At the School of Engineering we are focused on ensuring that you will be educated to the highest standards, and will have the necessary qualifications to avail of all the professional opportunities presented to you, both in Ireland and across the world. You will be enrolled on an integrated five year programme; a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) (four years, Level 8) + a Master of Engineering (ME) (one year, Level 9).  

Students on the BE+ME pathway will gain: 

• A globally recognised qualification (BE Level 8 + ME Level 9) 

• Hands-on experience through a major research and development project 

• A valuable industry work placement 

• Advanced engineering knowledge that prepares you for real-world challenges 

 Upon successful completion, you’ll meet the academic requirements for progression to Chartered Engineer status — opening doors in Ireland and internationally. 

 Year 1 

• Fundamentals of Engineering 

• Engineering Graphics 

• Engineering Design 

• Engineering Computing I 

• Engineering Computing II 

• Engineering Chemistry 

• Engineering Physics 

• Engineering Mechanics 

• Engineering Calculus 

• Engineering Mathematical Methods 

Year 2 

• Principles of Building 

• Building Information Modelling 

• Strength of Materials 

• Engineering Statistics 

• Mathematics & Applied Mathematics I 

• Mathematics & Applied Mathematics II 

• Geology for Engineers 

• Civil Engineering Materials & Design 

• Engineering Hydraulics I 

• Community Engaged Building Project 

• Construction Practice 

 

Year 3 

• Transportation Systems and Infrastructure I 

• Theory of Structures 

• Environmental Engineering 

• Engineering Hydraulics II 

• Design of Structures I 

• Design of Structures II 

• Sustainable Energy 

• Sustainable Waste Management 

• Mechanics of Solids 

• Geomechanics I 

• Energy in Buildings 

• Project Management 

 

Year 4 

• Geomechanics II 

• Structural Analysis 

• Hydrology & Water Resources Engineering 

• Design of Sustainable Environmental Systems I 

• Design of Structures III 

• Introduction to Sustainability II 

• Project Planning & Organisation II 

• Professional Experience Programme in Civil Engineering (BE+ME) 

Year 5  

Please see here.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

• Civil Engineering is centrally concerned with the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of all major and minor structures in the built environment, including buildings, roads, bridges, and water systems.
• Civil engineers perform a vital function in developing and operating complex water supply and sanitation systems, contributing significantly to public and environmental health.
• The program develops a comprehensive set of scientific, technical, organizational, management, IT, and communication skills crucial for a rewarding career in the field.
• You will learn to combine creative skills with an aptitude for mathematics and technical subjects, becoming involved in schemes from design to management through to completion on highly complex projects.
• All students undertake a paid work placement with a civil engineering firm, providing invaluable practical experience and the opportunity to gain work experience abroad. 

Civil Engineering graduates from the University of Galway are in high demand across a broad spectrum of industries, playing a vital role in shaping the infrastructure and environment around us. This degree provides you with the skills to pursue a satisfying and rewarding career, with employment opportunities available in: 

• Consulting/Contracting: Working on diverse projects related to structures, transportation, public health, tunnelling, flood protection, and offshore and coastal engineering.
• Government Departments and Semi-State Organisations: Contributing to public sector projects and policy development.
• Local Authorities: Managing and developing local infrastructure and services.
• Research and Development: Contributing to innovative solutions for current problems in civil engineering. 

Civil Engineers are crucial for developing and constructing bridges, tunnels, roads, railways, major buildings, and other essential infrastructural projects. The profession combines creative skills with an aptitude for mathematics and technical subjects, and at the management level of large projects, a high degree of administration skills is also required.  

The skills you will learn are highly transferable, offering opportunities for work worldwide wherever development is taking place, including in fast-growing economies. The integrated BE/ME program ensures you gain the educational qualifications required for progression to Chartered Engineer status with Engineers Ireland, which is recognized internationally and crucial for signing off on large construction projects. 

Your Year Abroad—Live the Language! 

In your third year, you’ll spend a full year immersed in your chosen languages, gaining real-world experience while studying or working abroad. This is your chance to boost your language skills, explore new cultures, and grow in confidence—all while living in another country! 

