5 facts about studying civil engineering to play a key role in shaping living spaces as a civil engineer - facts from the educational advisory service

Read here5 facts about studying civil engineeringand see why it could be worthwhile for you. As a civil engineerplan and realize buildings- from building construction and civil engineering to hydraulic and transportation engineering. Questions of technical environmental protection must also be taken into account. Before studying civil engineering, you must choose a Universities (FIT or University of Applied Sciences) and a specialization. With a degree in civil engineering you canenter an interesting specialist areaand develop yourself further. You work in aemployed or run your own engineering office. To study civil engineering you need a hhigh degree of responsibility as well as organizational and planning talent.

Fact 1: Conception, planning, design, construction, calculation, manufacture and operation of building, transportation, civil engineering and hydraulic engineering structures

Civil engineering is an engineering science that deals with building, civil engineering, transportation and hydraulic engineering structures. It includes the conception, planning, design, construction, calculation, manufacture and operation of structures. Technical environmental protection issues such as noise protection, water and soil protection and the associated pollutant investigations are also taken into account. Civil engineers thus make a significant contribution to the design of the living environment. In civil engineering, they are involved in the construction and maintenance of buildings and facilities on a daily basis. In structural engineering, UAS civil engineers develop solutions for:

  • Structural systems in building construction (residential, office, industrial buildings, sports facilities, shopping centers, hospitals, etc.)
  • Bridges
  • Supporting structures (machines and production facilities)
  • Masts, towers, chimneys, antennas

Other areas of application include water and environmental engineering, foundation engineering and civil engineering, and transportation.

Fact 2: Civil Engineering Studies at a Federal Institutes of Technology (FIT) or at a University of Applied Sciences

Civil engineering can be studied academically at both Federal Institutes of Technology (FIT) without specific prior knowledge or at a University of Applied Sciences with construction-specific prior knowledge in the form of a one-year internship with a practical orientation. Civil engineering studies include basic scientific knowledge in mathematics, physics and geology. In addition, there are subjects such as hydraulics, hydrology, structural analysis, materials, construction, geotechnics, construction process engineering, construction law and hydraulic engineering. Depending on the Universities, different specializations are possible. The knowledge is usually taught in lectures, exercises and practical projects. If you want to study civil engineering, you should have an interest in mathematical and scientific contexts. Mathematics and technical mechanics form the basis of knowledge specific to civil engineering. Equally important in civil engineering is an open-minded approach to environmental, economic and social issues.

Fact 3: Five advantages of studying civil engineering at an FIT or UAS

These are thefive most important advantages,that speak in favor of studying civil engineering:

  • Living space design:You can make a significant contribution to this.
  • Choice of study direction:application-oriented with applied research at a University of Applied Sciences or theoretical with basic research at an FIT
  • Interesting career prospects:Civil engineers mainly work in architecture, planning and engineering offices, but self-employment is also possible.
  • Diverse field of expertise:Civil engineering ranges from structural engineering, foundation engineering and hydraulic engineering to traffic route construction and research into new building materials and construction methods.
  • Bachelor's degree in civil engineering FIT or civil engineer UAS:After studying civil engineering, you can complete a Master's degree or CAS and MAS courses.

Facts 4: Organizational and planning skills as well as a sense of responsibility are important skills that a civil engineer FIT and UAS must have

Important skills that a civil engineer should have, regardless of whether they are studying civil engineering at a University of Applied Sciences (UAS) or at a Federal Institutes of Technology (FIT):

  • Organizational and planning talent
  • strong sense of responsibility
  • Leadership and social skills
  • Ability to develop, implement and control projects.

  • For UAS additionally:
    • structural engineering knowledge
    • networked thinking and acting
  • For FIT Civil Engineering additionally:
    • analytical-conceptual skills
    • Systematic way of working

This way you can find out whether you are more suited to one path or the other. You can also study at a University of Applied Sciences with a vocational or Specialized Baccalaureate. At the FIT, on the other hand, only with a Baccalaureate.

Facts 5: Employment in a company in the construction industry or management of your own engineering office

Civil engineers UAS and FIT are employed by companies in the construction industry or run their own engineering firm. Both civil engineering degrees are mostly used in management positions with great responsibility. However, both are also in demand in other areas, for example with authorities, banks, insurance companies or transportation companies. The renovation of existing buildings (e.g. the building envelope) and the construction of new ecological buildings is a central element of the federal government's energy and climate strategy, which is why specialists in this field will continue to be in high demand in the future. In addition, civil engineering offers good prerequisites for working abroad (for example in development cooperation). Civil engineers UAS and civil engineers FIT plan, construct and realize buildings from project preparation (solution approaches, cost estimates, technical plans, dossiers, building permits, invitations to tender, offers, work awards) to project realization (detailed planning, coordination, supervision, quality controls, final accounts). The only difference is that civil engineers FIT can also work in research, depending on their specialization.

To the providers of civil engineering studies