Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)

Civil Engineering at University of Galway What our lecturers say What our students say Paid Placement with Civil Engineering Paid Placement with Civil Engineering

Course Overview

Civil Engineering is concerned with the planning, design, construction and maintenance of the built environment. It encompasses minor and major structures, ranging from drainage systems, houses, commercial buildings, roads and bridges to multi-story buildings and water and wastewater treatment facilities. The work of civil engineers is most visible in the structures in which we live and work. Their contribution is also seen in transportation systems that we use on a daily basis such as subways, motorways, railways, airports and harbours. They are also involved in the design, construction and operation of complex water supply and sanitation systems for our ever-growing cities. In such projects and more generally, they perform a critical public and environmental health function as well.

The Civil Engineering degree programme sets out to develop the scientific, technical, organisational, IT and communication skills needed for a satisfying and rewarding career as a Civil Engineer.

Civil Engineers work in rapidly changing and challenging areas using traditional and new materials and techniques, and increasingly incorporating IT solutions at design and construction stage. You could be involved in schemes from design to management stage through to completion in what are often highly complex projects. Therefore, the profession combines creative skills with an aptitude for mathematics and technical subjects. At the most challenging end of the profession, where the management of large projects is involved, a high degree of administration skills are also required.

If you think you might enjoy developing and constructing bridges, tunnels, roads, railways, major building or other infrastructural projects, you should consider Civil Engineering. The skills you will learn will give you opportunities for work worldwide wherever development is taking place; not least in the fast-growing economies of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China).

Integrated Masters (ME) and Work placement

All students registering for an engineering degree at NUI Galway will be enrolled on an integrated five year programme; a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) (four years, Level 8) + a Master of Engineering (ME) (one year, Level 9). Upon successful completion of the five years of study, graduates will have the educational qualifications required for progression to Chartered Engineer. Students registering for an engineering degree at NUI Galway in 2019 will make a decision at the beginning of 3rd Year to either remain on the BE+ME pathway (five years) or exit with a BE (four years). Students on the BE+ME pathway will avail of advanced engineering modules, a substantial research and development project, and a work placement of eight months duration during the 4th Year. For students exiting with a BE, the work placement will be of four months duration after 3rd Year.

 Read more about Engineering work placements.

Accreditation

All Engineering Degrees at NUI Galway are professionally accredited by the statutory professional body, Engineers Ireland. This “Accreditation” means that the degree has been assessed and approved to meet the educational requirements for professional Engineers.

• Under an international agreement (Washingon Accord), any Degree accredited by the National professional body (Engineers Ireland) is recognized internationally. So having an “Accredited” degree means that employers outside of Ireland can (1) understand the quality/education achieved by a graduate and (2) know that it is equivalent to their own Education system/standards, and (3) can offer appropriate employment on this basis. For example, certain functions (sign off on large civil engineering construction projects) can only be carried out by a chartered engineer.
• Engineers Ireland changed the criteria for Accreditation in 2012, and now require a Masters (Level 9) qualification as the education standard required for Registered Professional Titles of Chartered Engineer* (prior to this, a Level 8 degree was required). The changes were implemented because the standard European engineering qualification (degree or diplome) is at level 9, and European industry maintains a strict differentiation between those engineers qualified at level 9 and those qualified at level 8. Any graduate interested in working in Europe/Worldwide is now strongly advised to get an accredited level 9 award.
• Engineers Ireland accreditation can be obtained at the following levels:
  
  • Level 8:  4-year honours degree – associate engineer
  • Level 9:  5-year masters degree – chartered engineer

*A Chartered Engineer is the highest professional education standard in Engineering. A chartered Engineer is competent (because of their education and training) to assume personal responsibility for   the   development   and   application   ofengineering in research, design, construction, manufacturing, superintending, managing and  in  the education of the engineer. His/her work is predominantly intellectual and varied and not of a routine mental or physical character. It requires the  exercise  of  original  thought  and  judgement  and  the  ability  to supervise the technical and administrative work of others.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Course Outline

Year 5 optional

At the School of Engineering we are focused on ensuring that you will be educated to the highest standards, and will have the necessary qualifications to avail of all of the professional opportunities presented to you, both in Ireland and across the world. You will be enrolled on an integrated five year programme; a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) (four years, Level 8) + a Master of Engineering (ME) (one year, Level 9). Students on the BE+ME pathway will avail of advanced engineering modules, a substantial research and development project, and a work placement.  Upon successful completion of the five years of study, graduates will have the educational qualifications required for progression to Chartered Engineer. Full information on the optional 5^th Year is provided here.

Further Education

Upon completion of the undergraduate degree, suitably qualified students have the option to enrol and continue their studies to Master’s or PhD level.

Students can advance to Master’s level (ME) through our one year taught Master’s programme (September-June) that builds on the successful completion of their undergraduate programme, subject to a sufficient standard (2nd Class Honours minimum). This programme is an integrated follow-on to the BE programme and is designed to meet Engineers Ireland’s criterion for Level 9 degrees, providing graduates with a route to Chartered Engineer status that will be recognised worldwide.

Master’s degree education is becoming increasingly the norm internationally in Engineering, and this programme strengthens the ability of our graduates to compete nationally and internationally at the highest level for employment in industry and other sectors of the economy.

In our PhD programme, students develop innovative state-of the-art solutions to current problems in civil engineering. Students will specialise in one of the discipline’s areas of research, working with a high degree of independence and becoming experts on their chosen topic. This work is usually presented at international conferences and published in journals.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

Fees: Tuition

Fees: Student Contribution

Fees: Student levy

Fees: Non EU

Find out More