School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering with Foundation Year

UCAS tariff 32 - 48 Contextual offers
A contextual offer is an offer to study at university that takes personal circumstances that may affect grades into account.
UCAS course code H203
Institution code P60
Duration

4 years

(+ optional placement)
Course type

Full-time
Study location Plymouth
Register for open day
Apply at UCAS.com

Do you want to become a civil engineer but lack the normal entry requirements for one of our honours degrees? Perhaps you've shown evidence of good academic potential but don’t have sufficient qualifications or have been out of formal education for a while. This four-year degree route incorporates a foundation year that is broadly equivalent to mathematics and physics A level and includes a project and introductory engineering topics.

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.
Progression opportunities include ...

A course with a foundation year is for you if…

  • You would like to build your confidence to study at university level.
  • You want 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.

Careers with this subject
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. Possible career paths include:
  • bridge engineering
  • highway engineering
  • water and waste engineering
  • flood engineering
  • nuclear engineering
  • geotechnical engineering.

Key features
  • Progress onto the first year of a professionally accredited civil or civil and coastal engineering degree course, guaranteed provided you pass the foundation year at the required level.
  • Completion of the foundation year will not lead to a separate award or qualification its own right but will provide access to Year 1 of your degree.
  • Gain a gentle introduction to mathematics and science, essential for success on our civil engineering courses.
  • Benefit from material specifically for civil engineering students including an appropriate project in term two.
  • Learn from our professionally qualified teaching staff and researchers – you’ll be taught by some of the same tutors who will teach you later in the degree.

Course details

  • 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

    CIVL050
    Civil Engineering

    This module provides an introduction to the civil engineering profession and to the types of careers open to graduates in this discipline. Relevant transferable skills are also introduced to support a group project which aims to develop an appreciation of the knowledge and skills required for progression to the civil engineering degree programmes.

    MATH051
    Mathematical Methods I 20 credits

    This module is intended to show how mathematics is a fundamental part of the world of engineering, science and computing as well as of the world around us. Assuming a base of GCSE grade C, the lectures and assessments are designed to lead to an understanding of the application of mathematics to GCE A Level grade C and above.

    50% Coursework

    50% Examinations

    MATH053
    Mathematical Methods II 20 credits

    This module is intended to show how mathematics is a fundamental part of the world of engineering and science as well as of the world around us. It extends the mathematics taught in MATH051 to include complex numbers, differential equations and numerical methods.

    50% Coursework

    50% Examinations

    MATH058
    Applied Mathematics 20 credits

    This module provides an introduction to applied mathematics. The focus of the module is on the use of mechanics to solve basic problems of an engineering and scientific nature in the real world. Topics studied are: modelling; forces; vectors; kinematics in one and two dimensions; Newton's laws; moments and energy.

    50% Coursework

    50% Examinations

    PHYS050
    Physics I 20 credits

    This module provides an introduction to physics and its applications in science and engineering. This module assumes little previous knowledge of physics.

    60% Coursework

    40% Examinations

    PHYS051
    Physics II 20 credits

    This module continues the work in Physics I, providing an introduction to physics and its applications in science and engineering.

    60% Coursework

    40% Examinations

  • Year 2

  • Core modules

    ENGR104
    Engineering Mathematics 20 credits

    This module provides students with a number of fundamental mathematical skills, and techniques, which are essential for the analysis of engineering problems.

    50% Coursework

    50% Examinations

    ENGR105
    Mechanics and Structures 20 credits

    This module introduces students to the fundamental scientific principles of engineering mechanics and structures appropriate for civil, marine and mechanical engineering applications. Deeper understanding of these scientific principles will be developed through practical applications using hand calculations and computer software tools as appropriate.

    50% Coursework

    50% Examinations

    ENGR106
    Engineering Materials 20 credits

    This module introduces students to a broad range of engineering materials appropriate for civil, marine and mechanical engineering applications. The module will consider the relationship between structure, manufacture and properties, presenting practical applications wherever appropriate. Students will also be introduced to standard material test methods.

    50% Coursework

    50% Examinations

    Optional modules

    ENGR103
    Engineering Science 20 credits

    This module introduces students to the fundamental scientific principles of fluid mechanics appropriate for civil, marine and mechanical engineering applications; the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics relating to the interaction between systems and their surroundings, including both flow and non-flow processes, heat engines, and mechanisms of heat transfer; and the fundamental principles of electrical engineering.

    50% Coursework

    50% Examinations

    ENGR107
    Engineering Design 20 credits

    This module introduces students to engineering design practice appropriate to civil, marine and mechanical engineering disciplines. Students will develop sketching and technical drawing skills and use computer-aided design (CAD) tools to create digital models of technical systems. Working in a team, students will be tasked to create sustainable solutions to real-world technical design challenges.

