Civil Engineering Degrees

Civil engineering graduates are responsible for all the largest and most essential structures that surround us – buildings, transport networks, energy, and water supplies – shaping building, maintaining, and expanding the urban landscape. They are vital to society as they are responsible for the design, construction, and management of a wide variety of projects. In recent years, the profession has seen a shortage of professional civil engineers meaning that now more than ever, civil engineering graduates are highly sought-after. Read our guide to studying civil engineering at university, including an overview of common course topics, specialisations, and career options. 

Course content

Civil engineering is the study of designing, building, and maintaining large structures such as buildings, roads, bridges, electrical plants, and water supply systems. Studying civil engineering will allow students to cover a range of topics such as: 

• Design 

• Mathematics 

• Materials 

• Construction processes

• The environment and surveying 

• Technology 

Entry Requirements

All degree programmes will require students to have a qualification in maths and a qualification in English or the national-language equivalent. 

Other qualifications that will be valuable when applying to study civil engineering are the sciences, biology, chemistry and physics, information technology and any variation of design technology.  

Course structure and assessment methods

A civil engineering degree will be made up of both core and optional modules. While optional modules allow students to tailor their studies to their interests or career ambitions, core modules will form the basis of their subject specific knowledge. Topics that may be touched on in core modules include: 

• Project design 

• Mathematics 

• Building materials 

• The environment 

• Thermofluids 

• Engineering technology 

• Digital modelling 

• Construction methods

• Health and safety during construction

There are several ways that students could be assessed while studying civil engineering: traditional written examinations, course work, case studies, written reports and, potentially, work experience. Each of these assessment methods will test students’ theoretical and practical knowledge and allow them to think critically and solve problems; traits that will be important after graduation. 

Specialisations 

There are several specialist fields that students can choose from when studying a civil engineering degree. These include: 

• Structural engineering – a sub-discipline of civil engineering that focuses on how materials can be used and manipulated to construct the desired structure. The ‘bones’ of a structure are used to create shape and stability which can be built upon in later phases of construction. 

• Transportation engineering – looks specifically at the planning design and maintenance of transportation vehicles and structures associated with transportation such as roads, shipping ports, space stations and airports. 

• Civil engineering design – this specialisation focuses on the design stage of the civil engineering process. The design of a large structure must be incredibly detailed and outline how each element will look and function. A specialisation in this area will allow students to gain more experience in this important part of the process. 

• Construction methods – a civil engineer will have an important role to play in the construction phase of a project as they will often oversee progress in other roles and act as a project manager. Getting familiar with the construction methods that are used will allow students to better understand this role. 

• Coastal processes – looks at how civil engineering can be used to tackle challenges on the coastline, from sea level changes and maintaining ecosystems, to the effects of storms and tsunamis. Students who learn about these challenges can begin to consider how civil engineering can protect coastlines as well as the structures that they are building from coastal damage. 

• Environmental engineering – this considers how engineering can be used to positively impact the environment in areas such as waste management, water management, air pollution, energy generation, and public health. 

• Geotechnical engineering – combines hydrology, geology and geophysics by considering how geological materials such as soil, sand and rock can be used in civil engineering but also how it can impact and present challenges for a project. 

• Hydro-systems engineering – a type of engineering which focuses solely on water resources and hydraulics. This specialisation considers strategies to best use and manage water resources. 

• Specialist materials – certain civil engineering projects will require the use of specialised materials to be able to achieve the shape of the structure that has been designed or the stability and security that is required. Familiarising themselves with these materials means that students can be more adept at handling complex projects. 

• Civil engineering management – civil engineering looks at a project as a whole and there are many different roles that a civil engineer must take on, including overseeing the work of other professions who contribute to a project. This specialisation will give them more experience overseeing all aspects and organising a team of professionals so that the job can be completed efficiently.

Career Options 

Graduates of a civil engineering degree are very employable and have some exciting career prospects. These include: 

• Geotechnical engineer – a geotechnical engineer works to ensure the safety of a civil engineering project by considering the geology of the land and deciding whether the location is optimal for the project or whether there may be challenges to consider. 

• Building control surveyor – someone who’s role in a project is to make sure that regulations are adhered to. This includes health and safety, fire safety, accessibility, and environmental regulations.  

• Quantity surveyor – a quantity surveyor is responsible for managing the logistical aspects of a project such as budget, orders of materials, overseeing labour and negotiating contracts. They will also oversee the schedule of a project making sure that everyone is able to work within a designated timeframe.  

• CAD technician – CAD is a programme that is commonly used during the design stage of a civil engineering project to create plans and models. A CAD technician will be focused on bringing these plans to life and making sure that there is enough information in the design for the construction team to be able to work effectively. 

• Nuclear engineer – uses nuclear physics alongside engineering to create systems which are able to pull energy from nuclear reactions. They will often work in scientific research fields or for government or electrical power generation companies. 

• Structural engineer – someone who works with architects and builders to create large structures. Structural engineers will usually be included on a project if the project is more innovative and complex to ensure that construction of the structure is viable. 

• Site manager – a supervisor on a construction site; site managers maintain dialogue between different teams and professions during the construction phase of a project to make sure that construction is efficient, and problems are addressed effectively. 

• Environmental engineer – someone who uses engineering to construct systems that benefit the environment. This role will work with a lot of environmental research, which is constantly changing as we discover more, and creating structures that help with waste disposal, sustainable energy generation, water sanitation and natural disaster protection. 

• Water engineer – specialises in water related infrastructure to ensure access to clean and safe water for domestic, industrial and agricultural use. Water engineers conduct research to identify the water needs of a site and any potential risks and then are involved with the planning and construction of engineering projects. 

• Maritime engineer – a maritime engineer is responsible for the design and maintenance of equipment on board a ship. They will often work offshore so that they are able to maintain the equipment while it is being used. 

• Urban designer – someone who designs several elements of the landscape in towns and cities, from large buildings and roads to parks and open spaces to make sure that the urban environment is useful for inhabitants and visually appealing. 

• Engineering geologist – investigates and analyses the geology of an area and the risks. This role involves a lot of field research to understand the area’s geology and the supervision of construction sites to ensure that the geology does not pose any problems to the project.