Civil Engineer
Designs and supervises roads, bridges, water systems and public infrastructure.
Save this career to see your personalized pathway in My Senda.
- Typical pay
- €28k–€60k
- Usual education
- Degree
- Outlook
- Steady demand across Europe from infrastructure renewal, water and climate adaptation projects.
A day in the life
Morning on site checking progress against drawings, afternoon updating calculations and coordinating with the contractor.
Ways in
- Civil engineering degree
- Graduate scheme at a contractor
- Public works trainee posts
What to study at 16
The subjects you choose for the final years of secondary school can shape which degrees, exams and careers are easiest to reach. This is about choosing courses, not choosing a school.
Spain
Bachillerato de Ciencias y Tecnología
Portugal
Ciências e Tecnologias
France
Bac général — spécialités
Germany
Oberstufe — Leistungskurse
Italy
Liceo scientifico
Netherlands
Profiel Natuur & Techniek
Exams you'll need
The gates between you and this job, and when each one comes.
EBAU / Selectividad
University-access exam grades decide which engineering school you can enter — maths and physics weight heavily.
Usually neededTOLC-I (ingegneria)
Most Italian engineering faculties use the TOLC-I, and many cap places.
Skills that matter
Best courses to take
The study routes that lead most directly into this career.
BSc Urban Planning & Development
Cities, housing, transport and planning law.
Useful if you prefer how cities are planned over how they are built.
Helpful school subjects: Geography, Maths
BEng Civil Engineering
Structures, roads, bridges, water and how cities are physically built.
The standard route; look for programmes with a strong site placement.
Helpful school subjects: Structural analysis, Materials, Hydraulics, Geotechnics
Places that hire for this
Acciona
Infrastructure and water graduate roles across Spain and abroad.
ACS / Dragados
Graduate site and design engineer intakes on major infrastructure projects.
Budimex
Poland's largest contractor, with structured graduate entry.
Ferrovial
Graduate programme across roads, airports and rail.
Sacyr
Site engineer trainee roles on concessions and civil works.
Skanska
Nordic and Polish graduate schemes in civil construction.
VINCI
Large European graduate intake in civil and building works.