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CONTENTS

1. What’s Civil Engineering?

2. What Civil Engineering degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto a Civil Engineering degree?

4. What topics does a Civil Engineering degree cover?

5. How will you be assessed?

6. Why study Civil Engineering?

7. Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying a Civil Engineering degree?

8. What do Civil Engineering graduates earn?

9. What jobs can you get as a Civil Engineering graduate?

10. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

11. Similar subjects to Civil Engineering

12. Have any questions?

What’s Civil Engineering?

Civil Engineering is all about the planning, construction and maintenance of human-made structures. These include buildings, roads, bridges, canals and dams.

Most civil engineering is funded by the central government. It's the most significant branch of engineering after military engineering. The name is designed to distinguish it as non-armoury.

Study the subject area and you’ll learn through research, teaching, lab work and practical projects. Topics include mathematics, mechanics, physics, hydraulics, transportation, sustainability, and much more. 

Take a look at the university league table for Civil Engineering.

What Civil Engineering degrees can you study?

The standard degree is a BEng (Bachelor of Engineering). Many courses include an integrated master’s, where you earn an MEng (Master of Engineering). Examples of undergraduate degrees in Civil Engineering:

Civil Engineering BEng/MEng

You’ll gain an expert ability for designing, analysing and constructing projects. The degree is broad, where you learn about different aspects of engineering, from materials to geomatics.

Search for Civil Engineering courses.

Architectural Engineering BEng/MEng

The core of this degree is both the aesthetic and technical aspects of construction. You’ll study areas like mechanical systems, urban planning and computer-aided design (CAD).

Find Architectural Engineering courses.

Structural Engineering BEng/MEng

You’ll take a focus on the structural element of engineering. Key course components might include structural analysis, design, materials, dynamics and health monitoring.

Search for Structural Engineering courses.

Other options 

There are joint honours degree options, where you can combine your studies with another area of interest. For example, Civil Engineering and Management.

Universities often offer degrees with a year in industry. You may be able to choose an integrated foundation or master’s year, or have the chance to study abroad.

What do you need to get onto a Civil Engineering degree?

• A Levels: A*AAA–CCC (good to have studied physics, further maths or sciences like geology)
• BTECs: D*D*D*–MMM
• Scottish Highers: AAAAA–AABB (Advanced Highers: AAB–BB)
• International Baccalaureate: 40–26
• Universities will usually ask that you have studied: maths at A Level (or equivalent)
• Interview and entry assessments may be required by some universities 

Good to have

• Work experience or shadowing in a related area, such as a council highways department
• Volunteering to develop and show interpersonal and team working skills
• Attending lectures or online talks about engineering
• Exploring topics of interest through books, professional body websites, engineering magazines, journals and videos or podcasts
• Stretching your maths and problem-solving skills through competitions, online courses or problem-challenge sites
• STEM summer schools, if available – see the Sutton Trust or UNIQ

What topics does a Civil Engineering degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

• Civil engineering design
• Computational methods
• Energy and environmental engineering
• Fluid mechanics
• Geotechnical analysis
• Highway engineering and materials
• Mathematics
• Site surveying
• Soil mechanics and engineering geology
• Structures, materials and dynamics

See our list of the top 10 engineers.

How will you be assessed?

Courses are assessed in a variety of ways, depending on the module:

• Coursework
• Dissertations
• Exams
• Group projects
• Lab reports
• Poster presentations
• Practical tests
• Video submissions

Why study Civil Engineering?

Civil Engineering opens the doors to a fast-paced challenging and rewarding industry. You'll likely be able to see the results of your hard work through projects that come to life.

Career-specific skills:

• Technical knowledge of key areas in civil engineering, such as structures, fluid mechanics, materials and geotechnics
• Skills in the use of engineering software

Transferable skills:

• Communication
• Decision making
• Negotiation
• Organisation
• Presentation
• Problem solving
• Project management
• Team working
• Working under pressure

Professional accreditation

Degrees may be accredited by:

• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
• Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)
• Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT)
• Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE)

All are members of the Joint Board of Moderators

Your degree may include registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng), and partial registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

What do Civil Engineering graduates earn?

What jobs can you get as a Civil Engineering graduate?

Civil Engineering degrees produce supply for increasing demand. There's a growing need for those who can design and build the structures that allow modern life to happen.

• Building surveyor
• Consultant
• Contract worker
• Geologist
• Quantity surveyor
• Site engineer
• Structural engineer

Read about how to become an engineer.

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

If you have a degree in Civil Engineering or a related area, you specialise at postgraduate level. Examples of taught master’s and research degrees include:

• Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering PhD
• Civil and Environmental Engineering PhD
• Civil Engineering with Fluids MSc
• Civil Engineering: Innovative Structural Materials MSc
• Tunnelling and Underground Space MSc

Similar subjects to Civil Engineering

If you’re interested in engineering or construction, you could also consider:

• Building
• General Engineering
• Geology
• Manufacturing & Production Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Search undergraduate Civil Engineering courses now!

Have any questions?

Get in touch with our experts by emailing ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk with your questions. We’ll be happy to hear from you!