Civil & Transportation Engineering MEng



This course develops the skills needed to play a senior role in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of major infrastructure

Overview

As a civil engineer or transportation specialist, you’ll help create the built environment around us.

Bridges, airports, highways, buildings and railways present their own problems and challenges and need efficient and effective engineering solutions.

You'll learn the fundamentals of civil engineering and develop skills in structural analysis, transport systems, ground engineering, water resource management and transport planning.

You'll gain industry insights from site visits, a week-long survey camp, an overseas field trip and input from engineering companies.

Civil Engineering alumni Emily Alfred at the Queensferry Crossing bridge which she worked on.

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

5 years

Start date:

Sep

UCAS code:

H290

Placement:

Yes

Civil Engineering staff list

Get in touch with programme leaders, lecturers and researchers.

Course details

In year one you will learn the principles of Civil Engineering via an introduction to Materials, Structural Analysis, Construction Process and methods of Engineering Communication including use of industry standard software platforms. The formative stages of your studies are specific to Civil Engineering and are not taught as part of a common first and second year. All areas are underpinned by developing competency in relevant mathematical techniques and approaches to problem solving.

Once an understanding of the fundamental principles of Civil Engineering has been established, you will then progress on to more advance areas of Structural Design, Geotechnics, Fluid Mechanics and Transportation Engineering. You will implement practical solutions across a range of applied applications and develop your skills in lateral problem solving and innovative thinking.

In your final year of study you will develop, manage and undertake a program of independent investigation under the guidance of an associated research supervisor. You will also work as part of a team to fulfil a client’s project brief relating to the development of a substantial piece of Built Environment Infrastructure – the successful fulfillment of this brief will require you to utilize all of the skills developed over the course of your studies with us.

  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

    Lectures and tutorials, three modules each semester.
  • note and pen

    Assessments

    No exams in year 1. Each module has one course work and one exam.

Popular modules

Year 1

  • Construction Engineering
  • Principles of Civil Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Materials Engineering
  • Communication
  • Foundation Mathematics
  • Construction Surveying

Year 2

  • Civil Engineering Principles and Materials 2
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Structural Analysis and Design
  • Geotechnics 1
  • Intermediate Mathematics
  • Project Management

Year 3

  • Water Resources Engineering
  • Geotechnics 2
  • Transport Engineering Construction Methods
  • Structural Engineering 1
  • Further Intermediate Mathematics

Year 4

  • Geotechnics 3
  • Railway Engineering
  • Structural Engineering 2
  • Integrated Engineering Design 1
  • Honours Project (Dissertation)

Year 5

MEng Dissertation and Integrated Engineering Design 2

MSc Transport Planning and Engineering Options; students must normally select four modules from the following options:

  • Public Transport
  • Transport Policy
  • Development Planning and Transport Assessment
  • Traffic Engineering Control
  • Transport and Traffic Models
  • Transport Economics and Appraisal
  • Traffic Management

ACCREDITED BY

This degree is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) comprising the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Institute of Highway Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Permanent Way Institution on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

See www.jbm.co.uk for further information.

 

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Civil and Transport Engineering?

Our entry requirements indicate both Standard and Minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

Can you go straight into second year of university? 

Advanced entry into Year 2, Year 3 or Year 4 is possible for students with suitable qualifications. See the individual year tabs for more information.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the undergraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

Minimum Year 1

SQA Higher

  • Standard Entry RequirementABBB to include Maths (Higher Applications of Maths not accepted).

  • Minimum Entry Requirement: BBBC to include Maths (Higher Applications of Maths not accepted).

You may be given an adjusted offer of entry if you meet our specified minimum entry requirements within our widening participation criteria, and outlined in our Contextual Admissions Policy. Click here for further information about our entry requirements and admissions policies.– 

A level

  • BBC to include Maths

Irish Leaving Certificate

  • H2, H2, H2, H3 at Higher Level including Maths

International Baccalaureate Diploma

  • Award of Diploma with 29 points overall with three Higher Level subjects at grades 6, 5, 5
    Standard Level Maths at grade 5 also required.

