Civil Engineering Bachelor

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.

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 Level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, Mathematics, a aboratory science subject (i.e., Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint), Agricultural Science or Computer Science) or Technology, and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes. Additional requirements: Minimum H4 in Mathematics or, alternatively, obtain a pass in the Engineering Maths Qualifying Exam (held in the University).