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Roshna Mohan is a Content Writer at Hotcourses India - an IDP company. A post-graduate in Biotechnology, she chose content writing as her career out of sheer interest. Reading and cooking are her stress-busters. Talk about these to take the introvert out of the ambivert. Her all-time favourite authors are Paulo Coelho, Yuval Noah Harari and Robin Cook.

24 days ago

Which specialisation will you choose for your master’s in Civil Engineering?

This article discusses the various specialisations that students can choose for a master’s degree in civil engineering.

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Ever looked at London’s Olympic stadium, the Messina Bridge in Sicily or even the Dynamic Tower of Dubai - and wished you could have been part of the team that put it together? 

Maybe it’s not too late to grab your chance of building the next stadium for the Olympics! A career in civil engineering could well be the way forward for you! Studying Civil Engineering abroad will inspire you, improve your skills and enhance future employability.

As per the US Department of Labour, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Ed., Civil Engineers, Employment of civil engineers is projected to grow 8% from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The reason being, with the ever-changing world, civil engineers will be needed to manage small to high-scale projects to rebuild bridges, repair roads, build or repair dams as well as airports and build structures of all types across every country. 

Why is civil engineering important?

Civil engineering is a professional discipline of engineering that deals with designing, constructing, and maintaining the natural and physically built environment. Civil engineers are responsible for:

Undergraduate civil engineering programmes

A course in civil engineering lasts anywhere from 3 to 5 years, depending on the level of study. Subjects that are usually covered include mathematics, physics, materials science, design, geometrics, project management, sustainability, environmental studies, and construction management. The Institution of Civil Engineers, located in Scotland monitors the quality of the civil engineering courses provides by institutions worldwide.

Undergraduate civil engineering programmes abroad generally last for four years and their qualifications are highly valued and recognised internationally. Students are given a solid foundation in engineering science and technology for the first two years. Students will acquire skills in communication, teamwork, critical thinking, sketching, and drawing. Year one takes them through general subjects like fluid mechanics, geotechnics, energy and infrastructure, environmental engineering science, professional engineering practice, mathematics and so on.  

They are also given field courses in practical land surveying. Year two of the degree take students through structural mechanics, soil mechanics, engineering geology and makes student involve themselves design projects and gives students a deeper look into the construction industry. By the time students progress on to years three and four, they will begin to tailor their interests and preferences in the field. Year three is all about the core subjects and year four is for students to take up a project with numerous optional modules. On the completion of the UG program, the students can go on to an MEng degree in the field.

Browse our site to check out the undergraduate civil engineering programs available across all the major study abroad destinations or contact our counsellors for professional guidance.

Know more about the fields of civil engineering

Civil engineering is one of the oldest branches of engineering and is further divided into numerous other sub-disciplines. A master’s degree in civil engineering will greatly improve your career prospects.

There are many areas within civil engineering you could specialise in:

Some other specialisations include geoinformatics engineering, geosciences engineering and materials engineering.

Contact our counsellors for more details on the attractive civil engineering courses offered by universities abroad at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Why study civil engineering abroad?

An increasing number of Indian students are opting to study Civil Engineering abroad in countries such as Canada, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, U.S, Australia and U.K. The primary benefits of studying the course abroad would be the exposure that you will gain to different methods of problem-solving, and varied approaches to design and development of civil engineering projects. This international experience will work in your favour, in whichever country you decide to live and work.

With the increasing globalisation of engineering practice and the massive growth of multi-national construction companies, there is a huge need for qualified graduates who are tuned in to the latest technologies and international trends, and also possess good language skills.

As a civil engineer, you will find plenty of opportunities to build and design roads, railways, airports, conserve energy, and create water supplies for people living in drought-hit areas. Graduates can find employment in either private or government organisations.

What's the return on investment?

The average pay for a civil engineer is nearly $87,060 in the USA, nearly AU$83,700 in Australia and nearly €35,993 in the UK. Having a master’s degree in civil engineering has good chances of landing you in a high paying job. The field of civil engineering in Switzerland offers a lot of career opportunities and is also one of the countries that offer good pay.

Apply now!

The study of maths and science at the high school/ foundation level is the key to gaining admission into a university abroad for a civil engineering course. The specific course pre-requites will depend on the university and country you choose. Speak to our experts who will have first-hand updates from the hundreds of universities abroad, that offer courses in civil engineering.

Editor's note: This article was originally published in March 2017. We have included up-to-date information and made it comprehensive.

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