BTEC National Extended Diploma (Level 3)

  • DDMM (Distinction, Merit, Merit) in a related subject
    BTEC must include Maths or A level Maths must have also been achieved.

T level

  • Merit
    T Level must be completed in a Maths subject or A Level Maths will be required. Please contact ugadmissions@napier.ac.uk to check if you meet the subject specific requirements.

Minimum Year 2

SQA Advanced Higher

  • BBB to include Maths (Applications of Maths not accepted).

A level

  • ABB to include Maths

HNC

  • Pass HNC in Civil Engineering with grade A in the graded unit.
    Must include passes in the modules Mathematics for Construction (SCQF Level 6) and Maths for Civil Engineering (SCQF Level 7).

Minimum Year 3

HND

  • Pass HND in Civil Engineering with grade A in all SCQF Level 8 Graded Units.
    Must include passes in the modules Maths for Construction (SCQF Level 6), Maths for Civil Engineering (SCQF Level 7) and Applied Maths for Civil Engineering (SCQF Level 8).

Irish Ordinary Degree

  • Pass in a relevant subject with 60% overall and with a minimum of 50% at first sitting in all final year subjects.

Minimum Year 4

Irish Ordinary Degree

  • Pass in a relevant subject with 70% overall and with a minimum of 50% at first sitting in all final year subjects.
If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2024/25 2025/26
Scotland £1,820 £1,820
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £9,250 £9,250
Overseas and EU £19,340 £20,310
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland will be invoiced the tuition fees for 4 years of their 5 years of study.
Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other Tuition Fee matters please see Frequently Asked Questions about Fees Click this link for Information of Bursaries and Scholarships
If additional compulsory costs other than the tuition fees are applicable, these will be detailed in the course details.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Careers

Abstract exterior photo of Edinburgh Napier University Sighthill campus building at night

What can you do with a MEng Civil & Transportation Engineering degree?

A degree in civil & transportation engineering from Edinburgh Napier University allows for a wide scope of career options, including:

  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
  • Transport and Urban Planning
  • Water Engineering and fluid mechanics
  • Construction Management

As a civil engineer, you have the option to be involved in many different projects, from simple structures (residential or office buildings) to more complicated ones, such as stadiums, bridges, hospitals, schools etc.

Depending on your specialisation, you may be involved in different aspects of a project, such as the foundation design (geotechnical engineer) or the structural design (structural engineer). If you are interested in transportation systems and how to enhance them, a career in transportation engineering is the right for you.

If you are interested in construction, a career in construction management may be the right for you.

Some of our civil engineering graduates have even taken their numerical and mathematical skills gained during their studies to work in banking and financial industries.

The average salary for civil engineering professionals in the UK is around £40,300 and employment opportunities are everywhere, with good career progression opportunities

The career options are wide and diverse, making civil engineering an exciting, in-demand and transferable course.

What does a Civil Engineer do?

Civil engineers are creative individuals who enjoy problem solving and contributing to the built environment around us. They plan, design and oversee nearly all aspects of construction projects. Projects can come in many different forms, whether that is large buildings or essential infrastructure systems like railways and water management facilities.

Very often, civil engineers are involved in the monitoring and retrofitting of existing structures (such as older bridges) as they check their structural integrity and implement advanced technologies for their upgrading so that hey satisfy the latest design standards.

In addition, civil (geotechnical) engineers are involved in the risk assessment and mitigation of natural hazards, such as landslides, floods and earthquakes.

You could be responsible for planning, designing and overseeing the construction of large-scale buildings and our roads and railways systems, airport, bridges and harbours, as well as tall buildings like the Shard in London and large structures built to withstand any weather condition. Civil engineers also work on projects that have huge environmental benefits such as waste and water management, or buildings and venues that may surprise you.

What does a Transportation Engineer do?

As a Transportation Engineer, you could be responsible for designing, planning, and managing transportation systems such as roads, highways, railways, airports, and public transit systems. This may involve optimizing traffic flow and improving safety.

You will also collaborate with city planners and policymakers to develop sustainable urban environments. This can include designing efficient land use patterns, implementing transportation solutions, and integrating infrastructure with community needs.

Undergraduates wearing high visibility safety clothing while repairing a railway line