Once you have completed your Foundation Year, you will join our BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering course which is accredited and enables you to meet the academic requirements to register as an Incorporated Engineer and puts you on the pathway to Chartered Engineer status
Choose to spend a year in industry as part of your studies: our students have secured placements with employers ranging from global companies to SMEs
Translate theory into practice through real life projects, case studies, site visits and fieldtrips
Learn from civil engineering practitioners who are highly experienced in this field and will inspire you to excel
Hone your practical skills in our exceptional new STEM Centre at Markeaton Street, including dedicated civil engineering laboratories
Prepare for exciting career opportunities in civil engineering, including fields such as design, maintenance, asset management and construction
Built Environments - your questions answered
In the below video, Programme Leader, Derek Spalton, answers some of the most frequently asked questions about Built Environments at the University of Derby. You can also watch exclusive subject content by signing up to Derby on Demand.
100%of students agreed that staff are good at explaining things**BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering and BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering - National Student Survey 2021
91%of students are satisfied with teaching on the course**BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering and BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering - National Student Survey 2021
4thin the UK for student satisfaction with teaching**BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering and BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering - The Guardian University Guide 2022
Top 20in the UK for student satisfaction with the course**BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering and BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering - The Guardian University Guide 2022
Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more
Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.
Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.
Infrastructure supports our day-to-day living – just think about roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and access to water and shelter. Without infrastructure, the world we live in would be very different – which makes the role of the civil engineering professional all the more important.
Build an exciting future
Our BEng (Hons) will enhance your skills in advanced areas of civil engineering theory, particularly relating to structures and infrastructure design.
You will develop a thorough understanding of the process of civil engineering technical design and management. In addition, we will introduce you to key design skills in structures, fluids, geology, soil mechanics, surveying and materials.
You can study this course with or without an industrial year.
Raise your professional profile
Our BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering is accredited by the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Institute of Highway Engineers on behalf of the Engineering Council.
This means that, on successfully completing your studies, you will fully satisfy the academic requirements to register as an Incorporated Engineer and partly meet the academic requirements to register as a Chartered Engineer. For further information, visit the Joint Board of Moderators website.
Valuable industry experience
You can choose to spend a year on industry placement to improve your employability. A significant number of employers – from large national and international companies to SMEs – are looking to recruit Civil Engineering placement students each year.
We provide wide-ranging support for students interested in placement and internship opportunities as well as helping them secure graduate roles. For more information, please contact our Careers and Employment Service.
Makerspace
Open to all students at the University of Derby the Makerspace is a student-led workshop based at our Markeaton Street site. There is a large range of tools in the Makerspace that you are able to use in your own time to design and develop projects.
We're in the fortunate position of having a wealth of expertise and knowledge to help tackle some of the world's greatest challenges. Take a look at examples of how we are responding to the climate emergency.
Our Environmental Sustainability Research Centre provides exciting opportunities to contribute to urgent global challenges in climate change and sustainable development.
Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.
Undergraduate Open Days
The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.
You will learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, on and off campus laboratory and site work, and visits to companies.
How you will be assessed
Assessment includes workshop laboratories, surveying field work, group work and individual assignments. Some traditional exams may be involved for design tests.
Personal academic tutoring
Your personal academic tutor will work with you to help you get the most out of your time at university. Having someone to talk to about your academic progress, your university experience and your professional aspirations is hugely valuable. We want you to feel challenged in your studies, stretched but confident to achieve your academic and professional goals.
Derek was in the Civil Engineering Industry for over 20 years undertaking Design and Supervision of Highway and Drainage Projects in the UK. He has been at the University for 15 years and is the Academic Lead for the Civil Engineering laboratories and Programme Leader for UnderGraduate and Post Graduate Civil Engineering and Construction Management Programmes
When you graduate, you can look forward to wide-ranging career opportunities in civil engineering, including fields such as design, maintenance, asset management and construction.
You could, for example, go on to work for private companies which specialise in contracting or consulting, for local authorities and water companies, or for organisations such as Network Rail and the Highways Agency.
Alternatively you could choose to take your studies to the next level by embarking on a postgraduate course, such as our MSc Civil Engineering and Construction Management.
Contact us
If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.
Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.
Additional costs and optional extras
We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.
Please also note that due to the current Covid-19 situation, if your course offers fieldtrips, the location of these may change or be cancelled. If this happens, you will be communicated to in advance and we will do our very best to seek out other practical opportunities to ensure your experience is not affected.
The information below is correct for entry in the academic year September 2021 - August 2022 only. Entry for future academic years may be subject to change.
Included in your fees
Use of resources
First year field trips
Industry speakers
All necessary PPE, including safety boots
Mandatory costs not included in your fees
Books, approx. £200
Additional field trips, approx. £100
Site visits, approx. £50
Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.