• If you’re studying Gaeilge, you’ll spend one semester in the Gaeltacht and the other on Erasmus, studying in a country where your second language is spoken. 

• If you’re studying two European languages, you can choose from these options: 

Spend a full academic year on Erasmus in one country, plus at least 12 weeks in the other. 

Split the year between one semester in each country on Erasmus. 

Work as a Language Assistant for a year in one country, with at least 12 weeks in the other. 

 

Why This Year Will Change Your Life 

By the end of your year abroad, you’ll have: 

• Learned to speak with confidence—improved your fluency in real-life situations. 

• Gained a deeper understanding of different cultures—and seen the world from a new perspective. 

• Learned how to learn languages—and become more independent in your studies. 

• Gained life skills—from navigating a new city to making international friends. 

• Discovered more about yourself—and how your own culture fits into the bigger picture.  

• This year is all about adventure, independence, and setting yourself up for an exciting global career. Are you ready?  

As part of the Engineering degree at the University of Galway, students register for an integrated 5-year BE+ME programme. This means students will achieve a Level 9 Master's in Engineering after 5 years while also earning a Level 8 Bachelor's in Engineering after 4 years. Successful completion of all 5 years ensures graduates the full educational qualifications required for progression to Chartered Engineer Status.  

All Engineering students undertake a paid work placement as an integral part of their programme. This provides invaluable industry exposure with a diverse range of employers, for example Ward and Burke, RPS, Arup, and ESB. Some students use this opportunity to pursue an international work placement. Many of our students completed their placement overseas, gaining experience in the UK, USA, Germany, South America, and Australia. 

The duration of this placement varies depending on student pathway choice, made at the beginning of 3rd year.    

• Students on the 5-year BE+ME pathway: you will engage with advanced engineering modules, undertake a substantial research and development project, and complete an 8-month paid placement during 4th year.
• Students opting for a 4-year BE only: a shorter paid placement will occur during 3rd year. 

All Engineering Degrees at University of Galway are professionally accredited by the statutory professional body, Engineers Ireland. This means that the degree has been assessed and approved to meet the educational requirements for professional Engineers.  

• Under an international agreement (Washington Accord), any Degree accredited by the National professional body (Engineers Ireland) is recognized internationally. So having an “Accredited” degree means that employers outside of Ireland can (1) understand the quality/education achieved by a graduate and (2) know that it is equivalent to their own Education system/standards, and (3) can offer appropriate employment on this basis. 

• Engineers Ireland require a Masters (Level 9) qualification as the education standard required for Registered Professional Titles of Chartered Engineer* The standard European engineering qualification (degree or diploma) is at level 9, and European industry maintains a strict differentiation between those engineers qualified at level 9 and those qualified at level 8. Any graduate interested in working in Europe/Worldwide is now strongly advised to get an accredited level 9 award.  

Engineers’ Ireland accreditation can be obtained at the following levels:  

• Level 8:  4-year honours degree – associate engineer  

• Level 9:  5-year masters degree – chartered engineer  

A Chartered Engineer holds the highest professional qualification in engineering. They are trusted to take full responsibility for the development and application of engineering across areas like research, design, construction, manufacturing, management, and education. Their work is intellectually challenging and varied, requiring original thinking, sound judgment, and leadership of both technical and administrative teams.  

Further information on Engineering Accreditation  

he Civil Engineering degree program is designed to equip you with the scientific, technical, organizational, IT, and communication skills essential for a successful career. 

All students registering for an engineering degree at the University of Galway are enrolled in an integrated five-year program. Our integrated five-year pathway leads to both a: 

• Bachelor of Engineering (BE) – 4 years, Level 8
• Master of Engineering (ME) – 1 year, Level 9 

This structure ensures you are educated to the highest standards, meeting the requirements for Chartered Engineer status both in Ireland and across the world. 

