At EIA UCL we welcome engineering and non-engineering students alike to join us on our mission of making the world a better place! We work with Engineers in Action (EIA) to design and build infrastructure that empowers communities around the world. Alongside this, we organize workshops, talks, social events, and fundraisers to raise awareness and support our projects.
Who are we?
We are students from a wide range of disciplines united by a goal: helping others through sustainable, community-driven engineering. The society was founded by UCL engineering students with humanitarian experience who wanted to make these opportunities accessible to more students at UCL.
Our mission and vision:
Our mission is to support the development of underserved communities and empower students to lead global change. We envision a world where everyone can live healthy and dignified lives with access to essential services. With the efforts of UCL students, we can take a step in the right direction.
What will we do?
Our main activities are:
- Bridge Projects – working with EIA to design, fundraise for, and construct safe footbridges in remote communities.
- WASH Projects – designing water, sanitation, and hygiene systems that deliver clean water to underserved communities.
- Events & Community – running workshops, international development talks, social events, and fundraisers to build skills and awareness.
There are plenty of ways to get involved – from structural design calculations to event planning and fundraising. You don’t need to be an engineer to make an impact!
Who should join?
- Engineering students – to help us design the bridge!
- Business/Finance students – to help us raise funds through grants and events!
- Humanities students – to help us organize talks and spread awareness!
- AND everyone else who is committed to making this world a better place!
Membership types:
- Taster (Free): Access to our welcome event and mailing list.
- Standard (£5): Contributes to project fundraising, with access to all events and volunteering opportunities.
- Team (£10): For bridge/WASH design team members directly involved in project delivery
Previous Projects:
2025 Bridge Project – Hlanganani Suspension Bridge
This year, our society proudly took part in the very first EIA suspension bridge project. Hlanganani is a 48-meter-long suspension bridge – and the first to be built entirely by student teams!
The project brought together Cornell University, University of Southern Indiana, and UCL, marking an exciting milestone for all three universities. Completed in the Hhohho region of Eswatini, the bridge now safely connects the communities of Emfasi and Buhleni in Mayiwane Inkhundla.
2025 WASH Project – Chocopampa Water Distribution System
This year also marked another historic first: UCL’s first WASH project, and the first ever completed by an EIA student chapter in Bolivia!
In partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder and Western University, our UCL team helped design and deliver a 10 km HDPE pipeline, two storage tanks, and a chlorination system, restoring a long-abandoned government water scheme. The project now brings safe, clean drinking water to the rural community of Chocopampa with a population of 70 people and over 200 alpacas!
2024 Bridge Project – Elubaneni Suspended Bridge
Last year, Engineers In Action UCL collaborated with Oregon State University (USA) and Western Ontario University (Canada) on the Elubaneni Project. The team helped fund, design and build the suspended footbridge, now spanning 83 metres across the Phongolwane River in Eswatini.
The bridge connects the communities of Mkhaya and Nkomonye, improving access for over 2,300 people. Previously, crossing the river was dangerous, particularly for children on their way to Ngudzeni Primary and High School. The new bridge provides a safer route to schools, clinics, churches, agricultural fields, and public transport, transforming daily life for the entire community.
We are extremely grateful for all the opportunities this project had brought us. In Eswatini we got to improve the lives of thousands of people, while in London our students learned about international development, design engineering and project management!
Check out the highlight video below!
This year's Project:
The NGO Engineers In Action is growing its program year by year. Check out their website for more information.
The number, type, and location of projects that Engineers in Action UCL will be working on this year is yet to be confirmed. Join us now to stay up to date with the project allocation process.