Civil Engineering at Southampton ranked first in Guardian University Guide 2021
The University of Southampton is the best place in the UK to study Civil Engineering, according to the Guardian University Guide 2021.
Civil Engineering climbed four places in this week’s new rankings to mark Southampton’s seventh consecutive year in the Guide’s UK subject top 10.
The University was also placed first in the UK for Electrical & Electronic Engineering and sixth in the UK for Mechanical Engineering after the subjects each rose by five places. Overall, Southampton was ranked 23rd out of the 121 universities listed.
Civil engineering involves the planning, design and construction of structures, systems and infrastructure that positively support the future development of our society. Southampton’s degree offering includes a three-year BEng Civil Engineering and four-year MEng Civil Engineering and MEng Civil Engineering and Architecture courses.
Dr Stephanie Gauthier, Admissions Tutor for Civil Engineering, says: “We are delighted to now be first for Civil Engineering in the Guardian UK University Guide 2021. This is led by the strength of our ‘value added score’, comparing our students entry qualification to their degree results, and shows the effectiveness of our teaching.
“Our world-class research and facilities, including the National Infrastructure Laboratory, are underpinning and informing our teaching-research based approach. Congratulations to our students and staff for this remarkable performance.”
Civil Engineering students at Southampton gain a wide range of knowledge and skills, from understanding hydraulics and soil mechanics to structural design and construction management.
Professor William Powrie, Interim Director of Programmes for Civil Engineering, says: “Our students learn to apply fundamental principles to solve engineering problems of importance to society, in an environment in which staff are creating new knowledge rather than merely passing it on.
“We have excellent links with industry; and a strong emphasis on design and learning by doing is made possible by the state of the art facilities at our new, £172m Boldrewood Innovation Campus. It is gratifying to see the hard work of staff and students, together with recent investments and enhancements, reflected in our Guardian league table position this year.”
Three of Southampton’s seven top 10 subjects this year are based in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
Professor Phil Nelson, Interim Dean of Engineering and Physical Sciences, says: “Being ranked first for both Civil and Electrical & Electronic Engineering, and sixth for Mechanical Engineering, is a massive tribute to the hard work over many years of our University’s staff and students. It also shows how our well-established strength in research can be used to underpin a first class experience for undergraduate students.”
The Guardian University Guide is entirely focused on undergraduate study, with rankings based around criteria of entry tariffs, student satisfaction, graduate prospects, student-staff ratio and university spend per student. Unlike other rankings, the Guide places a greater emphasis on its subject tables to inform each institution’s overall ranking.