Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is one of the oldest and most fundamental of the engineering disciplines, concerned with the design, construction and management of the physical infrastructure that societies depend on: roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, water supply systems, coastal defences and the built environment more broadly. It demands both rigorous analytical ability and practical engineering judgement, and its graduates are responsible for some of the most consequential and durable things that human societies create.

At Heriot-Watt University this four-year full-time programme covers the core areas of the discipline, including structural analysis and design, geotechnics, water engineering, transportation engineering and construction materials. You will develop the analytical skills, technical knowledge and professional understanding needed to practise as a civil engineer and to progress towards chartered status. A sandwich year gives you the opportunity for substantial professional experience in industry before your final year, the option to study abroad adds an international dimension, and work placement opportunities throughout the programme connect academic learning with real engineering environments.

Heriot-Watt has a strong reputation in engineering education and its civil engineering graduates are sought after by employers across the construction, infrastructure and engineering consultancy sectors.

Graduates typically move into structural, geotechnical, water, transportation and environmental engineering roles with consultancies, contractors, government agencies and infrastructure operators. Many work towards chartered status through the Institution of Civil Engineers or other professional bodies. Postgraduate study in civil engineering, structural engineering, water engineering or project management is also a common pathway for those seeking specialist or research roles.