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Civil and Structural Engineering

If you are interested in combining science, creativity and critical thinking to solve significant challenges in society and improve lives, a career as a civil engineer may be for you. 

Civil engineers work on the design, construction and maintenance of systems including buildings, roads, bridges, flood defences, renewable energy sources and sewage systems. Depending on your interests you can specialise, for instance in buildings, energy, transport or water. The work involves collaboration with professionals such as architects, other types of engineers, sub-contractors and clients from the public and private sectors. 

On a day-to-day basis, you can expect to be using computer aided design (CAD) software to create plans and drawings for projects and making site visits to projects you are working on. You need a good understanding of the technical requirements of your projects and health and safety regulations. You should expect to work outside in all weathers and time spent away from home is also a regular feature of most roles. 

We recommend reading Want a civil engineering job? Three career decisions you have to make 

Roles require an engineering degree. You can achieve Chartered Engineer status through a degree accredited by the Institute of Civil Engineers or equivalent. 

Further research  

Skills employers look for

Every employer is different so there are no definitive lists here.  These are meant as a guide and should be considered in addition to fully exploring the role requirements outlined in the person specification, job description and advert for each role you consider applying for. Some of the main skills required are: 

  • Sound mathematical, scientific and IT skills
  • Project management – ability to work within budgets and deadlines while attending to technical challenges
  • Methodical problem solving - demonstrating commercial awareness
  • Verbal and written communication – with abilities to negotiate, supervise and set direction.

Gaining Experience

All experiences ranging from volunteering, active involvement in clubs/societies can help you to develop relevant and transferable skills. You may wish to consider involvement in volunteering, University of Exeter employability schemes, speculative application and part-time work. 

See Exeter Students’ Guild - Volunteering and The SU – Volunteering & Fundraising – you can find opportunities to volunteer through the Students’ Guild in Exeter and the SU in Penryn e.g. Engineering Society. 

Volunteering 

  • Engineers Without Borders UK
  • Communities Prepared - charitable organisation, a division of Groundwork South offering free training and resources to help people and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from, a range of emergencies, including flooding.
  • Groundwork UK - charity supporting community environmental projects, including river restoration and sustainable drainage system installation.  

Wider general volunteering  

  • Abroad.com lists related volunteering positions around the world.
  • Devon Voluntary Action  - partnership organisation working with individuals, not-for-profit groups, and social enterprises.
  • Get Volunteering – a website where you can search for local volunteering opportunities in various areas, e.g., emergency response, health and social care, fitness & sport. 
  • NCVO – membership community for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups.
  • Reach Volunteering - skills-based volunteering charity. 
  • Volunteer Cornwall – charity building social capital and developing the wellbeing of individuals and communities in Cornwall. 
  • Explore volunteering opportunities on Handshake. 

University of Exeter Employability Schemes 

  • Green Consultants is an online training programme, during which you will learn how to work with clients and stakeholders, explore project management and deepen your understanding of green jobs. Once you have completed the online training you will have the opportunity to apply for an on-campus project and an internship. 
  • Career Zone Internship schemes: Internships can be extremely useful, so try and get relevant vacation work or placements.
  • Exeter Award: The Exeter Award will help you stand out from the crowd and give you the confidence to shout about the experiences you've had at university.
  • The Global Leaders Experience is a unique opportunity to develop your intercultural skills as part of a short, outbound mobility experience. 

Speculative applications and where to find opportunities 

Undertaking relevant work experience will also allow you to develop new skills and gain a valuable insight into the sector. As jobs and opportunities are not always advertised, it can be useful to develop your networking skills and apply speculatively. Before visiting the sites below you may find it useful to read our Researching employers page. 

Finding part-time work   

Explore opportunities on local job sites and have a look at Handshake, our vacancy database with employers who are targeting University of Exeter students.    

 To explore part-time job searching in more detail perhaps consider:  

  • Attend the ‘Finding a Part-Time Job’ advice session which explores the benefits of gaining part-time work, where you can find these opportunities and top tips for your applications. This session will be listed on Handshake events. 
  • Listen to this episode of the Career Zone podcast for more advice about finding a part-time job.

Finding advertised graduate roles, placements and internships

Competition can be strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers.  

Graduate schemes and internships 

Graduate Schemes are focused on providing hands-on training in your area of specialism, supported by industry professionals with years of experience. Many of the schemes span two or three years, giving you plenty of time to learn on the job. An Overview of Engineering Graduate Schemes | Bright Network provides a useful summary of graduate schemes in the Engineering sector. As a starting point the following organisations might merit investigation. 

Consultancies and contractors:  

  • AECOM - global infrastructure firm providing a wide range of professional services, including design, consulting, construction, and management.
  • Arcadis - global design and consultancy firm for natural and built assets, focusing on sustainable solutions in water, environment, infrastructure, and buildings. 
  • Arup - firm of designers, planners, engineers, and technical specialists offering a broad range of professional services across the built environment.
  • Atkins - multinational engineering, design, and project management consultancy with expertise in the transportation, infrastructure, and energy sectors. 
  • Black & Veatch - employee-owned engineering, procurement, and construction company specialising in the energy, water, telecommunications, and government markets.
  • JBA Consulting – group of environmental, engineering and flood risk management. 
  • Jacobs - global professional services company providing technical, professional, and construction services for a wide range of industries and government clients.
  • Mott MacDonald - global engineering, management, and development consultancy focused on improving social and economic outcomes through its work on infrastructure and sustainable development projects.
  • Stantec - global professional services company in the design and consulting industry, providing services in infrastructure, buildings, and environmental projects.  

Specialist recruitment agencies 

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page.

Placements and Internships  

If you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can also access the Work Placements SharePoint via Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including what a placement is, how to apply for them, and bespoke information for international students or those interested in working abroad.  

Further sources of support  

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally.  

 To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal. 

Further study and professional development

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to build their skills and knowledge of the sector and related occupations. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. Use the sites below to research your further study options.  

Information and links from professional bodies 

If you have studied a related degree, check if your course is accredited by one of the professional bodies. Being a member of a professional body is voluntary; however, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up to date with what's happening in the sector.  

Advice 

If you would like to pursue postgraduate study before entering your chosen sector, please visit our Postgraduate Study page for more information about choosing further study.