Civil Engineering with Foundation Year

Civil engineering is the oldest and most expansive of the engineering disciplines. It is responsible for the built environment that makes modern life possible: roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, dams, airports, water treatment plants, coastal defences and the foundations and structures of buildings. Civil engineers design, build and maintain the infrastructure that connects communities and sustains economies, working at every scale from a local footbridge to a major urban transport network.

At the University of Surrey, the four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, which provides the mathematical and scientific grounding needed by students who are entering without the standard entry requirements or who want additional preparation before beginning the full degree. You will study structural engineering, geotechnics, hydraulics, transportation engineering, materials science and project management, developing the quantitative and analytical skills that professional civil engineering requires. Surrey's internationally recognised facilities and research centres support a practically grounded education, and the university has an established record of civil engineering graduate employment in industry.

The programme provides opportunities for placement at major companies, giving you professional experience alongside your academic study.

Surrey's location in the south-east of England places you close to one of the most significant infrastructure investment regions in the UK, with major transport, housing and environmental projects creating sustained demand for civil engineering graduates.

Graduates work in consultancies, contractors, local authorities, the highways and rail agencies, water companies, the Ministry of Defence and international development organisations. Many pursue chartered engineer status through the Institution of Civil Engineers, which is the expected route to full professional recognition. Postgraduate study in structural engineering, geotechnics, water engineering, transport or project management is a common choice for those who want to specialise.