University of Southampton - Open Day
27 Jun 2026, 09:00
Southampton
Summary
Civil engineering shapes the world we live in. From the infrastructure that supports our cities to the systems that protect our environment, it plays a vital role in building a sustainable future.
On this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to design and deliver solutions to challenges in the built environment. You will explore how infrastructure is planned, constructed and managed, while building the teamwork and problem-solving skills needed for a career in industry.
In your first two years, you will build a strong foundation in engineering science alongside the core principles of civil engineering. Through workshops and design projects, you will develop practical skills in sketching, model making and computing.
In your third year, you will deepen your understanding of areas such as highway and traffic engineering, structural stability and geotechnics, and complete an individual project that brings together your learning.
You can also choose to take an Industrial Placement Year, giving you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience as a trainee engineer in a professional environment.
Key features of the course
Build strong foundations. Develop a solid understanding of engineering science and core civil engineering principles in your early years.
Learn through design. Take part in workshops and projects that build your skills in sketching, model making and computing.
Explore specialist areas. Study transport systems, structural behaviour and ground engineering in greater depth.
Apply your knowledge. Your individual project allows you to investigate a topic in detail and bring together your learning.
Gain real-world experience. An optional Industrial Placement Year gives you the chance to work in industry as a trainee engineer.
Develop professional skills. Build the teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills needed for a career in engineering.
Student support
Your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) will support you throughout your time at Southampton, offering academic guidance, career advice and signposting to wellbeing and pastoral services when needed.
You will be part of a collaborative learning environment, working with students and staff who share your interest in shaping the built environment.
Further information
You will study in a setting designed for practical and project-based learning, helping you to develop both technical knowledge and professional skills.
The skills and experience you gain will prepare you for careers across civil engineering, including infrastructure design, construction, transport and environmental engineering.
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.
Testing is conducted through a combination of unseen written examinations and assessed coursework in the form of problem-solving exercises, laboratory reports, design exercises, essays, and individual and group projects. Experimental, research and design skills are assessed through laboratory reports, coursework exercises and oral presentations.
The Industrial Placement Year is assessed via an individual reflective report.
Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.
The following entry points are available for this course:
AAA including mathematics
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the science Practical is required where it is separately endorsed.
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: AAB including mathematics at grade A, plus grade A in the EPQ.
Applicants who have not studied the required subjects can apply for the Engineering/Physics/Mathematics Foundation Year.
A Distinction, including a Core A grade in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction T-level plus grade A in A-level Mathematics.
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.
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.
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
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.
D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus grades AA from two A-levels including 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.
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.
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: AAB including mathematics at grade A, 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.
Pass, with 36 points overall with 18 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.
AAA including mathematics (minimum grade A)
Or
AA 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.
H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 including mathematics and applied mathematics
D in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus grades AA from two A-levels including 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.
D3, D3, D3 in three Principal subjects including mathematics.
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 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.
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | with 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.https://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/language.page
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.
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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.
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland | £10050 | |
| EU & International | TBC |
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.
Please see our website for further details and updates regarding tuition fees.
We anticipate that international tuition fee levels for 2027 entry will be confirmed in August 2026.
Email:ugadmissions@southampton.ac.uk
Phone:023 8059 4732
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
At University of Southampton