The world needs more structures that endure, adapt, and sustain. The building and construction sector account for 32% of global energy consumption and 34% of carbon dioxide emissions. Heatwaves are more frequent and longer heat waves, worsening urban heat islands. Other cities face heavy rains that overwhelm drainage systems and flooding problems due to losses of wetlands and forests that once absorbed rainfall.
Enter the senior civil engineer. As the sculptors of a better tomorrow, cities need them more than ever to build places for people to live, work, and play — safely, sustainably, and resiliently. The best universities know this and have designed master’s programmes that equip students with the advanced expertise to protect the built environment, improve land-use planning, and increase emergency preparedness.
The MSc in Civil and Architectural Engineering is deeply rooted in the latest research, taught by active researchers. Source: Aarhus University
Aarhus University
The Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at Aarhus University is shaping a greener, more innovative future. One exciting project involves integrating electricity-generating microbes into cement, making it possible for houses not only to provide shelter but also to store electricity in their walls. This is just one example of the calibre of innovation you’ll be exposed to while studying for an MSc in Civil and Architectural Engineering.
The two-year master’s degree prepares you to make an impact on the design, construction, security, and maintenance of the built environment. You’ll choose your specialisation from day one, with Infrastructures and Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, and Construction Management and Engineering as the three engineering disciplines.
Whichever you choose, the MSc will set you up for success within a wide range of industries. You’ll stand out for your know-how in developing new, innovative solutions for the engineering industry and for society. Graduates have gone on to hold meaningful roles in academia, consulting engineering firms, construction companies, within the wind turbine industry, the offshore industry, and in property companies.
They carry with them a well-known degree and a lifetime of memories from living and learning in the city of Aarhus. Denmark has been ranked as the second happiest country in the world, and Aarhus itself continues to rank as one of the happiest cities in the world. This may be a small city with only around 370,000 people but what surrounds it is majestic — coastline and beaches to the east, forests to the south, and beautiful hills with lakes and streams to the west. Approximately 13% of the city’s population are students enrolled in higher education institutions — making Aarhus a young city but also Denmark’s best student city in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The University of Manchester is ranked second in the UK for Research Power in Engineering. Source: UoM Humanities/Facebook
The University of Manchester
From engineering a new form of landmine detection to improving the environmental sustainability on campus, University of Manchester’s Faculty of Science and Engineering continues to strive for social responsibility.
At this Russell Group university, you can pursue a MSc in Civil Engineering. The programme has prepared graduates to work at the likes of Accenture, Arcadis, Network Rail, WSP, and more. They hold roles such as consulting structural engineer, design engineer, project manager, sustainability consultant, urban designer, and so much more.
There are many reasons for their success. Studying at this faculty means you have access to leading research and cutting-edge facilities for wave flumes, geotechnics centrifuge, materials testing, 3D laser, and more. The university itself is a Russell Group institution ranked second in the UK for Research Power in Engineering and located in the world’s first industrial city.
But perhaps what the university is best known for amongst engineering employers is that they were the first English university to offer an engineering degree. Since then, they’ve continued to lead the way, from computational fluid dynamics to how engineering impacts public policy. Links with industry have been cultivate far longer than others, including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, EADS, Dstl, MBDA, and ESTEC/ESA.
Rome is a living classroom in itself because of its rich history and advance engineering. Source: Sapienza Università di Roma/Facebook
Sapienza Università di Roma
Founded in 1303, Sapienza Università di Roma is the oldest university in the capital city and the largest in Europe. Holding 700 years of history, it is today home to 122,000 students, 3,576 professors, 2,320 employees, technicians and librarians, and 1,260 administrative staff in university hospitals.
With nearly 11,000 international students enrolling each year, this creates a global learning environment that offers opportunities to engage and collaborate with students from diverse parts of the world. This reflects in the programme you will be studying, as you’ll be finding solutions to solve problems not just in the country but worldwide too.
The two-year Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering trains you to design, construct, and manage civil engineering projects of new and old structures. The first year gives you a strong foundation in core civil engineering methods. In the second year, you choose to specialise in one area: geotechnics, road infrastructure, hydraulic construction, or structures. All specialisations include classes in related environmental, legal, and technical areas to complete your training.
Your learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. Rome is your living laboratory because of its rich history and stunning engineering. You get to visit ancient ruins, view Renaissance art, and experience a vibrant culture, giving you a unique, hands-on education. It’s a city where the past directly influences the present.
Wrocław University of Science and Technology produces award-winning architectural graduates. Source: Politechnika Wrocławska/Facebook
Wrocław University of Science and Technology
Research at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Wrocław University of Science and Technology covers various domains – six to be exact: Building Engineering, Building Structures, Geotechnics, Hydrotechnics, Underground and Hydraulic Engineering, Materials Engineering and Construction Processes, Mechanics of Structure and Urban Engineering, and Roads, Bridges, Railways and Airports. It also sometimes investigates subjects beyond the typical civil engineering field, such as hydrotechnical engineering and material sciences.
Research forms the backbone of its Civil Engineering (CEB) master’s degree. Students master the theory and practical skills required to design, analyse (both statically and dynamically), and construct buildings using modern materials like concrete, metal, wood, and ground. This advanced knowledge culminates in a master’s thesis, proving the student’s capability to independently design the engineering structures of the future – some of which are already present in the city they’re based in.
Studying in Wrocław offers a unique, immersive education in applied civil engineering. The city is a study in contrasts, blending historic recovery with modern expansion. Innovations like the iconic Centennial Hall stand alongside more modern infrastructure, reflecting Poland’s rapid urban growth and engineering prowess. The city’s post-war reconstruction provides even more insights into urban renewal and adaptive reuse.
With such experience and a Wroclaw degree in hand, graduates are set for leadership roles globally. They are skilled at developing and executing research programmes, ready to work in international enterprises, and trained to manage large, multidisciplinary teams.
This expertise translates directly into strategic professional opportunities. Graduates are highly sought after by top design offices and construction firms, key scientific institutions, and R&D centres, along with bodies responsible for infrastructure management or providing expert consulting services across the industry.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