    70% Coursework

    30% Tests

    ENGR108
    Engineering Practice and Experimental Techniques 20 credits

    The experimental basis of this module allows students develop their engineering science knowledge and practical skills using a student-centred, laboratory-based approach to learning. The module will help students develop good quality study skills, teamwork, and competency in technical communication.

    70% Practicals

    30% Coursework

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.

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff

32 - 48

Contextual offers: Typically, the contextual offer for this course is 8 points below the advertised tariff. A contextual offer is an offer to study at university that takes into account individual circumstances that are beyond your control, and that can potentially impact your learning and your exam results, or your confidence in applying to university.

Check your eligibility for a contextual offer

A levels: a minimum of 2 A levels.
BTEC: 18 Unit BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma: PPP
12 Unit BTEC National Certificate/QCF Diploma: MP
BTEC National Diploma modules
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.
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.
T level: As a University we will continue to review T level qualifications as more information becomes available in the next couple of months.
International Baccalaureate: 24 overall– English and mathematics must be included.
GCSE: mathematics and English at grade C/4 or above.
Mature students with appropriate work experience are encouraged to apply. For those who do not meet the requirements, please enquire for further details.
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary .

Fees, costs and funding
2024-2025 2025-2026 *
Home £9,250 £9,535
International £18,100 £18,650
Part time (Home) £770 £795
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.

*UK Government announcement on tuition fees

Following an announcement in November, the government has confirmed its intention to increase undergraduate tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year.

Subject to final Parliamentary approval (expected in early March 2025), the tuition fee for UK students is increasing to a maximum of £9,535 from 1 August 2025. This change applies to current and new students at the University of Plymouth. The Student Loans Company (SLC) has confirmed loans for tuition fees will be increased accordingly.

Tuition fees for optional placement years

The fee for all undergraduate students completing any part of their placement year in the UK in 2024/2025 is £1,850.
The fee for all undergraduate students completing their whole placement year outside the UK in 2024/2025 is £1,385.
 Learn more about placement year tuition fees

How to apply
All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
UCAS will ask for the information contained in the box at the top of this course page including the UCAS course code and the institution code.
To apply for this course and for more information about submitting an application including application deadline dates, please visit the UCAS website.
Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office via our how to apply webpage or email admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Progression routes

International progression routes

From this course, you can progress onto:
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.

Confidently progress onto the extended degree

The foundation year is an integral part of the extended degree and completing it will set you up to progress to one of our civil engineering courses.

Access to advanced facilities

Enhance your learning experience with specialist equipment and innovative laboratories within our engineering and design facility. Benefit from opportunities to learn water and coastal engineering in our Marine Building.
Gain industry experience
Progress on to the extended degree and take up the optional placement year. Work as a paid student engineer to apply your knowledge in real-world settings and enhance your career prospects by building valuable industry contacts.

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 value learning from professionals with industry and research expertise
  • you aim to become a Chartered Civil Engineer with global opportunities
Civil Engineering Students on site visit to the new engineering and design facility project (NEDF). The new Babbage building is being built by BAM Construct UK.
 
 
 
 

The foundation year brought me up to speed

“Following a break from education, I decided to pursue a career in civil engineering. The foundation course provided me a pathway to fill the gaps missing in my A levels to meet the entry requirements. It helped me transition back into education and gave me a really solid level of knowledge for when I started the degree. It also exposed me to other engineering disciplines and enabled me to be sure that civil engineering was the right course for me.”
After graduating Cliff Francis went on to work at Balfour Beatty. Discover how Cliff's path to becoming a civil engineer has developed at the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Cliff Francis

Facilities to inspire the engineering and design pioneers of the future

Babbage Building brings STEAM subjects together to support academic collaboration and innovation and our Marine Building provides some of the best research and testing facilities in the country.
Digifab Lab
Digital Fabrication and Immersive Media Laboratories (DFIML)
Composites Engineering Laboratory
Composites Engineering Laboratory
Heavy Structures and Geotechnics Laboratory
Heavy Structures and Geotechnics Laboratory
Immersive Visualisation Suite
Immersive Visualisation Suite
STEAM Lab
STEAM Laboratories
 

Real-world experience

Nilesh Jeetah came top in the final of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West Emerging Engineers Award 2023 for a research project which could have important implications for the future development of floating offshore wind energy.

“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.”

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.
People networking at an event
Ajen Limbu, MEng (Hons) Civil Engineering

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.

Meet your expert teaching staff

Meet our school technical staff

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.

Societies

Civil Engineering Society

CivSoc organises 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.

Plymouth Engineering Society

EngSoc provides a platform for you to meet, socialise with and learn from from fellow students, across all engineering disciplines and between all year groups.
Plymouth Engineering Society

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.
Tamar Bridge
 
Athena SWAN Silver Award logo

Athena Swan Silver

The School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics was awarded an Athena Swan Silver award in September 2024 which demonstrates our ongoing commitment to advancing gender equality and success for all.
*These are the latest results from the National Student Survey. Please note that the data published on Unistats is updated annually in September.