Civil Engineering (NVS1)

First Year

Engineering students follow a common first year. Modules include:

• Chemistry
• Creativity in Design
• Electrical/Electronic Engineering
• Energy Engineering
• Engineering Computing
• Mathematics
• Mechanics
• Physics

Second to Fifth Year

Areas of study for Civil Engineering include:

• Theory, Design & Analysis of Structures
• Hydraulic Engineering
• Treatment Processes for Water & Wastewater
• Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering
• Construction Materials & Practice
• Transportation Engineering

A student’s week involves attending lectures, tutorials, participating in laboratory classes and undertaking project and design exercises, both individually and in teams. Coursework is continually assessed but modules also include end-of-semester written examinations.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Students have the opportunity in their third year to spend either one or two trimesters studying abroad in a partner University, there are options to study in countries such as France, Spain, China, Australia, Canada, USA, Singapore, New Zealand.

Opportunities to date have included:

• University of Melbourne, Australia
• University of California, Berkeley, USA
• University of Auckland, New Zealand
• University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA

See our UCD Global exchanges page for more information

Graduates can find employment in:

• Environmental industries
• Transportation engineering
• Water resource and hydraulic engineering
• Management and project management
• Financial services
• Research

Professional Work Experience (PWE) is incorporated in the ME programme. Eight-month internships (the majority of which are paid) have included the following employers: AECOM, Arup, ESB, Malone O’Regan, O’Connor Sutton Cronin, Roughan & O’Donovan, and RPS Group.

Graduates can also apply for taught and research master’s in UCD, including Civil Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Structural Engineering, and Engineering with Business. Graduates can also apply for positions in PhD research programmes.

Also check out the UCD Career Networks career guide for the College of Engineering & Architecture for details on the career supports available to UCD students.

By joining the UCD College of Engineering and Architecture, you will be part of a vibrant community of students and faculty who are committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable future. The mission of the College of Engineering and Architecture is to affect a just transition to a more sustainable and equitable future through our education of professionals in engineering, architecture, planning and policy, and our research in technology, design, and policy.  The College, in our engineers and architects, brings together the technical expertise to deliver and create infrastructure and technologies that can create a more sustainable future and, uniquely, the College, in our planners and environmental policy researchers, also brings together the research and professions required to create the policies and the regulatory environment that supports technological and infrastructure development, and that can also scrutinise and investigate the behavioural changes affected by our technologies.

The programmes at UCD are designed to equip students with the best education in their chosen field, while at the same time embedding the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in their education where most relevant.

Engineering: 

The college offers a wide range of engineering disciplines, ensuring that our students are educated in the fundamental principles of engineering, while also embedding sustainable practices and principles. The goal is to educate engineering professionals who can play an active role in developing innovative, engineering-based solutions to the challenges of sustainability and equity.

• Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6):


• Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7): 


• Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9): 


• Climate Action (SDG 13):  

“My aim had always been to do my university education in Europe. After research and elimination, I arrived at a decision between London and Dublin, and chose Dublin. UCD is ranked as the best university in Ireland for engineering and getting a part scholarship on academic merit added to the draw, and therefore my decision. This is one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life, and if I had to do it over, I would definitely choose UCD again. I haven’t looked back once. The kind of exposure and learning across all aspects it has given me is unprecedented.” 

Keerthana Sethuraman - Graduate, India