Civil, Structural & Coastal Engineering
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Civil, Structural & Coastal Engineering

Subject overview

This page provides an overview of options for people studying civil, structural and coastal engineering. You will find useful insights into the range of options available to you, tips on how to enhance your degree through relevant work experience, and links to subject specific vacancy sites.

This information is by no means exhaustive and you are encouraged to undertake further research in order to inform your decision making.

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Options with your subject

The following information applies to undergraduates and post-graduates interested in entering occupations related to civil, structural and coastal engineering. You will also find information on specific jobs related to this subject, occupations where your degree would be useful and how to get started if you are not too sure.

Your degree will open the door to many graduate jobs and careers, but the following areas are among the most popular pathways for civil, structural and coastal engineering graduates. This LinkedIn search illustrates Plymouth University civil, structural and coastal engineering graduates' long-term career trajectories.

Prospects allows you to view information about different occupations via category. These job profiles contain information about what different jobs involve, qualifications and experience needed for them and useful information about professional bodies and vacancy sources.

Particularly relevant profiles for your area are:

You might also get some inspiration from these engineering case studies on the Prospects website.

Prospects describes the construction and engineering sectors, in which you might enjoy working.

Targetjobs produce a digital magazine: TARGETjobs Construction, Quantity Surveying & Civil Engineering.

Work experience

Many construction and surveying undergraduates work in the industry between year 2 and the final year of their degrees. This enables them to:

  • Earn a salary for a year
  • Apply their academic learning in practice
  • Find a real world problem to explore during their final year project
  • Build a network and reputation that improves their graduate job prospects
  • Receive final year sponsorship
  • Understand practical applications in their final year modules
  • Students who complete an industry year tend to score higher grades for their degrees, and secure better graduate jobs.

You may find these other pages helpful:

Building and construction
All of the University’s subject-specific pagesFurther study

Professional Development
ICE and IStructE provide information about graduate education and routes to professional recognition such as chartered status.

Taught Postgraduate Programmes
You can develop specialist knowledge and skills through postgraduate qualifications such as masters degrees. Working as a graduate in industry can improve your understanding of which postgraduate or professional qualification best matches your strengths, interests and employment opportunities.
You can find searchable databases of masters degrees at sites including:
FindAMasters.com
postgrad.com
Prospects

Research Degrees and Teaching in Universities
Many science and engineering research programmes are funded, so students receive a salary and have their tuition fees paid. The attitudes, skills and knowledge you developed on your degree will enable you to compete for research programmes in a fairly broad range of fields. If you are interested in research or teaching in universities, you can find vacancies advertised at:
jobs.ac.uk
FindAPhD.com
You can find much more information on our Further study pages.

Useful links and vacancy sources

The following links include professional bodies associated with the sector and vacancy sources which can be used in your search for work experience and graduate jobs. Many of the vacancy sites below will also cater for students seeking placements. Remember that they are only a starting point that you need to supplement with your own web research.

Specialist recruitment fairs
These are advertised on our events pages, on Prospects, and through notice boards and emails in your department and school.

Advertised vacancies
There are a huge number and wide range of vacancy sources for civil engineering graduates. The following sites offer a good starting point but in addition you really need to do your own web searches. For more advice, please contact Career Gateway.

Journals 
EnvironmentalEngineer.com  
Geoscientist (The Geological Society)
ice Institution of Civil Engineers
nce New Civil Engineer

Specialist engineering recruitment agencies   
Employers pay a broad range of employment agencies to help them recruit graduates. The University does not endorse specific agencies or guarantee the quality of their services.
CAREERSTRUCTURE.COM
Constructor.co.uk
Earthworks-jobs.com  
JustEngineers.net  
The Geological Society
Thomas Telford Recruitment
UK Civil Engineering 

See Google search results for other specialist agencies

Other relevant graduate job searching websites
gradcracker is entirely dedicated to graduate engineer recruitment
Prospects the UK's official graduate careers website, advertising job vacancies and providing general information on applying for graduate positions (also includes information on further study)
TARGETjobs.co.uk a specialist graduate careers website
Technojobs a technical recruitment site featuring jobs in IT, Electronics, Engineering and Telecoms
totaljobs.com one of the UK's leading online jobs boards

Sign up to our vacancy website Gradsouthwest to help with your job search, and visit our Job searching pages.

If having read these pages you are still unclear about the possible career areas that you might be suited to, please visit the Need direction? pages, or come in and talk to a member of the Career Gateway team. An appointment with a Careers and Employability Adviser is also available.