Engineering Getty
Discover employment and further study opportunities that you could consider once you graduate with a civil and coastal engineering degree, and learn how you can stand out to graduate employers.
We encourage you to:
  • undertake career planning and research
  • build your networks, meet employers and graduates
  • gain essential work experience during your course
  • attend career fairs and events
  • continually develop your skills and knowledge
  • get involved with relevant clubs and societies
  • visit the Careers Service for advice.

Knowledge and skills

Studying civil and coastal engineering at Plymouth equips you with a comprehensive range of technical skills and knowledge in addition to a thorough understanding of appropriate codes of practice and industry standards.
With a solid grasp of science, mathematics, and technology, you will be able to design, create and build structures efficiently and safely while making the best use of available resources and techniques.
Through group projects, you'll gain practical experience of applying your engineering judgement and working successfully with others.
Key skills gained on a civil engineering degree include:
  • analytical and decision-making abilities
  • awareness of ethical issues
  • the use of advanced numerical methods and statistical techniques to solve relevant civil engineering applications
  • advanced application of ICT applications as well as the use of the latest industry-standard software including computer-aided design (CAD) tools to create digital models of technical systems
  • communication, team-working, self-management and leadership skills as a result of working on real-world individual and group projects
  • creative problem-solving and decision-making abilities
  • critical thinking and analytical skills.

Career options

Civil engineers create, improve and protect the environment in which we live. They plan, design and oversee construction and maintenance of building structures and infrastructure, such as roads, railways, airports, bridges, harbours, dams, irrigation projects, power plants, and water and sewerage systems. They also design and build tall buildings and large structures that can withstand all weather conditions – you may want to take a look at these inspiring and iconic examples brought to you by the Institute of Civil Engineers.
Your degree will open the door to many graduate jobs and careers, but the following areas are among the most popular pathways for civil and coastal engineering graduates.
  • Consulting civil engineer
  • Contracting civil engineer
  • Site engineer
  • Structural engineer
  • Water engineer.
Employment opportunities
  • Assistant Site Engineer
  • Civil and Structural Engineering Consultant
  • Civil Engineer
  • Civil Engineering Assistant
  • Difficult Access Inspection Engineer
  • Graduate Bridge Engineer
  • Graduate Civil and Coastal Engineer
  • Graduate Civil and Structural Engineer
  • Graduate Civil Design Engineer
  • Graduate Civil Engineer
  • Graduate Civil Engineer – Transport
  • Graduate Coastal Engineer
  • Graduate Consulting Maritime Engineer
  • Graduate Fire Engineer
  • Graduate Infrastructure Engineer
  • Graduate Marine Engineer
  • Graduate Maritime Engineer
  • Graduate Project Manager
  • Graduate Site Engineer
  • Graduate Structural Engineer
  • Highways and Infrastructure Graduate Engineer
  • Junior Sustainability Consultant
  • Offshore Project Engineer
  • Project Engineer
  • Site Engineer
  • Site Manager
  • Structural Engineer
  • Structure Engineer
  • Student Actuary
  • Trainee Surveyor
Employers
  • AECOM
  • AIER
  • AKSWard
  • AKT2
  • Andrew Scott Ltd.
  • Arcadis
  • Atkins
  • Babcock International
  • Balfour Beatty
  • BAM Nuttall
  • Battlescapes
  • Bridge Civil Engineering
  • Cavendish Nuclear
  • CERAP UK
  • City College Plymouth
  • Content Guru
  • Cormac
  • Craddys
  • D J Goode & Associates Ltd
  • Devon County Council
  • Dyer & Butler
  • Exact Structures
  • Fugro
  • GIUK
  • Gilpin Demolition
  • Government of Jersey
  • HG Construction Ltd
  • Highways England
  • Hochtief UK Construction
  • Hydrock
  • Hydrok
  • Isio
  • Jackson Civil Engineering
  • Jacobs
  • Jacobs Engineering
  • Jacobs UK
  • James Brennan Towers
  • John Grimes
  • John Grimes Partnership Ltd
  • Kier with EKFB
  • Ludilingua
  • Mace
  • MBA Consulting
  • Morson Talent
  • Mott MacDonald
  • Nationwide Engineering Ltd
  • Network Rail
  • PFA Consulting
  • Plymouth City Council
  • Proserve Limited
  • R J Watkinson and Partners
  • R Elliott Associates Limited
  • Ramboll
  • Ramboll UK
  • Ridge PLC
  • Ron McDonald
  • Rowntree Partnership
  • RPS Group
  • Shear Design Limited
  • Sir Robert McAlpine
  • SSP
  • Stan Tech
  • Teignmouth Maritime Services
  • The North West Wildlife Trusts, The Crown Estate, and Natural England
  • Tony Gee and Partners
  • Topbond PLC Group
  • Turner & Townsend
  • TWP Consulting Structural & Civil Engineers
  • University of Plymouth
  • VolkerStevin
  • Wessex Water
  • Williams Sale Partnership Limited
  • Wing Preservation Limited
  • WSP
  • XEIAD
*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys covering the three years of 2018/19 – 2020/21. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.

Further study

Some of the careers chosen by engineering graduates require or benefit from further study; the University of Plymouth offers the following postgraduate study options that could be of interest to engineering graduates:
You should consider the financial implications of further study as well as selecting a programme that suits your interests and future career direction. The following websites are a good starting point for exploring postgraduate options, but you may also benefit from talking to a Careers Consultant about your particular situation.
Some useful websites to help you find a suitable postgraduate programme:
It is also worth investigating what further study options the University has to offer as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to Alumni – find out your funding options .

Careers Service support

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier, come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the Student Hub or access our  24/7 online resources . We offer support ranging from careers workshops and events to placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.
Our bite-sized Skills Workshops can give your career the boost it needs. Choose from a range of topics: 
  • effective career planning 
  • job hunting techniques
  • finding part-time work 
  • CVs and interviews 
  • mastering LinkedIn 
  • and more.
Workshops are delivered by the Careers Service, however, they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

Connect with graduates

Build your network and job sector knowledge using LinkedIn’s alumni tool. This will allow you to see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed, the skills they developed and employers they worked for. You can then ‘connect’ with people of interest.
  • search LinkedIn for ‘University of Plymouth’
  • select ‘Alumni’
  • filter the results by subject, sector, company or location.
For more information about the alumni tool select the LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most out of your LinkedIn profile, select the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops .

Other advice and guidance

Gain work experience
Getting relevant work experience is strongly encouraged by all employers and this is especially true of Civil Engineering. Many employers in this sector offer structured work experience opportunities ranging from year-long placements to summer internships or taster experiences. Take a look at Gradcracker to get an insight into the different schemes offered by some of the major recruiters of Civil Engineers in the UK and beyond
Other work experience options include working part-time while you study or getting involved with the volunteering opportunities offered by the University of Plymouth Students’ Union in the community.
Student Hub

Where could your degree subject take you?

Architecture and built environment
Biological sciences
Business, economics, management, marketing, accounting and finance, and maritime and logistics
Chemistry
Computing
Creative arts: art, illustration and photography
Design: interior/product and furniture design, graphic design and game arts/digital design
Earth, geography and environment
Education and teaching
Engineering
Hospitality, tourism and events management
Humanities: anthropology, art history, English and history
Law, criminology and policing
Marine
Mathematical sciences
Media and filmmaking
Medicine, dentistry and biomedical sciences
Music
Nursing, midwifery and allied health professions
Performing arts: acting, drama and musical theatre
Psychology
Sociology, international relations and politics