BEng (Hons) Civil & Environmental Engineering Bachelor's degree at Cardiff University
BEng (Hons) Civil & Environmental Engineering at Cardiff University. Civil and environmental engineering asks students to think about how the built world and the natural world sit alongside each other, from the way water moves through a city to how a bridge is designed to last for generations.
About this course
BEng (Hons) Civil & Environmental Engineering is a Bachelor's degree (BEng (Hons)) at Cardiff University. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Civil engineering graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 87% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Engineering, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 93% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year one 3 modules
- Engineering Maths and ComputationCore30 credits
- Fundamentals of Civil EngineeringCore50 credits
- Applied Design and PracticeCore40 credits
Year two 6 modules
- Engineering AnalysisCore20 credits
- Building ModellingCore10 credits
- Environmental EngineeringCore10 credits
- Hydraulics and Soil MechanicsCore20 credits
- Structural Analysis & Design TheoryCore30 credits
- Sustainable Civil Engineering Design & PracticeCore30 credits
Year three 1 modules
- Industrial TrainingCore120 credits
Year four 7 modules
- Hydrology and HydraulicsCore10 credits
- ProjectCore30 credits
- Digital and Computational Architectural, Civil and Environmental EngineeringCore20 credits
- Geotechnical EngineeringCore10 credits
- Civil Engineering DesignCore10 credits
- Advanced Environmental EngineeringCore20 credits
- Sustainable structural design and practiceCore20 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The course is structured around six broad strands rather than a single fixed pathway. Core theory covers the fundamental engineering science that everything else depends on, structures, materials, mechanics and the mathematics that underpins them. Research & methods introduces the tools and habits of thinking that engineers use to test ideas and interpret data, which matters as much in environmental monitoring as it does in structural analysis. Applied practice is where theory gets tested against real design problems, and specialist options let students shape the later stages of the degree towards areas such as water engineering, geotechnics, or structural and environmental design, depending on what's offered in a given year. The independent project is a sustained piece of work carried out largely under the student's own direction, usually the point where a student's particular interests within civil and environmental engineering become most visible. Running throughout is a strand on professional skills, communication, project management, ethics and the kind of judgement that engineering employers expect graduates to have developed, not just technical competence on its own.
Who it's for
This course suits people who are curious about how things are built and how they interact with the environment around them, not just the finished structure, but the ground it sits on, the water that flows near it, and the people who use it. It tends to appeal to students who like maths and physics but want to see those subjects applied to tangible, real-world problems rather than kept abstract. A good fit here is someone who's comfortable with sustained, detailed work: engineering study rewards patience and precision, and the independent project in particular asks students to manage a long piece of work with limited day-to-day supervision. It also suits people who don't mind working across disciplines, since environmental engineering pulls in ecology, hydrology and sustainability alongside more traditional structural and geotechnical engineering. Most students accepted onto courses like this have typically come through A-levels or an equivalent qualification, with a common UCAS tariff range in the 128–143 point band, though this reflects what past entrants have held rather than a stated requirement. Studying this degree feels less like a single subject and more like assembling a toolkit, some years feel heavily technical, others more practical or project-based, so it suits students who are happy for the balance of their workload to shift as the course goes on.
Careers & job market
Civil and environmental engineering graduates move into work connected to infrastructure, construction, water management, environmental consultancy and related technical fields, though the specific route depends heavily on which specialist options a student pursues. Nationally, across Engineering courses, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 80% of those in work are in roles classed as highly skilled, figures that describe the national picture for the subject area rather than outcomes specific to this course. Continuation into a second year of study nationally sits at 88%, giving a sense of how many students carry on from their first year onward. On earnings, national data (not specific to Cardiff) shows starting salaries in the region of £29,000–£35,000 fifteen months after graduating, rising to roughly £26,775–£37,800 after three years and £33,150–£46,800 after five years. These figures come from Graduate Outcomes and LEO data across the sector and should be read as a general national picture of what engineering graduates go on to earn, not a guarantee tied to this particular degree or university.
University & format
Cardiff University is a public, Russell Group institution founded in 1883, with a total student population of 30,930. The BEng (Hons) Civil & Environmental Engineering is a full-time, four-year degree taught in English at the university's Cardiff campus. As a Russell Group member, the university sits within a network of research-intensive institutions, and its degrees are subject to standard UK degree-awarding recognition. The university also offers bursaries and scholarships, though students should check Cardiff's own funding pages directly for what's currently available and what they might be eligible for.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 80%.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 79% |
| Other | 16% |
| a previous degree | 2% |
| another higher-education qualification | 2% |
| an Access course | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Set under Wales's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at Cardiff University →If you normally live in Wales
2026/27 total maintenance support from Student Finance Wales. How much of it is grant and how much is loan depends on household income; the total does not. If you normally live elsewhere, use your home funding body.
Check your entitlement with Student Finance Wales →Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: paid directly to the university by Student Finance Wales.
- Maintenance support: a mix of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales, weighted to household income.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Wales runs its own system through Student Finance Wales; check studentfinancewales.co.uk for current rates.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Engineering graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £30,000 | £29,000 – £33,000 | 50 |
| 3 years after | £31,000 | £28,500 – £36,000 | 120 |
| 5 years after | £38,500 | £33,000 – £44,500 | 125 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in engineering · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Engineering nationally
National figures for Engineering graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 50; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Engineering courses at the same study level.
Compared with 2,256 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 80% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 110; response rate: 71%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Engineering graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Engineering graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Engineering & manufacturing firms
- Automotive & aerospace
- Energy & utilities
- Defence & consultancies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Engineering graduates.
Engineering Surveyor (Machine Control)BAM UK & IrelandEngineering Operations Project ManagerFdo Consulting LimitedEngineering ManagerVerto PeopleEngineering ManagerRobert WaltersEngineering ManagerPremier Technical RecruitmentEngineering ManagerRedline Group LtdIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Fees for this course are set under Wales's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. If you normally live in Wales, Student Finance Wales can pay an eligible Tuition Fee Loan directly to the university, and maintenance support is a mix of grant and loan weighted to household income. You repay only above the income threshold.
Where graduates go
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £30,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.9 out of 10: NSS 78.6% · in work or study 95% · continued 93%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Cardiff University
Engineering and technology across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Cardiff University - Main Campus
4,125 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Engineering right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Cardiff University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Cardiff University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Cardiff University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Cardiff University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Cardiff University
Common questions
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