As the world becomes more sophisticated so does the need to create and maintain a sustainable environment for future generations. This is the challenge facing today's civil engineer. Studying a graduate course in Civil and Structural Engineering offers you the chance to understand the diversity of activity and skills that civil engineers are involved in. Projects such as The Eden Project, Hong Kong International Airport and the WaterAid Ethiopian Project are the handiwork of talented and enthusiastic civil engineers. Seize your chance to be one of them by studying a graduate program in civil and structural engineering.

Graduate courses in civil engineering are many and varied so think carefully about the specialist areas you wish to research and the future direction in which you would like to take your civil engineering career.

Structural Engineering

If you choose to specialise in a structural engineering graduate program, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the scientific principles involved in how building materials respond to natural or man-made phenomena e.g. the effects of stresses induced from wind and earthquakes on steel and concrete structures, or how the effects of accidental gas explosions on drilling platforms can be contained providing a safe environment for the workforce. With this knowledge, you will bring understanding to how buildings could withstand seismic activity so that in the future more buildings will be built to withstand earthquakes – even in the poorest nations.

Transport Studies

If you study a graduate course in Transport Studies, you will learn how communities join together and how to develop transport solutions that increase speed of communication, conserve energy, reduce pollution, congestion and accidents.

Geotechnics

If you specialise in one of the areas of Geotechnics at graduate level then you will have an knowledge of the earth’s structure which will enable you understand the impact of some of the huge excavations required by structures such as the Jubilee Line extension in London and how the famous leaning Tower of Pisa was saved from imminent collapse (and how it comes to lean less these days).

Environmental Engineering

For those of you who wish to become specialists in clean water supply, responsible waste management and pollution control could do a lot worse than studying a graduate program in an Environmental Engineering discipline.

By studying a graduate course in civil engineering, you will be shaping the world’s future environment. You could help to create structures of great architectural or engineering interest or enable society to access clean water and dispose of its waste safely and responsibly. Moreover, as a graduate student, you will be at the forefront of cutting-edge research from experts in their field of speciality.

When choosing a graduate program in civil engineering, be sure to check the accreditation status of the course. In the UK, the accrediting bodies are:

Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)

If a professional institution or external civil engineering body has accredited your course then you can be sure that it’s quality and standard of teaching has met strict criteria. Universities will vary in their admission requirements, some will require a background in civil engineering and others will accept first degrees in the following disciplines: Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Materials Science, Architecture and Geography.

Once you have completed your graduate course in civil engineering, there are various career paths that are taken. In industry, graduates can work within the leading design consultancies, construction companies and materials manufacturers. If you pursue a career in industry then it is wise to become a Chartered Engineer, as this status will indicate to employers from around the world that you have met certain professional standards. A graduate program in civil engineering will fast track this process and expose you to the relevant professional experience and training much earlier.

Good Luck!