Join the fascinating world of civil engineering by enrolling into one of the oldest, most highly accredited courses at the University of Bolton! We have been successfully teaching civil engineering courses for over 40 years, with the help of an accomplished team of lecturers with relevant first-hand experience in contracting and consultancy.

With accreditations from established engineering bodies like the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, the Institute of Highway Engineers, and The Institution of Structural Engineers, our civil engineering degree courses are highly regarded by the industry.

Crane over Bolton Market Halloptimised10 optimized

The University of Bolton is proud to be ranked number one for student satisfaction in Greater Manchester by the Complete University Guide 2020 for the third year in a row. Our civil engineering courses will focus on equipping you with life-long learning skills and with an educational base for early career development.

Our degree is accredited as fully satisfying the educational base for an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and partially satisfying the educational base for a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

A programme of accredited Further Learning will be required to complete the educational base for CEng.* to apply for both Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng) status at an early stage in your career.

As a civil engineering student, you can benefit from our established, close working industry relationships through which we are able to provide placement opportunities.

Our well-equipped light structures, surveying, soil, fluid and material laboratories alongside powerful 3D digital computing facilities allow the subject of civil engineering to come to life for you.

Our approach to your education is ‘Teaching Intensive, Research Informed’ and we are ranked number four for teaching quality in the UK by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019. Our small class sizes allow you to make the most of valuable one-to-one time with our passionate tutors and our course modules equip you with the right knowledge and engineering skills to enjoy a successful career in any civil engineering speciality.

Here’s what you will get in the courses:

Interactive and engaging modules to ensure you get industry insights.
Access to digital surveying equipment to capture real-time data on-site which will allow you to bring digital and intelligent construction design processes into the civil engineering and construction programmes.
Guest lectures, site visits, placements and seminars as well as the option to undertake your dissertation in association with local employers.
Opportunity to participate in live projects
Some of the potential** career options after studying these courses include job roles such as:
Civil engineer
CAD technician
Design engineer
Structural engineer
Site engineer

If you have any more questions about studying at the University of Bolton, our award-winning student services team are here to put your mind at ease about any queries related to accommodation, finance, funding, health and well-being, disability support or anything else you may need.

*See www.jbm.org.uk for further information and details of Further Learning programmes for CEng

**please note that some roles may require additional qualifications and/or work experience for entry

Accreditations

The University of Bolton Civil Engineering School works closely with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)

Chat to our Students

News

What type of engineering is best for you

31 May 23

Although the term ‘engineer’ has only been around for a few hundred years, engineering is an industry that has existed way before our time. It dates back to the construction of the Great Pyramid over 5...

Key Principles of Engineering Management for Master’s Students

26 Nov 22

Within engineering management, there are certain principles which must be kept in mind. Understanding these principles is vital for anyone who has a passion for enhancing their career prospects as a professiona...

2022: Celebrating Women in Civil Engineering

02 Aug 22

Despite the fight for equality, we are still seeing a gender gap in civil engineering careers with women making up just

Global Civil Engineering News Stories

29 Jul 22

Civil engineers are some of the most important professionals in society. They are responsible for the safe construction of our infrastructure and strive to provide the most innovative solutions. You can earn th...

The Latest Inventions in Civil Engineering

27 Apr 22

Civil engineering has hugely evolved over the years regarding the building, designing, and maintaining of the world’s built and natural environments. Originally,

Why Every Civil Engineering Student Should Consider a Master’s

02 Mar 22

While it’s possible to get a job with an undergraduate degree in civil engineering, a master’s is the best way of gaining a competitive edge and enjoying career progression.[image src="/assets/MAL05774.jpg" id="22634" width="4...

University of Bolton Facilities team presents £1,000 to children's charity

31 May 23

Bolton’s Greater Manchester Business School Expands Accountancy and Tax Clinic

17 Apr 23

Testimonials

Joe Guest

Senior Engineer, R G Parkins & Partners Ltd | 2018

"I undertook my Civil Engineering degree at the University of Bolton on a part-time basis on day release. The engineering lecturers provided a relaxed and friendly environment, which encouraged me to challenge and explore new concepts in what can be very complex subjects. This environment was teamed with all the help and support that I could have needed.

During my course, there were various opportunities for me to get hands-on practical experience. The university provides an ideal balance between the theoretical and practical learning aspects. One of the key advantages within the Civil Engineering course was that the lecturers had come from an experienced background within the industry itself, and many were still very active within the wider engineering community. This not only enabled the learning to be fully up to date but also enabled learning to be presented in a relevant and real-world situation.

I graduated in 2013 and the University of Bolton and the engineering department was the perfect complement to my work and set me up to proceed with confidence in my career. It has acted as a solid foundation for further learning and progression."

Andrew Nicholson

Deputy Regional Director, Civils, Bridges & Ground, WSP Group | 2019

"Bolton gave me a good and well balanced theoretical and practical exposure to civil engineering that provided an ideal basis to grow my career. The support from the staff at the university was always available and they were able to draw on their wealth of experience to provide a clear and appropriate explanation to any queries raised."

Stella Brookes

Civil Engineering | 2018

"I completed a part-time degree course in Civil Engineering at the University of Bolton. For the last 11 years, I have worked for Large Main Contractors on some of the North-Wests largest infrastructure schemes. The degree course at Bolton was a pivotal part in becoming professionally qualified with the ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) and giving me the skill sets and confidence to make complicated engineering decisions and to be at the forefront of problem-solving within my team. The University of Bolton had an extremely well-run programme that combines good practical application of theoretical principles putting students in good stead for the Civil Engineering industry and progression in their chosen careers."

Greg Parkinson

Senior Chartered Engineer, JBA Consulting | 1998

"Back in 1998, I completed my B(Eng) Hons Civil Engineering course via the part-time route. The time spent at Bolton is still fresh in memory as being extremely enjoyable with the superb lecturers and classmates from many different organisations and backgrounds. As well as learning about the wide range of civil engineering subjects, completion of the course required a lot of self-discipline and organisational skills. All in all the degree set a very solid foundation for my career in civil engineering and project management.

With the degree from Bolton as the springboard, my career has also gone from strength to strength. I am currently employed at JBA Consulting as a Senior Chartered Engineer and to this day I still use much of the knowledge gained and still have all the learning material to hand! Having the degree has also enabled me to attain a Masters degree from Cambridge University and Chartered Engineer status."

John Kelly

Assistant Director – Highways & Engineering, Directorate of Place, Bolton Council |

"The University of Bolton has always provided a practical industry-focused training environment. Bolton Council’s Highways & Engineering Service has benefited from this at all levels of educational and professional development and will continue to fully support the university."