Undergraduate course
BEng (Hons)
Civil Engineering with Foundation Year
Don't have the traditional entry requirements to start a degree? Get a solid grounding in the disciplines underpinning civil engineering through an additional foundation year.
Our typical offer
32 UCAS points
Places available for a 2026 start
0 Call Admissions 0333 241 6929
Hands-on projects from day one
You’ll build valuable problem-solving and team-working skills before you know it, working on real-world engineering challenges that get you thinking, designing and constructing.
Industry-aligned teaching
You’ll join a course co-designed with industry partners ensuring that we deliver a course that is closely aligned with future industry needs, making your degree truly future-proof.
Stand-out work experience
Work as a paid student engineer in an optional placement, applying your knowledge in real-world settings and building helpful industry contacts to kickstart your career.
About
Are you passionate about designing and building resilient bridges and buildings that transform people’s lives—now and for future generations? As a civil engineering student at the University of Plymouth, you’ll imagine, design, and create the structures and technical solutions that bring large-scale infrastructure projects to life. Be a civil engineer of the future, helping society make life-changing progress in areas such as shelter, clean water, transportation, energy security, and protection from natural hazards.
Dr Shanshan Cheng
Associate Professor in Structural Engineering
What is a foundation year?
A foundation year provides an additional entry-level year for you to gain further knowledge of a subject before starting a full degree course.
On completing the foundation year successfully, you progress automatically onto the full degree course, which is usually three years. You don’t need to apply for a place on the full degree course.
Further information on
University of Plymouth courses with foundation years .
A full list of potential progressions routes is listed under course details
Why choose a degree with a foundation year?
- To build your confidence to study at university level.
- To gain the knowledge and skills needed to complete a full degree.
- Your qualifications don't meet entry requirements for a three-year degree.
- You want to study a new subject that your previous qualifications or experience haven’t prepared you for.
- You may have thought university wasn’t an available option for you.
- You want to join a university course that is needed for the career you’d like.
Our civil engineering courses are ranked ...
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Æ#1 in the UK - Daily Mail University Guide 2026
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Top 5 in UK for teaching and academic support : National Student Survey 2025
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#1 in the South West for teaching and academic support : National Student Survey 2025
This course is for you if...
you're passionate about designing and constructing infrastructure that benefits society
you aspire to address sustainable development challenges
you're eager to get hands-on experience from site visits and in the lab
you aim to become a Chartered Civil Engineer with global opportunities
Details
Progression routes
This foundation year is an integral part of the extended degree and you will benefit from experienced university lecturers.
Whilst successful completion of the foundation year (Year 0) will not lead to a separate award or qualification in its own right, you will be able to confidently progress onto Year 1 of:
Progression is also possible to our other engineering degrees and good performance in the first year entitles you to transfer to the second year of our MEng courses.
Foundation year
The course comprises four themes: civil engineering, mathematical methods, applied mathematics (mechanics), and physics. You can expect about 15 hours of contact per week and will be studying independently for at least the same amount of time. Your assessment will be in the form of coursework assignments, in-class tests and examinations at the end of each of the two semesters.
Core modules
COMP060
Principles of Computing and AI
30 credits
Exploit the power of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence in science: learn how programmes are designed and written and how computing can be used to address problems in your discipline. You will get ahead of the game by learning how to program in Python and apply your skills in real-world settings via a series of guest lectures from academics and industry figures leading weekly computing workshops.
100% Coursework
MATH060
Foundational Mathematics in STEM
30 credits
Ready to lay the foundation for your degree? Learn about the fundamental maths behind real-world phenomena that is vital across Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Add to your toolbox the skills of algebra, geometry and calculus and see how they are applied in your discipline. Most importantly, you will complete this module feeling confident with your ability to do calculations effectively and correctly.
60% Coursework
40% Examinations
PHYS060
Physics, Mechanics and Applied Mathematics
30 credits
Put your maths into a real-world context by modelling a range of fascinating phenomena in science, technology and engineering. A unique, lab-led approach exposes you to experiments in the university's flagship STEAM and COAST labs and the physics behind them. Apply your maths skills to predict the outcome of these labs and statistics to process the data you collect to test your understanding of the physical world.
50% Coursework
50% Examinations
SFPT062
Global Scientific Challenges: Projects and Labs
Student will work in a group to explore a global scientific challenge facing society and connected to their pathway. Through lab experiments and data analysis they will understand the science behind addressing this challenge and its impact on everyday life. Parallel lectures in statistics and data analysis will be used to support project work and interpret findings, with students reflecting on the group work process.
50% Tests
35% Coursework
15% Practicals
Related courses
Our flexible courses offer the opportunity to add a specialism in coastal engineering, or choose an integrated masters (MEng) and enrich your undergraduate degree with an additional year at postgraduate level.
What’s the difference between BEng and MEng?
