Studies & Degrees in Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering Study Programs
Civil engineering is the branch of engineering that plans, builds and looks after the built environment. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) sums up the work as designing, building and maintaining buildings, roads and bridges, drinking water and energy systems, sea ports and airports. Students learn how to plan a project, calculate whether a structure will stand, choose materials, estimate costs and run a construction site safely.
A degree starts with mathematics, physics, engineering mechanics and construction systems, usually with laboratory work alongside the lectures. Later courses cover the main specialisms of the profession: structures, geotechnical engineering, water and hydraulic works, transport, coastal engineering, environmental engineering and construction management.
Qualifications and levels
Civil engineering is a regulated or licensed profession in many countries, so the accreditation of a degree matters as much as its title.
- Bachelor's degree. In the United States, civil engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and employers usually prefer graduates of accredited programmes. ABET, the main accreditor there, accredits individual programmes, not universities. In England, the University of Southampton offers a three-year BEng and a four-year integrated MEng.
- Spain. The bachelor's degree (grado) in Ingeniería Civil has 240 ECTS credits. Under Order CIN/307/2009 it qualifies graduates for the regulated profession of Ingeniero Técnico de Obras Públicas, and includes a 48-credit block in a specific technology such as civil construction, hydrology, or transport and urban services. The Universidad de Oviedo, for example, teaches its four-year grado at the Escuela Politécnica de Mieres in Spanish and English.
- Master's degree. In Spain the profession of Ingeniero de Caminos, Canales y Puertos requires an official master's degree; bachelor's and master's studies together must total at least 300 ECTS credits (Order CIN/309/2009). The Universidad de Cádiz teaches both the grado and this master's degree at its engineering school in Algeciras. In the United Kingdom, a master's level qualification is part of the standard academic route to Chartered Engineer (CEng).
- Latin America. The usual qualification is the professional title of Ingeniero Civil. At the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) in Guayaquil, the Ingeniero Civil degree lasts nine semesters and is accredited by ABET.
- Doctorate. A PhD leads to research and university teaching in areas such as structures, materials or water resources.
Licences and professional registration
A degree is often only the first step. In the United States a licence is not required for entry-level jobs, but civil engineers who offer services directly to the public normally need a Professional Engineer (PE) licence. According to the BLS, this generally requires a degree from an accredited engineering programme, a pass in the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant work experience and a pass in the PE exam. Each state issues its own licences.
In the United Kingdom, engineers register as Chartered Engineers through a professional institution. At Southampton, the MEng fully meets the academic requirement for CEng registration, while the BEng meets it only in part and must be followed by accredited further learning. Before enrolling anywhere, ask the school which body accredits the programme and whether the qualification is recognised in the country where you plan to work.
Where to study civil engineering
SpainExchange lists 276 active schools for civil engineering. The United States has the most (77), followed by Spain (30), the United Kingdom (20), Canada (10), Chile (9), Germany (8) and Brazil (8). France, China, Colombia, Ecuador and Australia are also represented.
In the United States the list includes Purdue University, the University of Michigan, Stanford University, The Ohio State University and the Colorado School of Mines. In the United Kingdom it includes the University of Southampton, the University of Aberdeen and Anglia Ruskin University. In Spain, the Universidad de Oviedo and the Universidad de Cádiz are two of the public universities with a civil engineering school. Teaching is normally in the language of the country; some Spanish universities offer part of the degree in English.
Careers
Civil engineers work for engineering consultancies, construction companies, utilities, and local, regional and national government. They commonly split their time between an office and construction sites. Typical roles are structural engineer, geotechnical engineer, water engineer, transport planner, site manager and project manager. With experience, some move into posts such as city engineer or director of public works.
In the United States there were 380,600 civil engineering jobs in 2025, and the BLS projects employment to grow 6 percent between 2025 and 2035, with about 22,700 openings a year.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to study civil engineering?
It depends on the country. A Spanish grado has 240 ECTS credits over four years, a BEng in England takes three years and an integrated MEng four, and the Ingeniero Civil degree at ESPOL in Ecuador lasts nine semesters.
Do civil engineers need a licence?
Often, yes. In the United States engineers who serve the public directly need a state PE licence, in the United Kingdom the professional title is Chartered Engineer, and in Spain the professions of Ingeniero Técnico de Obras Públicas and Ingeniero de Caminos, Canales y Puertos are regulated and tied to specific official degrees.
What is the difference between Ingeniería Civil and Ingeniería de Caminos, Canales y Puertos in Spain?
The grado in Ingeniería Civil (240 ECTS) qualifies for the profession of Ingeniero Técnico de Obras Públicas. The profession of Ingeniero de Caminos, Canales y Puertos requires an additional official master's degree, so that bachelor's and master's studies add up to at least 300 ECTS credits.