Civil Engineering facilities and resources

Our facilities include our £19 million Marine Building and dedicated engineering laboratories equipped with industry standard software
COAST lab wide 2
From dedicated computer laboratories to a wealth of electronic information, you’ll benefit from a range of comprehensive facilities and resources that will help your learning and development, readying you for a career in civil engineering.
Engineering labs, engine
Engineering labs, dials
Engineering, equipment

New facilities

Our School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics is based in the Reynolds Building, adjacent to the well-equipped Brunel laboratories. Located next door is our world-class marine facility, the Marine Building , which provides some of the best research and testing facilities in the country. 
Our new £63 million Babbage Building creates a state-of-the-art space to inspire the engineering and design pioneers of the future. Dedicated to teaching and research, the facility brings STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) subjects together to support academic collaboration and innovation.
Marine Building square
Wave flume
ship simulator
Engineering course students
Coast wave paddles

Industry standard software

Our dedicated engineering computer laboratory is equipped with specialist software, so you’ll always have access to computers allowing you to develop important skills that will assist you academically as well as greatly improving your employment potential. Keeping you up-to-date with industry standard software is vital, so for example, we teach Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) software from your first year of study onwards.

Engineering showcase - electronics close up
Computing, Electronics, Mathematics and Engineering. Getty Images
Smeaton BuildingFirst and Final year students working with Robots in the labs – bipedal robotics and control engineering 

Electronic resources

We’re regularly refining our online systems and materials to ensure that we provide flexible learning to suit a variety of needs. We make all our lecture notes available electronically from the student intranet. Further electronic information resources available to you include The Construction Information Services (CIS), giving you access to numerous technical reports, including:

  • EuroCodes of Practice
  • British Standards
  • web of science
  • various published journals.

Engineering, 3D printer
Engineering, heat exchanger
Engineering, equipment

Library

Our extensive library houses nearly half a million books, journals, and other resources. It also features a computing area that’s open around the clock, a media workshop and study rooms.

3.The library is located in the centre of campus and is open 24/7. There’s seating right outside, where you can get some sun between study sessions.
7. When you need a change of scene, there’s a wide choice of study environments throughout the library.
Library reception desk

HSE Professional Scuba Diving course

Drawing on both our expertise and our wonderful diving facilities, we can give you the opportunity to take the (HSE) Professional SCUBA diver training course as part of your degree.

The course forms part of an official module in the second year of your degree and the selection programme comprises a stringent aptitude test, an interview and detailed medical assessment. Diver training is subject to availability and an additional cost.

This qualification can greatly improve your employability, enabling you to perform a number of jobs underwater, including:

  • inspecting harbour walls and jetties
  • underwater photography and filming
  • CCTV surveys
  • inspecting underwater construction.

For more information please visit the Marine Station website.

Students Scuba Diving in Plymouth Sound
HSE SCUBA training in Plymouth Sound
Environmental Science undergraduates training for their HSE SCUBA
Undergraduate civil engineering students conducting a hands-on activity in the Brunel heavy structures laboratory W14