Engineering
Civil engineering is the discipline responsible for the infrastructure that makes modern societies possible: roads, railways, airports, bridges, tunnels, dams, power stations, hospitals, sports stadiums, coastal defences, and the water and sewage systems that protect public health. Civil engineers design these structures and systems, oversee their construction, and take responsibility for their maintenance and eventual renewal. The scale of the challenges the profession now faces, including climate adaptation, sustainable construction, and the renewal of ageing infrastructure, makes civil engineering one of the most consequential disciplines of our time.
At the University of Durham, this four-year, full-time engineering programme covers the full range of civil engineering disciplines, including structural engineering, geotechnics, hydraulics, transportation, and materials, developing both the theoretical understanding and the practical skills that professional civil engineering demands. A sandwich year is built into the programme, allowing you to spend a full year working within a civil engineering organisation and gaining the professional experience that employers consistently identify as among the most valuable preparation for a graduate career. A year abroad option and work placement opportunities are also available, broadening your exposure to civil engineering in different national contexts.
Durham's strong academic reputation and research culture in engineering provide a rigorous foundation, and graduates are well-qualified for careers in structural, geotechnical, environmental, and transportation engineering, as well as in project management, consultancy, and infrastructure development. Many pursue professional registration with the Institution of Civil Engineers, working towards chartered engineer status. Postgraduate study in civil engineering, structural engineering, or project management is another route for those who wish to develop specialist expertise in one of the discipline's many branches.