The Bachelor's Programme
In the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Civil Engineering Sciences and Construction Management, you will receive a basic education in mathematics, descriptive geometry, physics and mechanics. Building on this basis, you will receive an introduction to aspects of computer science, structural analysis and economics that are relevant to construction and receive a basic introduction to the field of structural engineering.
The degree programme is rounded off by the addition of hydraulic engineering and geotechnics. In these subject areas, you apply knowledge from the disciplines you have already learned and learn how to correctly design hydraulic structures, such as dams, or geological structures, such as tunnels or excavation pits.
By carrying out numerous laboratory exercises and field tests, you can practically apply your theoretical knowledge. Few other professional fields are as diverse and interdisciplinary as civil engineering; this is why the economic aspect is also a major focus of the degree programme. Because you have a chance to attend new guest lectures from the economic world every week, a connection between theory and practice is established early on.
Civil engineers are expected to work and solve problems independently, but also display high levels of social competence, on a daily basis. For this reason, you will be given the opportunity to carry out many practically relevant projects, either in the form of individual tasks or by working in a group, as part of the programme. The final task is the bachelor's paper that you create independently.
Excellent opportunities exist for student networking, e.g. on the student team Betonkanu TU Graz (concrete canoe), in the drawing studios (Concrete and Timber Engineering Drawing Studio, Geotechnical Drawing Studio, Steel Construction Drawing Studio, Transport Planning Drawing Studio, Hydraulic Engineering Drawing Studio), or in the student network WINGnet Graz, all of which support the excellent exchange of knowledge.
Focus Areas
You have the opportunity to specialise in the following areas:
Mathematics: Building on the mathematical knowledge you gained in school, you will learn the basics of engineering mathematics and how to apply them. With respect to descriptive geometry, you will learn about geometric objects and their properties, geometric transformations and operations.
Physics and Mechanics: You will learn the basic concepts and laws of physics and building physics and how to apply them. With respect to mechanics, you will become familiar with the basic principles of statics.
Mechanics: You will deepen your knowledge in mechanics and deal with the principles of elastic bodies, dynamics and hydromechanics, among other things.
Computer Science: You will receive an introduction to the field of computer science and learn the first programming steps. In addition, you will explore the topic of surveying.
Structural Analysis: You will learn more about static systems of load-bearing structures and learn how to calculate them, also with the aid of computers. You will learn how to estimate the load-bearing behaviour when varying the construction, load and boundary conditions.
Construction Economics: You will learn the basics of law with a focus on construction contracts, learn the essential mechanisms that operate on the construction market and become familiar with common construction procedures, as well as methods of cost and schedule planning.
Fundamentals of Constructive Structural Engineering: You will gain basic knowledge in the subject area of building physics, which will enable you to solve detailed problems encountered in building construction. Furthermore, you will learn how to use building materials properly and how to judge which building materials are suitable or unsuitable for specific use conditions.
Constructive Structural Engineering: Among other things, you will learn more about with structural load limit conditions and usability requirements, as well as safety factors related to concrete, wood and steel.
Environment and Traffic: You will learn how to plan and size of traffic facilities. This includes roads and junctions as well as railroad lines. Furthermore, you will acquire basic knowledge about urban hydraulic engineering that will help you carry out projects independently.
Water Engineering: You will learn necessary, basic information about flow effects and how to calculate them using computational methods, in order to carry out hydraulic engineering projects.
Geotechnics: You will acquire fundamental knowledge about rock-forming minerals, mineralisation processes and the formation of rocks and bedrock. You will learn how to perform simple calculations to verify the load-bearing capacity and usability, to design simple measurement programmes and to carry out planning sequences to create structures with foundation engineering and rock construction.
Study counselling: Check what you expect!
What will I have to do in the first semesters? How much practice can I expect? And what can I actually do with my degree when I've finished? Check what you expect!
A student and a lecturer will take time for all your questions and you will get to know TU Graz during on-site appointments. Up to 10 persons can participate at each date.
Contact: lse@tugraz.at
I study civil engineering because sewage disposal, good roads and railway networks benefit people directly, especially in less well-developed areas.
Even when I was still at school, I already knew that I wanted to study civil engineering. I’m particularly interested in the construction of infrastructure – that is, road construction, transportation systems, residential wastewater management and sewage disposal – because I feel that I really can help people.
Civil Engineering in Research and Industry
Due to the immense social, ecological and economic importance of the constructive industry, the industry is continually being optimised. In the field of economics, these optimisations involve, for example, reductions in CO2 emissions during the construction process, reductions in the complexity of administrative processes (lean administration) used in Austrian construction companies and support for a comparative view of general contractual provisions in the construction industry.
The range of research in the field of civil engineering is very broad. Research is conducted in a wide variety of fields, such as
- in concrete construction: design of modular building constructions made of thin-walled, reinforced concrete room cells.
- in steel construction: determination of the remaining service life of steel railroad bridges.
- in timber construction: creation of innovative and joining techniques that are optimised for specific applications.
- in road construction: development of adapted noise protection measures.
- in water engineering: modelling of drainage systems and sustainable optimisation of hydraulic infrastructures.
- in soil mechanics: safety assessment of existing supporting structures.
- in rock mechanics: application of machine learning for data analysis and prediction in tunnelling.
- Determination of basic information for the quantification of air pollutant emissions and other environmental impacts due to traffic.
- Development of traffic concepts for communities and regions as well as innovative mobility approaches for the cities of the future.
- Creation of measures to improve the use of the existing offers in traffic engineering and telematics.
- Optimisation of the life cycle costs of the railroad infrastructure.
Studying Civil Engineering is like working on a building project. First, you get a strong foundation of knowledge; later on you use this knowledge to create construction solutions on your own. After graduating, it feels like you can build everything, anywhere. The fascination about Civil Engineering is that every project is unique. There aren't two buildings that have the same construction. Regarding this fact, you never get bored.
Ekrem supports international prospective students as International Student Ambassador.
Admission Requirements
Requirements for admission to a bachelor's degree programme at TU Graz
Admission Deadlines
Winter semester 2024/25
Admission period: 8 July to 5 September 2024
Summer semester 2025
Admission period: 7 January to 5 February 2025
Admission Procedure
Supplementary examination
If you are required to take the supplementary examination "Descriptive Geometry" when you are admitted to the Civil Engineering Sciences and Construction Management programme, you can take it during the bachelor's programme.
Information and Advice
Contact study@tugraz.at
Professional Fields
Because they carry out activities in both public and private sectors, civil engineers bear a high level of responsibility, often acting as mediators in the areas of conflict between economy, politics, society, the environment and science.
Especially after completing a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering, you will be in great demand in industry and research. You will have wide-ranging career opportunities, domestically and internationally. Civil engineers carry out calculations, design buildings and plan and supervise their construction.
Graduates work
- in engineering offices,
- with public authorities,
- with consulting companies,
- in the industry,
- in the construction industry,
- with the railroad companies,
- in road construction,
- in the energy industry,
- in the fields of research and teaching and
- in development aid.
Advanced Master’s Degree Programmes
After completing the bachelor's degree programme, you can enrol in the following master’s degree programmes without further requirements:
- Civil Engineering Sciences and Structural Engineering
- Civil Engineering Sciences - Infrastructure
- Geotechnical and Hydraulic Engineering
- Construction Management and Civil Engineering
Information on other master's degree programmes with requirements you can find on the respective pages for the master’s degree programmes.
In addition, the bachelor's degree offers you the opportunity to apply internationally for master's degree programmes.
