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades AA from two A-levels including mathematics or D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades A*A from two A-levels including mathematics (minimum grade A). Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year.

Scottish Advanced Higher

Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education. Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 38 points

Pass, with 38 points overall with 19 points required at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) or 7 at Higher Level in Mathematics (Applications and Interpretation) Applicants who have not studied mathematics at Higher Level can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales - A

A*AA including mathematics (minimum grade A) or A*A from two A-levels including mathematics (minimum grade A) and A from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales. A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - A

A*AA from 3 A levels including mathematics (minimum grade A) or A*A from 2 A levels including mathematics (minimum grade A) and A from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Extended Project - A

If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: AAA including mathematics, plus grade A in the EPQ. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed. Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H1, H1, H1, H2, H2, H2

H1 H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 including mathematics and applied mathematics

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal - D2, D3, D3

D2, D3, D3 in three Principal subjects including mathematics (minimum grade D3). Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer, where D2 can be used in lieu of A-level grade A* or grade D3 can be used in lieu of A-level grade A. Applicants who have not studied mathematics a Principal subject can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)

T Level - D

A Distinction, including a Core A grade in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction T-level plus grade A in A-level Mathematics.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5with no component below 6.0
All programmes at the University of Southampton are taught and assessed in the medium of English (other than those in modern foreign languages). Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency.

Find out more about the University’s English Language requirements https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/language.page

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Most of the students who previously enrolled on this course joined us with grades lower than our published entry criteria. After receiving their grades, we carefully considered each students’ individual circumstances before confirming their place on their chosen course.

We encourage everyone with the potential to succeed to apply, regardless of their background. Applicants who qualify for contextual admissions will be made an offer lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Learn more on the University of Southampton website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Data from:
This course
Date range:
2022-2024

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

92% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

This course has a required grade that may not be listed in the data. Check the entry requirements for the full qualification requirements.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

80 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

90 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535*Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535*Year 1
Scotland£9535*Year 1
Wales£9535*Year 1
Channel Islands£9535*Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535*Year 1
EU£31000Year 1
International£31000Year 1

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Please see our website for further details and updates: www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/fees-funding.page

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