Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is the discipline responsible for designing, building and maintaining the infrastructure on which all human society depends: roads, bridges, tunnels, railways, dams, water treatment systems, airports, flood defences and the foundations on which buildings stand. It requires the synthesis of scientific understanding, engineering design and creative problem-solving to address real-world challenges that are often large in scale, complex in their requirements and significant in their consequences for communities and the environment. Civil engineers must balance structural performance, environmental impact, economic cost and the needs of the people who will use the infrastructure they create.

At the University of Glasgow this five-year, full-time programme leads to a master's level qualification, combining the rigour of a research-intensive university with the practical engineering emphasis the profession demands. You will study the fundamental engineering sciences, including structural mechanics, fluid dynamics, geotechnics, materials and mathematics, before progressing to more advanced design and analysis in the areas of structural engineering, transportation, water and environmental engineering. The programme's strengths lie in its integration of scientific enquiry, engineering design and creative problem-solving, and it includes a year abroad, giving you experience of infrastructure and engineering culture in another country.

Glasgow's strong industry connections and the urban environment of one of Scotland's major cities provide rich context for your studies.

Civil engineering graduates are in demand across the public and private sectors, working for contractors, consultancies, local and national government, infrastructure organisations and international development agencies. Professional development toward Chartered Engineer status, typically with the Institution of Civil Engineers, is the standard professional pathway after graduation. Specialisations include structural engineering, transportation, geotechnical engineering, environmental and water engineering, offshore engineering and construction management.