Civil Engineering at UCD

The degree programme on offer at UCD covers a broad range of subjects which enable graduates to work in any of the main Civil Engineering sub-disciplines:

• Structural Engineering
• Water and Environmental Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Transportation Engineering

The first year of the course is common with other Engineering programmes at UCD.
After this year, Civil Engineering students study subjects such as mechanics of materials and mechanics of fluids. These are foundation courses which develop an understanding of the mathematical principles which govern the behaviour of, for example, concrete in buildings and water in rivers.

Other subjects include soil mechanics which helps development of an understanding of the ground on which buildings and bridges are built while biosystems is about the biology of life from an Engineer's perspective.

At the end of the third year, students spend the summer gaining approved practical experience, this can be either in Ireland or abroad. In the final year, students have a broad range of options to choose from.

These allow specialisation in the areas of Structures, Water and Environment, Geotechnics or Transportation. There is an extensive laboratory programme in all years utilising a large complex of laboratories.
There is also extensive use of computers for modelling and simulation throughout the course.
For more information, see Undergraduate Programmes.