Civil engineering

Overview

What is civil engineering?

Civil engineering covers a wide range of job roles and specialisms including consulting civil engineers who design projects and contracting civil engineers who take plans and make them into real structures.

Skills

What’s required for the role?

Strong communication skills
Creativity and problem-solving ability
Analytical skills
Maths and IT skills
Teamwork and the ability to liaise well with professionals from other disciplines
An interest in the design and structure of buildings
Technical competence
Project and people management skills

The details

Learn more about the role

What's the role like in practice?

Civil engineers can work on the contracting or consulting part of a build project. The work is quite different and good research is recommended before choosing one path over another. Engineering graduates will use their professional expertise to ensure the designs are implemented correctly, to manage teams on site and ensure the projects run to time and budget.

What's the work environment like?

Contracting engineers will spend more time on site, working with a particular project for perhaps a year. Consulting engineers tend to work on multiple projects and be more office based, with client liaison, meetings and presentations key part of the role.

What qualifications are required?

Entry into civil engineering is typically via an engineering degree or similar qualification, or through an apprenticeship. Both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are available. Civil engineers can work towards the professional status with the Institute of Civil Engineers.

Is it for you?

Other useful skills to have:

Researching and explaining data in specialist areas
Working in teams
Maths skills
Using specialist IT programmes and equipment

Sustainability

How are civil engineers responding to the need for sustainability?

The Institution of Civil Engineers has acknowledged the part the civil engineering sector can play in building a more sustainable future for the planet. For civil engineers, sustainability is about the environment, corporate responsibility, oversight, and of course, health and safety.

Although cutting waste in the supply chain and using environmentally friendly products is important, it’s also about adding value to the supply chain, less reliance on traditional power sources and innovative, greener designs that achieve energy efficiency, mass efficiency, low environmental emissions and cut down the carbon footprint.

Employment opportunities

Where will it take you?

Opportunities exist in the UK, Europe and globally. Firms usually expect a relevant degree and relevant experience for more senior roles. Employers include consultancies, global infrastructure firms, and construction firms.