MEng Civil Engineering with a Year in Industry
2026 entry
Course summary
If you are creative, enjoy design and aspire to improve the world around you, then civil engineering is for you. This degree will equip you to find solutions to global environmental problems and design large and unique structures that shape society - for example, buildings, bridges, water supply systems, transport networks, renewable electricity generation and other critical infrastructure assets.
The course balances deep theoretical knowledge with practical application. At Bristol, you will also benefit from our world-class laboratory facilities, including one of the most advanced earthquake-shaking tables in Europe.
The first two and final two years of this course are shared with MEng Civil Engineering. You will spend your third year on a placement in industry, applying the knowledge you have gained during your first two years of study.
There's no direct entry into this course but you can transfer from our other civil engineering courses if you reach a high academic standard and are successful at a placement interview. Places are limited and highly competitive.
The first two years provide a strong foundation in engineering, including mathematics, structures, soil and fluid mechanics, coding and surveying.
Design is central to the course and this is reflected in the projects you will undertake. In the first year, you will develop a sustainable solution to an open-ended problem, such as designing and making a model bridge. The second year includes designing with steel, concrete and timber, geotechnical design and water engineering.
Returning from your placement, you will carry out a major individual research project and continue to develop key practical and professional skills such as project management, entrepreneurship, economics and risk analysis.
In the final year, you will be able to choose units that tailor your studies to your interests and career aspirations. You will also take part in an exciting group design project that combines all your learning as you tackle a realistic design challenge. Projects range from transportation to smart cities and from skyscrapers to sustainable housing.
We work closely with industry to equip you with the skills and experiences needed to become a future leader in civil engineering. Our graduates are highly sought after by top employers, including civil engineering consultancies and construction companies, utility companies, the military, public transport providers, sustainable electricity generators, and environmental managers.
Yasmin completed a year in industry and found that it boosted her confidence, improved her career prospects and helped her develop a deeper appreciation for university life. Watch her story here.
Course structure
First-year students studying Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and Design Engineering all start their degrees with a broad knowledge of the fundamentals and a command of the skills that underpin modern engineering.
You will share common units with your peers in other disciplines and work on an interdisciplinary project, based on global challenges and inspired by Engineers Without Borders.
You will meet and work closely with more people from the start of your degree, broadening your social circle and long-term professional network. Interdisciplinary working is now the norm in industry, and a good understanding of disciplines other than your own will serve you well when you enter the workplace.
Starting your degree with a broad foundation of knowledge will expand your frame of reference, enabling you to be more creative as you progress with your course and become more specialist in later years of study. The skills-based approach will provide you with technical abilities that will enable you to be successful in your degree and your career.
Entry requirements
We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.
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Selection process
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement are found in the University admissions policies and procedures.
- If applying with extenuating circumstances please see our policy.
- Full information about our selection processes for Civil Engineering with a Year in Industry can be found in the Admissions Statement:
Admissions statement - The admissions statement above relates to 2025 entry. The statement for 2026 entry will be available in summer 2025.