BEng (Hons)
- A three year degree, with the potential for it to be four years with a placement year
- Accredited by the professional engineering institutions on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and partly meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
MEng (Hons)
- A four year integrated masters, with the potential for it to be five years with a placement year
- Accredited by the professional engineering institutions on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Accreditation and accolades
Successful completion of the Foundation year will allow you to progress on to the first year of the Civil Engineering programme accredited by the Engineering Council through the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE), the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT), and the Permanent Way Institution.
Defence Universities Alliance
Plymouth is a
founding member of the Defence Universities Alliance, a collaboration between the Ministry of Defence, the UK Armed Forces and the higher education sector, helping equip you with specialist, in-demand skills.
The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.
Experience
High-spec industry facilities
You’ll become expert in using all the latest specialist equipment in our innovative laboratories, which at Plymouth, include water and coastal engineering facilities, so you graduate with sought-after knowledge and experience.
Get hands-on
Learn about hydraulic engineering concepts by getting hands-on building breakwaters in the
COAST lab .
Testing to destruction
Breaking, twisting, and snapping metal in the
STEAM Material Testing Lab . Conduct a range of tensile, impact, torsion and fatigue tests to determine the characteristics of different metals.
Heavy structures
Concrete practical in our purpose-built
Heavy Structures and Geotechnics Lab , include mixing, casting and testing the materials. .
Wave-tested engineering: foundation students put their floating bridges to the test
"Foundation students are taught the mathematics of stability and buoyancy, and then make their model floating bridge using a composite slab and buoyant materials. These are then tested with a radio-controlled car in our coastal basin, simulating a shallow coastal environment and the waves you would encounter there."
Associate Professor in Coastal Engineering
Thriving industry connections
We have a long history of working with industry experts to provide you with the connections and opportunities you’ll need to begin your career.
Our Industrial Advisory Committee (IAC) is a panel of esteemed practising engineers and one of the biggest in the UK.
Working in partnership with the IAC, we keep your curriculum up-to-date and ensure that you’re highly employable when you graduate.
I hope my research will significantly contribute to advancing renewable energy, promoting environmental sustainability, and fostering socio-economic benefits on both local and global scales.
Research-informed teaching
Learn from professionals with industry and research expertise.
Benefit from our industry expertise and study a course that is influenced by our innovative research.
Our collaborative and interdisciplinary community of world-leading academics and researchers is focused upon the creation of knowledge and innovative solutions that have a positive impact upon society.
Our
technical staff are integral to the delivery of all our programmes and bring a diverse range of expertise and skills to support students in laboratories and workshops.
Professor Deborah Greaves OBE FREng
Visiting Professor
Dr Shanshan Cheng
Associate Professor in Structural Engineering
Dr Edward Ellis
Lecturer in Civil Engineering (Education)
Make friends and meet like-minded people
With a choice of two dedicated student societies for passionate engineers, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with a range of activities including site visits, guest lectures from industry experts, networking events, workshops, and hands-on projects.
These events not only complement your studies but also provide valuable insights into the civil engineering profession.
Civil Engineering Society (CivSoc)
Plymouth Engineering Society (EngSoc)
Life in Plymouth
Plymouth's maritime history and coastal location have an undeniable influence on life in the city. The walk from our main campus to the seafront is only about one mile, providing loads of opportunity to relax and unwind during your studies. You don’t need to leave the city to get to the coast!
The overall vibe of the city is perfect. You are by the sea so it is still laid back, but you have all the conveniences of living in a city.
Jenna
Current student
Current student
Discover our range of student accommodation options and find out how you can get a guaranteed place in halls
Our large student population, active Students' Union, and abundance of student-led clubs and societies blend to create a busy and vibrant student scene
Careers
The best and most exciting milestone in my career has been starting my role in the structural dynamics and numerical modelling field. I am able to apply my technical knowledge and utilise a variety of engineering skills, as well as work on exciting projects that involve energetic events.
After a year as an Associate Project Manager for the Ministry of Defence, Ajen Limbu transitioned into a role as a Structural Dynamics Engineer.
MEng (Hons) Civil Engineering
We’re an employment-focused course: preparing you for your chosen career is our priority.
Developing the next generation of chartered civil engineers means providing you with opportunities to connect and engage with the industry, from site visits and guest speakers to work placements.
With many of our graduates employed in a professional or managerial role six months after graduation, the connections we provide are meaningful and will have a direct impact on your employability.
Our graduates are employed in a wide variety of roles and disciplines across both the public and private sectors in the UK and overseas.
Optional placement year: preparing you for the future
Preparing the next generation of civil engineers means offering opportunities to collaborate with industry connections through work placements and tackling real-world projects. The optional placement year offers you the chance to engage in hands-on learning, gaining practical experience so that you’ll be well-equipped to excel as a highly employable graduate.
The placement has definitely helped me define where I want to go – working in the transportation division and on world-class bridge design projects.
After her industrial placement with AECOM designing an underground station, Harriette Scowen was offered sponsorship and a full-time graduate position.
When I got my placement, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I started doing hydraulic modelling and water infrastructure, it was really great! I feel like I’ve grown so much in the last year and I’ve been offered a job for when I graduate.
