BEng (Hons)

Civil Engineering including Foundation Year

Civil engineering is all about people, from supplying energy and clean water to our homes to recycling our waste. Take your first steps towards a full degree while exploring how civil engineers work on the services and facilities we use every day.

How to apply Apply through UCAS Book an Open Day Chat to Us

Key Course Details

  • UCAS Code

    H20F

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,790*

  • International students

    £17,200*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
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Our Foundation Year will help you prepare for degree-level study and a career in civil engineering. You will gain confidence as you study with the help of our expert staff and our state-of-the-art facilities.

DESIGNED FOR

If you’re looking to become a civil engineer but don’t meet the admissions criteria, our Foundation Year paves the way for the full degree. You will gain a solid base, including all the essential skills and knowledge, preparing you for the full degree and a career in civil engineering.

Accredited By

  • Joint Board of Moderators (JBM)
  • Institution of Civil Engineers
  • Institution of Structural Engineers
  • Institute of Highway Engineers
  • Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation
  • Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council.

Career Paths

  • Design Engineer
  • Mechanical Engineer
  • Project Management
  • Research Engineer

Skills Taught

  • Problem solving through analysis using scientific and engineering theory
  • Developed knowledge of cutting-edge technology
  • Teamworking, management and leadership
  • Communication skills
  • Understanding professional responsibilities

We make a difference in practice, not just on paper. Our courses are designed by people who offer jobs - and taught by people who have real work experience.

A civil engineering student wearing white overalls with a black hoodie underneath looks closely at a piece of measuring equipment in front of a window inside an engineering workshop
A video thumbnail for the video
A lecturer in a yellow high visibility coat talks to a student in a yellow high vis jacket in the rain with surveying equipment
Two civil engineering students wearing yellow high visibility jackets use a piece of surveying equipment at an outdoor building site in Treforest
A mature student wearing a navy boiler suit uses a piece of equipment in a civil engineering workshop at USW Treforest
A group of civil engineering students wearing yellow high visibility jackets complete a practical exercise using a giant ruler and a piece of electronic surveying equipment outside in the rain at Treforest campus
A student mixes components in an industrial mixer in a USW Treforest workroom

Course Highlights

Industry Focused

We have strong links with industry and place considerable emphasis on student projects and practical, problem-based learning.

Work Placement Opportunities

This course is also available through Network75, a combined work and study route. There are also opportunities for field trips and work placements.

Expert Knowledge

Staff are experts in their fields, some through research activities and some through professional practice in industrial careers.

Module Overview

Your Foundation Year is all about providing you with a basis to successfully transition onto the full course. Here you will develop an understanding of the fundamentals of the subject.

Starting your University Journey
This module helps you develop academic, personal and professional skills for university study. You’ll reflect on your progress, build confidence, and create an evidence-based portfolio to support your future learning.

Engineering in Action: From Theory to Practice
Explore real-world engineering challenges as you develop your theoretical knowledge, including core mathematical and scientific principles. Learn key skills through tutorials and seminars before applying them in immersive laboratories and workshops.

Design and Manufacture in Action
Discover the fundamental principles of engineering design and manufacturing, including the knowledge and practical skills to approach real-world challenges. You’ll explore the full design process, from research to creation and everything in between.

The Impact Challenge  
You’ll work in teams with other Foundation Year students to tackle real-world challenges, developing solutions through research, curiosity, collaboration, and responsible problem-solving while building skills that will support your future studies.

Course Highlights

How you’ll learn

You’ll learn by doing, through real-world activities that help you understand how learning works at university. You’ll be encouraged to ask questions, explore new ideas and work with others, as well as independently. Teaching builds confidence, critical thinking and reflection, supported by digital tools. Regular feedback helps you track progress, plan next steps and build resilience and a strong sense of belonging as you prepare for higher-level study. 

How you'll be assessed

You’ll be assessed in different ways, including short tasks, coursework, presentations, and group work. Early assessments are designed to support your learning and help you understand what is expected at university. Most assessments are coursework-based and help you develop key skills such as research, academic writing, teamwork, and communication. You’ll also reflect on your progress and use university systems and digital tools. Clear, timely feedback will help you understand how to improve and support your next steps.

