Civil Engineering Study Guide 2026/27
What you can study
Known globally for expertise in environmental engineering and resilient infrastructure, Civil Engineering at Bristol is shaping the world we live in. At Bristol, you will have access to our world-class laboratory facilities, including the most advanced earthquake-shaking table in Europe.
You will find units on:
- geomechanics
- water engineering
- design and structural analysis
- infrastructure
Pre-requisites
At UK universities, students specialise from their first year and rarely take units outside their degree subject. This means that:
- Year 1 units are suitable for all students.
- Year 2 units require some university study in the discipline.
- Year 3 units require a strong background in the discipline.
- Masters-level units are suitable for those with three years of study in the subject.
Subject pathway students
If you have been nominated to Bristol on the Study Abroad (Civil Engineering pathway), you are expected to take the majority of your credits from this guide. The School also permits students to consider units from the Aerospace Engineering guide.
Year 1
Pre-requisites: suitable for students majoring in Engineering
Teaching Block 1
- Engineering Science A - CADE10003
- Introduction to Design Practice - CADE10001 - this unit is graded as pass/fail so involves no numerical mark.
Teaching Block 2
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
- Engineering Communication, Measurement, and Data Analysis - CADE10002 - this unit is graded as pass/fail so involves no numerical mark.
Year 2
Pre-requisites: some university study in the discipline.
Teaching Block 1
Teaching Block 2
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Year 3
Pre-requisites: strong background of study in the discipline.
Teaching Block 1
Teaching Block 2
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
- Advanced Structural Analysis - CENG30010
- Design of Highways and Bridges - CADE30009
- Research Project - CENG30020. Please see the 'Project units' section for further information.
Masters-level units
Pre-requisites: at least 3 years of study in the discipline.
Teaching Block 1
- Advanced Structural Materials and Design - CENGM0079
- Artificial Intelligence Applications in Structures and Materials - CADEM0019
- Engineering Reliability - CADEM0032
- Offshore Foundation Systems - CADEM0027
- Smart Cities and Infrastructure - CENGM0081
- Wind Energy Systems - CADEM0028
Teaching Block 2
- Advanced Geotechnical Analysis - CADEM0033
- Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development - CENGM0071
- Infrastructure Systems Management - CENGM0072
- Mechanics of Lightweight and Composite Structures - CADEM0018
- Structural Earthquake Engineering - CENGM0075
- Water Management in a Changing World - CADEM0008
Project units
The following project unit is open on the condition that you have decided on a topic prior to your arrival in Bristol and confirmed these details with the School. You may receive an academic supervisor for project units. If a supervisor is unavailable to support a project, students may be required to select an alternative unit.
Teaching Block 4 (full year)
Application queries
Contact the Centre for Study Abroad inbound team if you have any queries about the application process for the study abroad programmes:
Phone: +44 117 39 40207
Email: cfsa-inbound@bristol.ac.uk