A good civil engineering degree from a respected European university offers a wealth of career opportunities, especially in today’s global economy. You could find yourself working on some of the most exciting and large-scale projects in Europe or abroad. If you prefer, you can work in more low-key fields of civil engineering that really interest you such as geotechnics or fluid dynamics. This article will give you an idea of how to find a degree course that is right for you and suggest ten of the best courses in Europe.

How to Choose a Civil Engineering Bachelor Degree

There are several criteria you can use to help find a course that’s right for you. Civil engineering is a diverse subject area that covers the design, construction and maintenance of structures such as buildings, bridges, tunnels, roads, railways, etc. as well as other areas such as dynamics and mathematical analysis. This means that certain universities may specialise in different areas of research, such as finite element analysis or structural mechanics, for example. If you have a particular interest in a certain field of study, then check out the university’s website to see if they specialise in it. Also check out the results that the university obtains and details of careers that graduates move on to, if available.

Some universities have strong ties with local or international engineering companies, which can be a good way to get a foot in the door and gain access to some exciting projects. You will also need to take into account tuition fees and whether any bursaries or funding support is available. Another important factor is the standard and facilities of the overall university. Obtain a prospectus, read reviews online or visit the university campus to get a good feel for this. To save you some time, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten civil engineering degrees to help you narrow down your search.

Top 10 European Civil Engineering Bachelor Degrees

1. University of Cambridge, UK

Cambridge is one of the most highly respected universities in the world and it offers one of the best civil engineering degrees. It has strong links with Laing O’Rourke – one of the top engineering companies to work for – and has a special focus on innovation in construction technology. Cambridge is also well known for its leading research into geotechnical and environmental engineering, including soil mechanics studies into cleaning up contaminated land and analysis of earthquake damage to structures.

2. Imperial College London, UK

The civil engineering department at Imperial has been recognised internationally as a world leader. They regularly achieve the highest possible ratings in assessments of their research, which includes topics in environmental and water management, fluid mechanics, geotechnics, structures, systems and transport.

3. Delft University of Technology, Netherlands

Delft is one of the most well-established and dynamic technology universities in Europe. Its civil engineering bachelor degree has a particular focus on tackling climate change and improving the economic situation through smart engineering solutions.

4. ETH Zurich, Switzerland

A highly regarded university in a beautiful city, ETH Zurich offers a civil engineering course that covers all the main areas, as well as further assessments in hydraulics, hydrology, geotechnical engineering, materials science and environmental water management.

5. University of Bristol, UK

Home to Brunel’s Clifton suspension bridge and SS Great Britain, Bristol is a great place to study civil engineering and get a hands-on feel for the history of the subject. The university’s results speak for themselves, and in 2017 the civil engineering department scored a remarkable 95% for student satisfaction in a national survey.

6. Politecnico di Milano, Italy

This civil engineering bachelor course in Milan covers all the basics, but also leads nicely into further post-graduate study in civil engineering risk management and management of urban environments.

7. Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland

The Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne is recognised internationally as one of the top places to study engineering. The civil engineering course in Lausanne specialises in structural engineering, geotechnical, hydraulics, energy and transportation.

8. Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain

This Spanish course offers a solid grounding in civil engineering topics, with specialisms in flood defences, earthquake protection and renewable energy. This prestigious technical university has good links with industry that can get you a foot in the door at some big engineering companies.

9. University of Manchester, UK

A very good university with a long history. It was the first to offer an engineering degree in 1824. The course specialises in laboratory studies of structures and hydraulics. The department also has strong links with Balfour Beatty and EDF.

10. University of Bath, UK

Bath University’s civil engineering course has received plenty of accolades, including 1^st for teaching satisfaction in the Guardian university guide 2018 and a top-5 rating for civil engineering in The Complete University Guide. The course is also unique in that it combines tutoring from engineers and architects, meaning you get a holistic view of structural design.

Looking to boost your engineering career? Take a look at the best Engineering Jobs we are listing now on NewEngineer.com!

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