11-15s - Studying at school

School subjects you need to study to become a civil engineer

You are probably going to take exams when you're 16. If you want to be a civil engineer it's good if your subjects include English, maths and sciences.

But these subjects are also useful:

Geography

If you don't want your building or structure to sink into the mud you need to know about the types of ground and design the right foundations.
Digital & computing

Digital skills are playing an increasingly important role right across engineering as more and more tasks are being digitised.

Art

Innovative new ideas that can be expressed visually are needed in every type of engineering.
Design & technology

Innovative new ideas that can be expressed visually are needed in every type of engineering.

ICE Inspire 360° careers experience

Explore what it's like to be a civil engineer, shaping our world, in our computer-simulated centre of civil engineering

What’s your story?

Discover civil engineering and how to build big for your future.

Take a magical journey through our modern world built and designed by civil engineers, with a few surprises along the way. Find out what civil engineers do and how they've shaped our world.

A Wind and Foster film for the Institution of Civil Engineers.

My mother is awesome - Annie Fennell

Annie Fennell has been inspired by someone very close to her to study civil engineering.

I love civil engineering

Find out what ICE member Tom Barker loves about being a civil engineer – warning there will be juggling.

See how your studies lead to a civil engineering career

The job you end up with in civil engineering is likely to link back to what you studied at school, college or university. Here you can see your options at any age.

Age 15-18

Studying at school or college

See your study options if you want to become a civil engineer

Age 18+

Studying or working

Your choice: apprenticeship, degree or vocational course

Changing career to civil engineering

Career changers bring valuable skills and experience into the industry and can help fill some of the skills gaps

Who are civil engineers?

'Civil engineer' covers a huge range of jobs and all types of engineering. Civil engineers come from all different backgrounds but they all spend years training, learning and getting qualifications. Why not hear what civil engineers have to say about their work?