Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines, concerned with the design, construction and management of the infrastructure that modern society depends on: roads, bridges, tunnels, buildings, water supply systems, drainage, ports and airports. Civil engineers apply principles from structural mechanics, materials science, hydraulics, geotechnics and environmental engineering to create infrastructure that is safe, durable and fit for purpose. As urbanisation continues and the need to adapt infrastructure to climate change grows, the work of civil engineers is more important and more technically demanding than ever.

At University College London this three-year full-time degree takes a Learning by Doing approach, developing your ability to design, construct and manage civil engineering works through a combination of theoretical grounding and practical experience. You will work with observational, prototyping and physical simulation methods alongside the theories, principles and standards that professional engineers apply. The programme includes a sandwich year and a work placement, giving you real professional experience in civil engineering environments during your degree, allowing you to apply and consolidate what you learn in academic settings within real projects and teams.

Graduates from Civil Engineering degrees are in strong demand across a wide range of sectors. Many go on to work for construction companies, engineering consultancies, local and central government, utilities, transport authorities and infrastructure developers. Careers span structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transport planning, water engineering, project management and sustainability consultancy.

Many graduates pursue chartered engineer status through the Institution of Civil Engineers or other professional bodies, which requires additional professional experience beyond graduation. For those wishing to continue their studies, the degree provides a strong foundation for postgraduate work in structural, geotechnical, environmental or transportation engineering.