Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Civil Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

South East Technological University

Program Overview

The BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering at South East Technological University is a practical, industry-focused degree designed to prepare you for designing, building, and maintaining real-world infrastructure like roads, bridges, and water systems. It’s ideal if you enjoy problem-solving, teamwork, and applying maths and science to create sustainable engineering solutions.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
You start by building a strong engineering foundation through modules like Engineering Drawing I, Mathematics and Statistics I, and Material Science and Soil Mechanics. Alongside subjects like Engineering Chemistry and Civil Engineering Technology I, you develop core technical knowledge while learning how engineering principles apply to real-world construction.

Year 2:
This year deepens your technical understanding with subjects such as Geotechnical Engineering I, Structural Analysis I, and Civil Engineering Economics and Management. You also gain practical skills in Civil Engineering Drawing and BIM and Surveying and Setting Out II, preparing you for design and planning tasks in professional environments.

Year 3:
You move into more specialised areas like Road Design, Environmental Engineering and Hydraulics, and Highway and Traffic Engineering I. With modules such as Structural Design II and Engineering Geology, you begin tackling complex infrastructure challenges while applying analytical and design skills at an advanced level.

Year 4 (with Industry Placement):
The final stage includes advanced learning and a mandatory industrial placement, where you work on real civil engineering projects. This hands-on experience allows you to apply your knowledge in industry, strengthen professional skills, and build connections before graduation.

Focus Areas

Highways, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, water & environmental engineering, sustainable infrastructure, construction management

Learning Outcomes

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to design and manage civil engineering projects, practical experience through labs and industry placement, understanding of sustainable engineering solutions

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Accredited by Engineers Ireland for Chartered Engineer pathway (with further learning), representing the highest level of accreditation for a Level 8 honours degree.

Reputation (Employability)

Graduates benefit from excellent employment prospects, with demand for civil engineers exceeding supply, and many securing jobs before graduation across consultants, contractors, and public sector organisations.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

What really stands out about the BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering at South East Technological University is its strong “learning by doing” approach. From the beginning, you’re not just sitting in lectures—you’re actively applying concepts through hands-on labs, real design problems, and industry-relevant tools, all supported by modern engineering facilities and small class sizes that give you direct access to lecturers.

You’ll work in modern laboratories for material testing, collaborate on team-based design projects, and gain real-world exposure through a mandatory industrial placement, ensuring you graduate with both technical knowledge and practical experience that employers actually value.

To give you a clearer picture of how this plays out in practice:

Modern Engineering Laboratories: Students carry out material testing and practical experiments in well-equipped labs, helping you understand how materials like concrete and soil behave in real construction scenarios.
Design Projects (Individual & Group): You’ll work on realistic civil engineering design projects, both individually and in teams, building skills in collaboration, planning, and technical problem-solving.
Building Information Modelling (BIM): Modules like Civil Engineering Drawing and BIM introduce you to digital design workflows, supported by SETU’s dedicated BIM research group and Autodesk training initiatives, reflecting current industry practices.
Surveying & Field Skills: Through modules such as Surveying and Setting Out, you gain hands-on experience with real surveying techniques, a critical skill for site-based engineering work.
Industry Placement (Internship): A structured industrial placement between Year 3 and Year 4 allows you to work on live projects with engineering companies, applying your skills in a professional environment and building industry connections.
Research & Innovation Exposure: Opportunities to engage with research groups like the Building Information Modelling (BIM) Collective connect students with industry-academia projects and emerging technologies in construction and infrastructure.
Libraries & Learning Spaces: Access to multiple SETU libraries with collaborative study areas and digital resources supports both independent study and group work throughout your degree.
Advanced Campus Facilities: The university provides specialist engineering equipment and research infrastructure, alongside innovation spaces that connect students with real-world industry challenges.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering at South East Technological University are well-prepared to move straight into the workforce or pursue advanced study, thanks to their strong mix of technical knowledge and practical experience. Typical career paths include Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, Site Engineer, and Project/Construction Manager, with opportunities across both public infrastructure and private construction sectors.

With Ireland facing a strong demand for infrastructure development, this degree positions you for a career with real long-term growth potential:

Strong Employment Outcomes: Around 70.1% of undergraduate students are employed full-time after graduation, reflecting solid graduate demand.
Competitive Salaries: Engineering graduates in Ireland typically earn €35,000–€40,000 starting salaries, with potential to reach €44,000+ early in your career depending on role and experience.
Career Services & Support: SETU provides career guidance, placement support, and employer engagement opportunities, helping students transition smoothly from study to employment.
Industry Demand & Partnerships: The programme is closely aligned with industry needs, and Ireland continues to experience a shortage of civil engineers, creating strong job prospects across construction, infrastructure, and environmental sectors.
Work Placement Advantage: The mandatory industrial placement built into the degree allows you to gain real experience and often leads directly to graduate job offers.
Global Opportunities: Graduates can access Ireland’s post-study work visa (up to 2 years), with many progressing into high-skill roles and even long-term residency pathways.
Professional Accreditation Value: The programme is accredited by Engineers Ireland, which is essential for progressing toward Chartered Engineer status, significantly boosting long-term career prospects.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates work with consulting engineers, contractors, and government bodies, contributing to major infrastructure projects such as transport systems, water networks, and sustainable developments.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this degree, you can progress to Level 9 postgraduate programmes such as a Master’s in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or Environmental Engineering—either at South East Technological University or other leading universities in Ireland and abroad. This pathway is especially valuable if you aim for Chartered Engineer status, specialise in areas like geotechnical or transport engineering, or move into research and leadership roles within the industry.