# What can you do with a Civil Engineering degree?

> Source: https://coursetojob.co.uk/courses/civil-engineering/ — updated 2026-09-25. Published by CourseToJob (independent; not affiliated with UCAS, HESA or GOV.UK).

**Quick answer:** A Civil Engineering degree commonly leads to roles such as graduate civil engineer, site engineer (entry) and structural technician. Five years after graduating, Civil Engineering graduates had median earnings of £41,400 (middle half: £33,700–£51,600), and 88.3% were in sustained work or further study (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Engineering graduates is professional, scientific and technical services (26.4% of those in work).

Civil engineering covers structures, infrastructure, and site constraints. Accredited programmes can support later professional registration. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.

## What jobs can you get with a Civil Engineering degree?

- **Graduate civil engineer**: Supports a project team with drawings, quantities, and compliance against a specification. Skills often asked for: calculations, site diaries, design checks.
- **Site engineer (entry)**. Skills often asked for: setting out, as-builts, permits.
- **Structural technician**. Skills often asked for: models, connection details, revisions.
- **Highways technician**. Skills often asked for: inspections, traffic management notes, asset records.

## Where do Civil Engineering graduates work?

Engineering graduates in UK employment five years after graduating, by industry (DfE LEO industry data, tax year 2023–24; shares calculated by CourseToJob from DfE's rounded counts).

| Industry | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 26.4% | £44,300 |
| Manufacturing | 24.3% | £45,800 |
| Information and communication | 9.6% | £48,300 |
| Construction | 5.8% | £48,700 |
| Wholesale and retail | 5.7% | £37,000 |
| Administrative and support services | 4.2% | £39,500 |
| Public administration and defence | 4.1% | £44,300 |
| Finance and insurance | 3.8% | £65,900 |

## How much do Civil Engineering graduates earn?

UK-domiciled first-degree graduates in Civil engineering (CAH10-01-07). Source: DfE LEO CAH level 3 subject data, tax year 2023–24 (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/d8bc2906-419e-40ef-ad8e-9b2ccd3997dc). Each row is a different graduating cohort.

| Years after graduating | Graduated | Median earnings | Middle half | In work or further study | All-graduate median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021/2022 | £30,700 | £27,100–£35,500 | 91.6% | £26,400 |
| 3 | 2019/2020 | £35,500 | £30,700–£43,200 | 89.9% | £30,000 |
| 5 | 2017/2018 | £41,400 | £33,700–£51,600 | 88.3% | £33,700 |
| 10 | 2012/2013 | £52,300 | £39,900–£68,800 | 86.4% | — |

## Which universities have the highest-earning Engineering graduates?

Median earnings five years after graduating, universities with at least 50 graduates measured (DfE LEO provider-level data, 2023–24). Not a quality ranking.

| University | Median earnings | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| [University of Oxford](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-oxford/) | £73,600 | 95 |
| [University of Cambridge](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-cambridge/) | £64,400 | 230 |
| [Imperial College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/imperial-college-london/) | £56,400 | 225 |
| [University College London](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/ucl/) | £55,300 | 175 |
| [Durham University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/durham-university/) | £54,000 | 130 |
| [Open University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/open-university/) | £52,300 | 335 |
| [Wrexham University](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/wrexham-university/) | £51,200 | 55 |
| [University of Bath](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bath/) | £50,500 | 350 |
| [University of Warwick](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-warwick/) | £50,100 | 240 |
| [University of Bristol](https://coursetojob.co.uk/universities/university-of-bristol/) | £49,800 | 280 |

## Is Civil Engineering the right degree for you?

You may enjoy it if:
- You want to design or deliver things that have to stand up.
- You like site constraints as much as calculations.
- You are willing to learn Eurocodes and health-and-safety culture.

It may not suit you if:
- You wanted a purely studio architecture course.
- You dislike mud, method statements, or mathematics.
- You expected to skip construction law and risk.

## Interview questions for Civil Engineering graduate roles

Graduate civil and site-engineer interviews usually test safety, drawings, and how you communicate on a live site. These prompts are editorial illustrations.

- You arrive on site and the setting-out looks wrong. What do you do first? (What it tests: Stop, check the drawing revision, and raise it — not pour anyway.)
- Explain a simple load path in a small structure from your course. (What it tests: Whether you understand how the building stands up.)
- A subcontractor asks you to sign something you did not inspect. How do you handle it? (What it tests: You do not sign what you have not seen.)
- How would you brief a temporary-works change in one paragraph? (What it tests: Clear, dated communication that a site team can act on.)
- What would you check before walking a live highway site? (What it tests: PPE, briefing, and traffic management — basic, non-negotiable.)

## Frequently asked questions

### What jobs can you do with a Civil Engineering degree?

Common starting roles include graduate civil engineer, site engineer (entry), structural technician and highways technician. Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Engineering graduates in work were professional, scientific and technical services (26.4%), manufacturing (24.3%) and information and communication (9.6%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.

### How much do Civil Engineering graduates earn in the UK?

DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Civil Engineering graduates of £30,700 one year after graduating, £35,500 three years after graduating, £41,400 five years after graduating and £52,300 ten years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.

### Is a Civil Engineering degree worth it?

It depends on what you want to do. On the official data, 88.3% of Civil Engineering graduates were in sustained employment or further study five years after graduating, with median earnings of £41,400. For comparison, the median across all first-degree graduates of GB higher education institutions was £33,700 at the same point. That places Civil Engineering 25 of 146 subject groups by five-year median earnings. Earnings are only one factor: enjoyment of the subject, accreditation and the route into your target job matter too.

### Which universities have the highest-earning Engineering graduates?

Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Engineering were at University of Oxford (£73,600), University of Cambridge (£64,400) and Imperial College London (£56,400). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.

### Can international students study Civil Engineering in the UK?

Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.


Apply for undergraduate courses on UCAS: https://www.ucas.com/explore/search/courses?query=Civil%20Engineering