The school you get your certificates is a determinant factor in how you can build a successful career. Pulling through the walls of civil engineering is a challenging task. Therefore, make sure you find yourself in one of the top undergraduate civil engineering schools.
If your passion is driven towards designs and construction, then, consider grooming this talent you have into something more professional.
In making the right choice for the top undergraduate civil engineering schools, give thoughts on the cost of tuition, the number of programs, and accreditation.
See the table of contents below for an overview of the topics discussed in this article.
Table of contents
- About Civil Engineering
- Why Study Civil Engineering?
- Job Outlook For Civil Engineers
- List of the Top Undergraduate Civil Engineering Schools
- #1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- #2 Delft University of Technology
- #3 University of Cambridge
- #4 University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
- #5 Imperial College London
- #6 ETH Zurich-Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
- #7 Politecnico Di Milano
- #8 Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
- #9 National University Of Singapore
- #10 Tsinghua University
- #11 The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
- #12 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)
- #13 Stanford University
- #14 The University of Sydney
- #15 The University of Melbourne
- FAQ
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendations
About Civil Engineering
According to Wikipedia, civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewerage systems, pipelines, structural components of buildings, and railways.
So, we can find it easy to say a civil engineer is one who is shouldered with an all-around task for building structures which includes the online, layout, budgeting, construction control, and review. The civil engineer irrespective of his area of expertise encounters issues that require him or her to make use of certain skills.
This arm of engineering known as ‘civil engineering’ has grown rapidly and is currently embracing industrial advancement and accepting recent changes in areas of pollution, water deficiencies, and sustainable services.
Why Study Civil Engineering?
The entire process of studying civil engineering is interesting. Therefore, a couple of reasons could spur you into this field. Let’s look at some of the reasons you should study civil engineering.
- Studying civil engineering gets you involved from the start to the finish of the development process. This simply means you are needed every step of the way in maintaining a project’s design.
- There is nothing as you coming out inexperienced as this field of study opens you up to real-life issues where you gain experience. Take, for instance, you get to engage in internships in the course of your program to prepare you for the task ahead.
- In case you may want to further your studies, there is an array of postgraduate options where you can specialize in. Examples are environmental engineering, water management, and maritime civil engineering.
Job Outlook For Civil Engineers
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has portrayed the number of civil engineers to increase by 11% from 2016 to 2026.
Looking at this, this is faster than average when compared to other occupations. This is due to declining infrastructure and population increase.
Read: Marine Engineering Schools in the World
List of the Top Undergraduate Civil Engineering Schools
In our compilation for the top civil engineering undergraduate schools, we considered the following factors
This is to know if the responsible bodies accredit this program. Accreditation makes your certificate full of worth.
In choosing from the list of the top undergraduate civil engineering schools, you also have to consider the number of students allocated to a particular lecturer. This aids in understanding and allows an interactive session between students and their tutors.
This is the number of admitted students to the number of applicants in a particular school’s academic session.
#1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The civil engineering department at MIT prepares its students to the fullest on how they can make a successful career in the engineering field through its ABET-accredited undergraduate program.
Furthermore, their students are open to many opportunities such as UROP, MISTI, and even taking part in the school’s activities. Also, MIT is topping the list of top civil engineering undergraduate schools regarding creative designs. The cost of tuition here is $48,452.
This is one of the pioneer departments of the MIT institute. Note that this institution has an acceptance rate of 8% and a graduation rate of 94%.
With a 3:1 ratio for the student-faculty, this school is a great school where you can actually start your academic journey in civil engineering.
#2 Delft University of Technology
Located in the Netherlands, the undergraduate civil engineering program at the Delft University of Technology equips the students for any of the specializations in the civil engineering master’s program.
In fact, the undergraduate program prepares you for your area of expertise. The Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, Netherlands accredits this course in this institution.
Furthermore, this top undergraduate civil engineering school has an acceptance rate of 70% and a graduation rate of 77%. Also, the student-faculty ratio is 6:1 while the tuition fee is £2,060 for resident students and £10,384 for non-resident students.
#3 University of Cambridge
This top civil engineering undergraduate school offers an engineering degree with a civil, structural, and environmental engineering specialization. This arm of engineering at the Cambridge school is peculiar.
It gives the students room to keep their choices open while preparing them with the analytical, design, and computing skills that reinforce current engineering practice.
More so, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE accredits this undergraduate program).
#4 University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
Established in 1868, this public research university has an acceptance rate of 17% and a graduation rate of 91%. Thus, the student-faculty ratio is 18:1.
With a tuition cost of $14,184, this ABET-accredited undergraduate program provides you with a basic background in design and practice.
