Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is the discipline responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the built environment and essential infrastructure on which society depends. Roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, water treatment systems, flood defences, buildings, and energy infrastructure are all the domain of civil engineers, and their work literally makes modern life possible. The discipline combines rigorous science and mathematics with the creative challenge of designing structures and systems that are safe, efficient, sustainable, and fit for purpose in an enormous range of physical and social contexts.
At Derby, this part-time degree with a foundation year offers a flexible route into civil engineering that accommodates students who need additional academic preparation before degree-level study and who wish to balance their degree with other commitments. The foundation year builds the mathematical and scientific foundations needed for the main degree, after which you will study the core civil engineering sciences, including structural analysis, geotechnics, hydraulics, materials, environmental engineering, and project management. The degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, meaning that you develop substantial professional experience in engineering settings and an international perspective on a discipline that operates globally.
The combination of flexible study mode and extensive placement engagement makes the degree accessible to a broader range of students while ensuring strong professional preparation.
Civil engineering graduates are in consistent demand across the construction, infrastructure, transport, water, and energy sectors. Structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, highway and transport engineering, environmental engineering, and project management are typical professional directions. Many graduates work towards chartered engineer status with the Institution of Civil Engineers.
The broad engineering and project management skills developed in the degree also provide routes into consultancy, infrastructure finance, and public sector infrastructure planning. Postgraduate study in specialist areas of civil engineering is available for those seeking advanced technical expertise or research careers.