Engineering (Civil)

UCAS code: H211

Here's what Durham University says about its Engineering (Civil) course.

Course details Enter the exciting world of engineering and gain the skills you need to plan, design and analyse engineering projects aligned to the needs of local, national and global industry. This degree delivers the breadth and depth that you will need to succeed in the world of engineering. It is designed to produce graduates who will go on to lead engineering teams. A common first two years in General Engineering provide you with the broad knowledge required to effectively work on multi-disciplinary engineering problems. The course structure offers a huge amount of flexibility – you could join us on a electronic engineering pathway but decide to pursue civil engineering at the end of your second year. We believe in empowering our students to make informed decisions that would best serve their future careers.

Why Durham University? Engineering at Durham is designed to develop talented, modern engineers who are equipped with the skills to solve problems across traditional discipline boundaries – from offshore wind turbines to electro-mechanical devices manufactured on a microchip. With an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability, we are one of only a small number of general engineering departments in the UK. We offer a range of BEng and MEng qualifications with flexible pathways to suit your interests and career goals, including the possibility of a work placement or year abroad. We consider Engineering as an integrated subject so, whichever degree you choose, you will study a common General Engineering for the first two years. After this time, you will have developed enough knowledge to make an informed decision about your future, both in terms of your discipline and the length of your degree, with transfer possible between the courses up to the end of the second year. All courses are accredited by the relevant professional institution. Our MEng programmes fulfil the educational requirements for Chartered Engineer status.

Facilities We are one of the most comprehensively equipped engineering departments in the UK with dedicated teaching laboratories and advanced facilities, including the newly refurbished electrical laboratory, wind tunnels, microelectronics clean rooms, a geotechnical engineering laboratory and powerful computers for computationally demanding projects.

Rankings 4th in the Complete University Guide 2025 6th in the Guardian University Guide 2025 6th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Career Opportunities We have an outstanding reputation for employability. Our students have a dedicated careers contact who is available to offer advice and carry out mock interviews. Our Industrial Partnership Committee of around 20 local, national and international companies will ensure you have access to the best employment opportunities. With subject specific skills, industry knowledge and transferable skills, such as problem solving, information technology, teamwork, presentation, project planning and management, you will be attractive to employers across many sectors. Our graduates are employed in many sectors across the world including roles in civil, mechanical, electronic, electrical, manufacturing, design, aeronautics and systems engineering, and as consultants, technology analysts and software developers. Examples of high-profile employers include BP, Rolls Royce, and BAE Systems.

For current information please scroll to the bottom of the page for Provider Information and select Visit our Course Page under Course Contact Details.

In the first three years, most modules are assessed primarily by examinations. However, modules typically also include a coursework component, covering subjects such as CAD, programming and engineering design.

The balance of examination/coursework changes towards the end of the degree – half of the final-year mark is based on a dissertation research project, working one-to-one with an academic or industry partner.

In addition to the help provided by your subject lecturers, you can also access extensive support for your assessments through ASC, the Academic Skills Centre. See below for details: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/centres/academic-skills-centre/