Alex Phillips
*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys from the latest available data covering the three years of 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Tuition fees for new full-time UK students starting in
Full-time study
£9,790 per year
£9,790 per year
Module fees for repeated or part-time study
To be confirmed per credits
To be confirmed per credits
Tuition fees for new full-time UK students starting in
Full-time study
£10,050 per year
£10,050 per year
Module fees for repeated or part-time study
To be confirmed per credits
To be confirmed per credits
Tuition fee price changes
The Government has announced that tuition fees from Academic Year 28/29 onwards will be subject to automatic annual inflationary increases, which we believe will be at a similar rate to the recent annual increases to fees, and may continue to be inflation based. The University may increase annual tuition fees in line with the Student Contract and the maximum tuition fee caps set by the Government from time to time.
We understand that clarity around tuition fees is important when planning your studies and we advise you to monitor this page regularly to stay informed of any updates to your tuition fees.
More information about
fees and costs of studying .
Tuition fees for full-time international students starting in
Full-time study
£19,200 per year
£19,200 per year
Optional placement year completed in the UK
£1,955
Optional placement year completed outside the UK
£1,465
Tuition fees for full-time international students starting in
Full-time study
£19,800 per year
£19,800 per year
Optional placement year completed in the UK
£2,010
Optional placement year completed outside the UK
£1,507
Tuition fee price changes
Our fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about
fees and costs of studying .
UK Government announcement on tuition fees
The UK Government has announced that a levy on tuition fee income in the region of 6% of an international student’s tuition fees may be introduced. If implemented, the University reserves the right to increase your tuition fees accordingly. The Government has made it clear that it has not officially decided on its stance and it is possible that the eventual levy amount or arrangements may differ from the initial proposal. Therefore, the University reserves the right to adjust tuition fees in accordance with the Government’s final position on this levy.
We understand that clarity around tuition fees is important when planning your studies. Therefore, please note that the tuition fee shown on this page may change as a result of the introduction of a levy. We advise you to monitor this page regularly to stay informed of any updates to your tuition fees.
Additional costs
This course is delivered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Studying a course in this faculty may incur additional costs relating to field-based activities or equipment requirements.
Fund your studies
As an undergraduate at Plymouth, there may be funding options available to you, including tuition fee loans, living cost loans, scholarships, bursaries and support funds.
The Tamar Engineering Project
The Tamar Engineering Project is for ambitious students who want to embark on a career in engineering and who have shown potential for high academic achievement at A level, but whose background or personal circumstances may be a barrier to university study.
Successful applicants will receive:
- £3,000 per annum towards living costs for the duration of the taught element of their degree (usually three years)
- £1,500 fee waiver per annum
- one-to-one mentoring from an industry expert.
Supporting students with the cost of living
The cost of living in the UK has risen faster than household income, meaning that most people will have less to spend on essential goods and services. This is an ongoing situation that is likely to affect everyone in some way.
The University provides advice and guidance and has a range of services, facilities and offers to help students with rising everyday costs.
Apply
Places available for a 2026 start
Entry requirements
Our typical offer
32 UCAS points
32 UCAS points
You may be eligible for a contextual offer
A levels
32 points from a minimum of 2 A levels.
GCSE
Mathematics and English at grade C/4 or above.
BTEC RQF National Extended Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma
18 Unit BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma: PPP
12 Unit BTEC National Certificate/QCF Diploma: MP
12 Unit BTEC National Certificate/QCF Diploma: MP
If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.
International Baccalaureate
24 overall– English and mathematics must be included.
All Access courses
Pass Access course (any subject) (including GCSE English and mathematics grade C/4 or above or equivalent). For candidates that do not have a science or technology background please contact: admissions@plymouth.ac.uk for further advice.
Extended entry requirements
To be accepted onto a degree course with us, you must have a suitable English language qualification.
Ready to apply?
All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS.com. Please refer to the course facts below when completing your application for this course.
UCAS course code
H203
H203
Institution code
P60
P60
Duration
4 years
(+ optional placement)
Course type
Full-time
Study location
Plymouth
Plymouth
Entry requirements
We welcome applicants with international qualifications and we accept a range of qualifications from across the globe.
Our typical offer
32 UCAS points
32 UCAS points
English language requirements
To be accepted onto a degree course with us, you must have a suitable English language qualification.
Ready to apply?
As an international student, you can apply for this course through UCAS or an agent in your country.
Need support with your application?
- Personal statement guidance
- student visa support
- travel and arrival information
- and more.
UCAS course code
H203
H203
Institution code
P60
P60
Duration
4 years
(+ optional placement)
Course type
Full-time
Study location
Plymouth
Plymouth
Other routes to this course
If you do not have the required qualifications for this course, you may be able to gain them through the
University of Plymouth International College (UPIC) .
Visit us at an undergraduate on-campus open day
Open days are the best way to get a feel for studying an undergraduate degree at the University of Plymouth.
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*These are the latest results from the National Student Survey. Please note that the data published on Unistats is updated annually in September.