A career in civil engineering can take many paths. We’ll give you the advice you need to take the direction you want, helping you to bridge the gap from graduation to employment, and take the first step towards your rewarding career. with 90% of graduates employed or in further study after graduation, the connections we provide are meaningful and will have a direct impact on your employability. [Source: DiscoverUni, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020-21].
We’re an employment-focused course: preparing you for your chosen career is our priority. Developing the next generation of chartered civil engineers means providing you with opportunities to connect and engage with the industry, from site visits and guest speakers to work placements.
Our graduates are employed in a wide variety of roles and disciplines across both the public and private sectors, here in the UK and overseas. Possible career paths include:
- bridge engineering
- highway engineering
- water and waste engineering
- flood engineering
- nuclear engineering
- geotechnical engineering.
Where our graduates are now
James Pengilley
Graduate Engineer, Galliford Try
Graduate Engineer, Galliford Try
After 16 years in the building trade as a carpenter and joiner, I was looking to advance my career as much as possible. My GCSE results were not much to be desired so I began by completing the foundation year at Plymouth University. I was then able to progress to the BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering degree, which has allowed me to secure a job working for the structures team building the new A380 south Devon link road.
Since graduating, my work has included assisting site engineers with setting out and surveying earthworks, culverts and bridges, along with supervising and coordinating contractors/sub-contractors, creating method statements and permits etc. The work carries a lot of responsibility but is very rewarding. My education at the University of Plymouth has been epoch-making in my career path. One of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.
“I have been working on a couple of geotechnical projects, namely a pile wall at Lyme Regis, which is needed to help counter a major land slip, and the testing of ground anchors on Lundy Island (off the north Devon coast). It’s really interesting: the island has such a small population everyone knows me by name and comes up to discuss what we are doing and how we are getting on! It's quite an experience.”
Graduate Engineer, Hyder Consulting
"I really enjoyed my time studying at University of Plymouth. The University has some very supportive and experienced lecturers. Thanks to my degree I am now working for an international consultancy firm as a Graduate Engineer."
Richard Glover
Graduate Structural Engineer, Hyder Consulting
Graduate Structural Engineer, Hyder Consulting
"The foundation course really helped prepare me for my BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering degree at Plymouth and for university life in general. The tutors were excellent in helping me to achieve my goals.
During my degree the placement year gave me excellent work experience working as a Site Engineer with Alfred McAlpine Civil Engineering. Since graduation I have been working with Hyder Consulting as a Graduate Structural Engineer, gaining experience on many interesting and varied projects. I am also working towards Chartered status."