A week in the life of a civil engineering undergraduate

From lectures to laboratory-based practicals and personal tutorials, discover what a typical week looks like as a first-year BEng or MEng Civil Engineering student at Surrey.

Credit: University of Surrey

3 students wearing yellow vests using surveying equipment by the University lake

How will I be taught?

Your teaching will be delivered through a combination of seminars, tutorials, lectures, practical challenges, group work and online learning. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn through industry speakers, site visits and field trips.

You’ll be expected to carry out independent study, including coursework, essays and reading. We have a range of study spaces available, including our library, open 24/7, and more relaxed spaces like our Hillside Coffee café.

What will I be taught?

A typical week in the first semester of your first year will cover the following modules: Materials and Statics; Engineering Geology and Geomechanics; Engineering Mathematics; and Civil Engineering Practice.

On our civil engineering BEng and MEng courses, you’ll study the same content for the first three years, before working on a final third-year project on a topic of your choice. MEng students then do a masters year, which covers the full academic requirements for becoming a chartered engineer.

Read more about our undergraduate civil engineering courses.

Will I be in lectures all the time?

You’ll be busy but not every day is the same and the timetable allows for self-study. In some weeks, you’ll get the chance to do some practical learning with a site visit.

The best part of my course are the lecturers who teach us. An educational institution is only as good as the academics who enrich it, and I’ve always felt supported by the lecturers. Modules that initially seemed mundane sparked an interest when taught by academics who are specialists in their fields. Ramsha Saleem, Civil Engineering MEng

What about other interests? Will I have time for those?

Of course. That's part of the Surrey university experience. Students have access to more than 170 student clubs and societies, with interests ranging from mixed martial arts to mah jong, and poker to politics.

A great way to meet other civil engineering students is through CivSoc, which organises social events throughout the year. There is also the Women in Engineering Society, which organises social, educational and networking opportunities to support female engineers.

Nearby Surrey Sports Park is a £36m facility, offering state-of-the-art training facilities such as a climbing wall and an Olympic-size swimming pool.

What’s life like outside lectures?

We’re a campus university so everything you need is within a five-minute walk, including the Students’ Union building, grocery shopping, wellbeing and support services, the launderette and the medical centre.

Guildford’s picturesque cobbled high street boasts a wide range of shops and restaurants, plus an excellent range of pubs and a busy nightlife. The town is also only a 35-minute train journey to London.

Expect more

Find out why you should expect more at Surrey and when our next undergraduate open days will be.

Disclaimer: The modules listed are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication and may be subject to teaching availability, student demand and/or class size caps.