Civil Engineering

Civil engineers design and build the structures upon which a modern urban and rural society depends - bridges, dams, high-rise buildings, airports, roads and transportation systems. To do this, they need to look at the behaviour of natural phenomena, and so study fluid mechanics, geomechanics, hydrology and hydraulics.

A significant part of a civil engineer’s role is to consider the costs of construction, demanding the application of efficient design and construction principles.

Civil engineers, more than most other specialists, must frequently work within a team setting, liaising with a number of other industry professionals like architects, builders, quantity surveyors and designers.

Many civil engineers go on to become project managers, overseeing the entire production process. Many also further their qualifications by studying management and economics at postgraduate level.

The UQ Civil Engineering program includes a significant component of practical study, as well as encouragement to be involved in vacation employment programs. Students are able to sample the variety of career paths available within the civil engineering profession, and to be exposed to high-level research.
 

What does the future hold?

Future developments within the specialisation are likely to take the form of sustainable development solutions to housing, industry, water and power supply, and transportation.

In a crowded planet, cheaper, more efficient ways of moving people, heating their homes, and improving living standards are all within the scope of the civil engineer. 

The following areas are available to study with the Civil Engineering major.

Geomechanics

Geomechanics is the geologic study of the behaviour of soil and rock. Applications of geomechanics include mine waste management, mine closure, and mineral processing; field instrumentation and monitoring; materials modelling; computational geomechanics; and laboratory modelling and characterisation.

As mining activity continues to expand, engineers skilled in geomechanics will be required to meet the challenges of ever-deeper open pits and underground operations, in high stress environments, and the management of escalating mining and processing wastes and mine site rehabilitation.

Mining Engineering

Mining engineers assess whether a new mineral discovery is of sufficient size and quality to warrant the costs of extraction, transportation and marketing.

The mining industry is highly mechanised, highly automated and capital-intensive and uses the most sophisticated technology available.

Graduates have a range of employment options in the mining industry, such as engineering, operations, sales and management. Mining engineers often work for international companies, leading to opportunities for overseas travel and employment.

Employment Opportuntites

Civil engineers can work for construction companies, government authorities, consulting firms, and research organisations. City councils and regional shires also need their services. As civil engineering is an international profession, UQ graduates are employed in many global companies. The opportunity to travel is a major advantage of the specialisation.

Some graduates choose to use their skills to assist developing economies to develop infrastructure. They can work for aid organisations, the World Bank or international construction companies.

Volunteer work with groups like Engineers Without Borders is a choice graduates may make for a short period of their careers. 

Visit our Careers in Civil Engineering page for further information.

UQ Bonus Rank Scheme
 
The UQ Bonus Rank Scheme offers students who complete Year 12 in Australia a chance to improve their rank to gain entry to their preferred program.  For more information please click here.

Full program details and entry requirements

Credit for Previous Studies

Non-Award Enrolment
 
If you have the skills and background to enrol in individual courses, but you are not qualified to enter an award program, you may be eligible to enrol as a domestic non-award student on a fee-paying basis, for training purposes. This option is not available to international students.

The University's Enhanced Studies program allows students in selected high schools to enrol in first year level university courses, while completing their Year 12 studies.

Full list of BE courses 

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