The best universities for Civil engineering
A student-opinion league table using only what recent undergraduates said in the National Student Survey—not research reputation, entry grades or staff ratios.
University of Greenwich, followed by University of Dundee and University of Southampton make up the leading three for Civil engineering in our 2026 student-view ranking.
Unlike a conventional university guide, this list makes one narrow comparison: how positively recent students described their course experience. The score gives equal influence to the 26 questions shared across all three NSS files and averages 2025 with 2026 wherever both are published. Because this subject has 66 current providers, the analysis below compares the leading five with the whole provider field.
Why University of Greenwich leads—and where the next four stand out
This comparison uses all 66 current providers, not only universities. It identifies the NSS questions where each leading university is furthest above the subject peer average.
University of Greenwich
It has climbed 31 places from 32 in the previous table. It is position 2 when every current provider is included.
- Student voiceStudent feedback is acted on
90.2% positive—22.9 percentage points above the 67.3% all-provider peer average.
- Assessment and feedbackFeedback helps improvement
90.7% positive—20.3 percentage points above the 70.4% all-provider peer average.
University of Dundee
Where it stands out: Feedback received on time is 93.5%, which is 19.2 points above the 74.3% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 3 when all 66 providers are included. It has climbed 2 places from 4 in the previous table.
University of Southampton
Where it stands out: Course is well organised is 93.5%, which is 15.7 points above the 77.8% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 6 when all 66 providers are included. It has climbed 2 places from 5 in the previous table.
University of Nottingham, the
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 90.5%, which is 23.2 points above the 67.3% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 7 when all 66 providers are included. It has fallen 3 places from 1 in the previous table.
Birmingham City University
Where it stands out: Student feedback is acted on is 91.0%, which is 23.8 points above the 67.3% average across the rest of the provider field.
It is position 8 when all 66 providers are included. It has fallen 2 places from 3 in the previous table.
“Above average” compares each provider with every other current provider in this subject. It describes relative NSS strength, not course content, admissions or graduate outcomes.
Top 10 for Civil engineering
Current positions use the 2025+2026 window. Previous positions use 2024+2025; “New” means no eligible prior comparison.
| Current pos.2025+2026 table | Previous pos.2024+2025 table | Change | University | Score | Current score data | Questions | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 322024–2025 average | ↑ 31 | University of Greenwich2025–2026 average | 92.63% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 2 | 42024–2025 average | ↑ 2 | University of Dundee2025–2026 average | 92.10% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 3 | 52024–2025 average | ↑ 2 | University of Southampton2025–2026 average | 90.88% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 4 | 12024–2025 average | ↓ 3 | University of Nottingham, the2025–2026 average | 90.12% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 5 | 32024–2025 average | ↓ 2 | Birmingham City University2025–2026 average | 89.98% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 6 | 22024–2025 average | ↓ 4 | The University of Sheffield2025–2026 average | 88.63% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 7 | 132024–2025 average | ↑ 6 | The University of Leeds2025–2026 average | 88.35% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 8 | —Not ranked | New | Abertay University2026 only | 88.15% | 2026 only | 26 / 26 | |
| 9 | 62024–2025 average | ↓ 3 | University of Ulster2025–2026 average | 87.63% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 | |
| 10 | 312024–2025 average | ↑ 21 | Loughborough University2025–2026 average | 86.99% | 2025–2026 average | 26 / 26 |
Universities are shown by default. The site-wide switch can include every current NSS provider in this live top ten.
See the complete Civil engineering ranking →One source. One clear point of view.
The National Student Survey asks final-year undergraduates about teaching, learning opportunities, assessment and feedback, support, organisation, resources, student voice, their students’ union and wellbeing information.
We do not add research output, selectivity, institutional spending, staff ratios or graduate salary data. Those measures may be useful elsewhere, but they cannot change what former students said about studying this subject.
Read the complete methodology →About this Civil engineering ranking
What leads the Civil engineering ranking in 2026?
University of Greenwich is first among universities, with an NSS-based score of 92.63%. The result reflects student opinion across the common questions, not a prediction of which institution will suit every applicant.
Why average two NSS years?
Averaging 2025 and 2026 makes the result less sensitive to one unusual cohort. A provider must have published 2026 data to enter the current table; a 2026-only entrant is included and labelled “New”.
Where can I see every university?
The full Civil engineering ranking contains every eligible university or, when the provider switch is enabled, every eligible NSS provider.