#5 Imperial College London
This institute has been recognized at both the national and international levels as one of the top undergraduate civil engineering schools in the world courtesy of its civil engineering department.
The research method in this Imperial College is top-notch and goal-driven towards focusing on the relationship between the built environment, the natural environment, and human society.
See this: How To Get Masters In Civil Engineering In UK Very Fast
#6 ETH Zurich-Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
This top undergraduate civil engineering school is deeply rooted in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Blending solid theory with practical application, the acceptance rate for this school is 27%.
#7 Politecnico Di Milano
Accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education, this undergraduate civil engineering school appears to be the largest technical university in Italy. Also, the school’s acceptance rate is 55%.
Here, the civil engineering program aims to impart future professionals the sound knowledge they require to excel in this field. Such basic knowledge includes core subjects of civil engineering, fluid mechanics, soils, and structures.
Upon completion of your undergraduate study curriculum and wanting to further your studies, you can as well, go for any of the graduate and higher education courses in the same institution.
#8 Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
The École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is a research institute that found its specialization in both natural sciences and engineering.
Throughout the years of study at this civil engineering undergraduate school, it spread the basic sciences curriculum to allow students to encounter specific civil engineering classes.
However, it continues even in the latter years of study where classes of soil and fluid mechanics are handled.
At the end of the undergraduate study program, students present a project where they have applied all that has been taught them.
#9 National University Of Singapore
The undergraduate civil engineering program at this institution of higher learning is one of the two full-time undergraduate programs offered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Over the years, it has ranked among the top 10 using the employability ranking factor. During this program, assessments are carried out to test the rate at which the students have learned and unlearned.
Interestingly, this undergraduate civil engineering program distinguishes itself from its rivals by exposing students to open-ended questions and real industrial problems.
This prepares them with the essential skill sets needed to become successful future civil engineers.
#10 Tsinghua University
This school is actually a great choice for those who want to major in any engineering field and computer science program. Since 2015, it has continually been ranked as one of the world’s top civil engineering undergraduate schools. (xanax)
This feat of excellence is achieved by applying its motto: ‘self-discipline and excellence’. Most university rankings place Tsinghua University among the best universities in China.
#11 The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
It would be an ideal move to start off your engineering career at the UNSW. Not only has it proven itself a force to reckon with in the undergraduate civil engineering program, but it has also presented the students with work experience that has led to graduate employment.
Wide options of scholarships from which you can choose if you qualify for any abound within the walls of the UNSW. Isn’t that amazing? Interestingly, students here enjoy the dividends of the school’s strong link with industries.
Taking an undergraduate civil engineering degree gives you an edge over your counterparts.
Read: Lehigh Civil Engineering: Programs, Admission Requirement, Cost, Aids
#12 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)
This school made it to the list of the top undergraduate schools for civil engineering because its civil engineering program is fashioned on a flexible system which imbibed the students with an all-around education while still keeping up with very high academic standards.
Here, students are trained in professional practices and topped off with both managerial and entrepreneurial skills.
More so, the professional internships the students register for amidst their course program allow them to practice what they’ve been taught under the supervision of advanced engineers.
#13 Stanford University
The next civil engineers’ future requires they work in synergy with environmental engineers.
This undergraduate civil engineering school is poised to commit itself as a top-notch leader in upholding the aim of producing graduate professionals in the civil engineering field.
Since this profession is multifaceted, it requires utmost collaboration to produce the desired result that the world direly needs.
#14 The University of Sydney
Time has it that this civil engineering undergraduate school is in the top 20. The education system this school uses engages students who graduate with skills that are much sought after in design, research, and problem analysis. All these are what is needed to build a more sustainable environment.
Furthermore, the school’s expertise has continued to meet sustainability, climate change, water management, and natural environment standards.
#15 The University of Melbourne
At Melbourne, the curriculum has been fashioned to go under the other top undergraduate schools for civil engineering.
This school ensures that its students graduate with advanced skills that most employers look out for and a recognized qualification at the global level.
FAQ
Civil Engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with designing, constructing, and maintaining the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewerage systems, pipelines, and structural components of buildings, and railways.
Upon completing your undergraduate civil engineering program, go for environmental engineering, water management, or maritime civil engineering.
Conclusion
One common factor among these top undergraduate civil engineering schools in the world is that they share the common view of strongly imparting in their students the required skill which they need to excel in this arm of engineering.
This article further shows that civil engineers are part of the reason we have amazing built structures scattered abroad.
References
Recommendations
- 13 Best Civil Engineering Schools in the World
- 15 Best Civil Engineering Summer Internships
- Best Civil Engineering Schools in Georgia
- Civil Engineering Major: Which Option Pays More Than Others
- Best Accredited Civil Engineering Schools In Ohio
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