Throughout the program, you will engage in diverse learning experiences that reflect the rapidly changing and challenging areas civil engineers work in. This includes using traditional and new materials and techniques and increasingly incorporating IT solutions at both the design and construction stages. You will have the opportunity to participate in group projects that involve working with the community to understand project feasibility and how people would accept a proposed design. 

A significant component of the program is the paid work placement. This provides invaluable real-world experience. For those interested in further study, the program also offers pathways to Master's or PhD level research, where students develop innovative solutions to current civil engineering problems and become experts in specialized areas. 

 

Course queries: 
civilengineering@universityofgalway.ie   

Programme Director(s):  

Dr Patrick McGetrick 
Associate Professor in Civil Engineering
Programme Director, Civil Engineering 
School of Engineering
College of Science & Engineering 

E: patrick.mcgetrick@universityofgalway.ie
T: 091 492571 

Minimum Entry Requirements 
Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 Level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, Mathematics, a aboratory science subject (i.e., Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint), Agricultural Science or Computer Science) or Technology, and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes. Additional requirements: Minimum H4 in Mathematics or, alternatively, obtain a pass in the Engineering Maths Qualifying Exam (held in the University). 

Additional Requirements 
Students must obtain a minimum of Grade H4 in the Higher Level Leaving Certificate paper in Mathematics or, alternatively places available (which may vary in number year to year) may be allocated to those candidates who have achieved the points requirement for the programme that year, who satisfy the general requirements for Matriculation in the College of Engineering and Informatics and who attain a Pass in the Engineering Maths Qualifying Examination. The places available will be allocated in strict order of merit based points attained in the Leaving Certificate. Due to capacity constraints, not all candidates who achieve a pass in the examination may receive an offer.  For A-levels: A minimum of Grade C in Mathematics is required.

Alternative Pathways 
The Access Centre at University of Galway provides a number of alternative entry routes to undergraduate programmes. See below some useful links: 

• QQI/FET/FETAC Places 

• Mature Students 

• Access and Foundation programmes 

• HEAR Scheme 

• DARE Scheme 

Other Qualifications
If you are a school leaver presenting results other than Leaving Cert results, please review the entry requirements relevant to you:  

• A Level students 

• International Baccalaureate students  

• EU students 

For applicants whose first language is not English, it is important to check our English Language Requirements.  

Admissions Office  
Our Admissions Office provides additional detail relevant to CAO applicants including key dates, FAQs and instructions for non-school leavers.  

 

 

 

 

Irish and European (EU/EFTA/UK) Applicants
Apply via the CAO. See the CAO Handbook for useful information on applying through the CAO.  

Mature Applicants  
Apply via the CAO by 1 February. To apply for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of entry. Further information available here.  

QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants  
Apply via the CAO. See our QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants page for information on places available and entry requirements.  

 

Fees for Academic Year 2025/2026

Course Type	Year	EU Tuition	Student Contribution	Non-EU Tuition	Levy	Total Fee	Total EU Fee	Total Non-EU Fee
	All	€4,268	€3,000	€27,000	€140	€3,140	€7,408	€27,140

• Most EU students applying through the CAO will be eligible for the ‘Free Fees Initiative’. You can find out more here.
• If you are eligible for a means tested SUSI grant this may cover 100% of this Student Contribution Charge. If you are 100% eligible SUSI will pay the Student Contribution Charge of €3,000 on your behalf. 
• The Student Levy It is payable by all students and it is not covered by SUSI
• Where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing year fees. This applies to non-EU fees.
• You can find additional detail on the Fees Office webpage including FAQs and how fee status is assessed.

Equipment  
Some modules incorporate practical laboratories and for these, you may be required to purchase basic safety items such as a laboratory coat and safety goggles (approx. cost of €50).   

High-achieving undergraduate students are encouraged to apply for a range of prestigious scholarships that recognise academic excellence and support students in reaching their full potential. Click here for further Information. 

Application Process
Students applying for full undergraduate degree programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), and who are liable for full non-EU tuition fees, should apply online via Apply to University of Galway. Our application portal opens on the 1^st October each year for each the following September.  

Discover more about the School of Engineering at the University of Galway on our website.