Placements

After your Foundation Year, as you progress onto your degree, you’ll have the opportunity to learn and experience life on the job in industry as part of the full Civil Engineering degree. We know the value of gaining hands-on experience in the real world and so we work with several companies at both a local and national level.  

You can also choose to undertake a sandwich Placement after your second year, allowing you to step into a professional environment, develop practical skills, and build confidence. Both options are designed to help you grow, explore your potential, and prepare for a successful career. 

Facilities

Our civil engineering labs are equipped with the latest computer-aided and controlled machinery. We also take our students far beyond the perimeter of the University of South Wales campus, using field trips, site visits and industry placements to enhance and embed your learning.

 

Accredited By

Civil engineering academic Joanna Thomas smiles at the camera from an engineering workshop at the Treforest campus

Top in Wales

Civil Engineering courses at USW are top in Wales for student satisfaction.

National Student Survey 2024

Innovation Hub at USW

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Careers and Employability

Graduate careers

Our Foundation Year prepares students for BEng Civil Engineering which leads to a variety of careers both in the UK and internationally. Whether you have a clear career path or you’re still figuring it out, our lecturers, industrial contacts and careers service are ready to help you get there.

Careers support

Our careers service offers a range of advice and guidance to students. We can link you up with industry, we can help you with interview skills and CVs and help you to focus on your own direction of travel.

Industry Partners

We work as part of an industrial advisory board with industry and local authority partners. Our graduates secure work with consulting engineers, civil engineering contractors and local authorities, with a range of companies including Arup, Capita Symonds, BAM Nuttall, Hyder Consulting, Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd, Morgan Est, Carillion, Mott MacDonald, Atkins, Network Rail, United Utilities, and various international companies.

Why USW?

Civil engineering female student measuring something on a wall

  • Civil Engineering at USW is ranked top in Wales (Guardian University Guide 2026)

  • Civil Engineering at USW is top in the UK for Graduate Outcomes (Complete University Guide 2026)

Why USW?

90%

Of USW BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering students were satisfied with their course.

National Student Survey 2025

  • Civil Engineering at USW is ranked top in Wales (Guardian University Guide 2026)

  • Civil Engineering at USW is top in the UK for Graduate Outcomes (Complete University Guide 2026)

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

UCAS points: 48 (or above)

Typical qualification requirements:

  • A Level: DD
  • Welsh BACC: N/A
  • BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Pass Pass Pass or BTEC Diploma Pass Pass
  • Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points
  • T Level: Pass (D or E)

Additional requirements include:

The University normally requires a minimum 3 GCSEs including Mathematics and English at Grade C/Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent but consideration is given to individual circumstances.

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 4 overall and a minimum of 4 in each component or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.

If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£9,790

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£17,200

per year*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Bursaries Cost of Living Support

Additional Costs

Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of stationery, printing, or equipment during your foundation year.  For costs after you progress to year 1 of your degree programme, please see the list below.

student-25
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Introducing Calon Pontypridd Campus

University Quality Assurance

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

EVERY MEMBER OF STAFF I’VE COME ACROSS GENUINELY HAS AN INTEREST IN HELPING TO ENSURE MY LEARNING EXPERIENCE IS AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE.

Ngozi Blessing Orji-Chukwu

Civil Engineering Student

THE ENGINEERING SURVEYING AND HIGHWAYS DESIGN MODULE HAS BEEN THE MOST ENJOYABLE. ESPECIALLY THE HIGHWAY DESIGN ASPECT.

Ngozi Blessing Orji-Chukwu

Civil Engineering Student

A cutout of student Ngozi Blessing Orji-Chukwu smiling at the camera while wearing a large red turtleneck jumper and a black coat
A cutout of student Ngozi Blessing Orji-Chukwu smiling at the camera while wearing a large red turtleneck jumper and a black coat

Life at USW

Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.

A student sat smiling and talking to friends off camera in Treforest Student's Union
Student Life
The University's Ty Crawshays building at Treforest, Pontypridd.
Pontypridd Campus, Treforest
A double room at our Pontypridd accommodation featuring a large window.
Accommodation

How to apply

All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time).

Advanced entry

If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.

Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.

International admissions

International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
 

Next Steps

How to apply
Apply Through UCAS
Book an Open Day
Chat to Us