Using your subject: Civil Engineering

Learn how to use a degree in Civil Engineering to enhance your career prospects

A large percentage of University of Dundee Civil Engineering graduates will follow this route and become Civil or Structural Engineers.  Many will then continue to work towards becoming a professionally qualified Chartered Civil Engineer with the ICE (Institute of Civil Engineers).  Upon completion you can then use the title CEng which is one of the most recognisable international Engineering qualifications.

Some students and graduates will also decide that a career as a Civil Engineer is not for them but the skills they have gained during their degree enables them to transition into other graduate careers, sectors and industries.

Skills you gain from your subject

  • Develop a logical and pragmatic approach to often complex problem solving
  • Look to achieve sustainable solutions
  • Apply computational, analytical and technical skills using a range of tools to solve problems
  • Be aware of risks and costs
  • Be aware of ethics and wider professional responsibilities, including health and safety, environmental, social and cultural aspects.
  • Effective team working, project management and communication skills 

QAA (2020) Benchmark statement for Engineering.

How do I become a Chartered Civil Engineer?

Both the BEng and MEng in Civil Engineering degree courses here at the University of Dundee are accredited by the ICE (Institute of Civil Engineering) and the IStructE (The Institute of Structural Engineers).

Completion of the BEng course means you can use the title, Incorporated Engineer (IEng) whilst completion of the 5 year MEng course means you become a fully Chartered Engineer and can use the professional title CEng.  Both are highly regarded professional engineering qualifications and show that you have achieved a particular benchmark level of competence.  It is possible with a BEng degree to work towards becoming a Chartered Engineer through a graduate employer and / or further study.

For a more detailed explanation of professionally qualifying routes in Civil Engineering, refer to the following weblinks:

Where you could work

You can work as a Civil or Structural Engineer in a wide range of sectors from highways, railways to nuclear power stations.  Similarly, as a Graduate Engineer you can choose to work in a variety of companies and organisations.  You may already have heard of some of the global Engineering consultants and contractors such as Arup and Balfour Beatty but equally there are excellent graduate engineering roles across a range of national, regional and local consultants and contractors.

targetjobs Engineering is a really great starting place to do further research and think about what will suit you best.

Consultant or Contractor?

Graduate employers will expect you to know the difference and be able to talks about what interests you about working for a specific employer.

Consultant Civil and Structural Engineers are mainly office based.  You will work closely with clients from the beginning of a project, managing it on their behalf.  You will be involved in the design and related work.

Contractor Civil and Structural Engineers are based onsite and are responsible for the implementation of the design and the construction process.  This tool will help you make an informed decision.

Jobs graduates go into

  • Global engineering consultants: ARUP Group, WSP, Jacobs
  • National / regional consultants: Cundall, Curtins Consulting Ltd
  • Local / specialist consultants: Cameron & Ross, Millard Consulting
  • Global construction companies: AECOM, VINCI, Balfour Beatty   
  • National / regional construction companies: Robertson Group,  Kilmac Ltd
  • National ‘client’ employers: Network Rail
  • Other specialists: Subsea 7

Resources (including job search)

For jobs related to sustainability

Explore further

Every year the majority of Civil Engineering graduates are employed in Civil Engineering roles but there are always graduates who wish to pursue other roles within the construction sector or choose to use the transferable and technical skills they’ve gained into for example technology roles and finance amongst other careers.

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