Civil engineering has become one of the most multifaceted subjects taught at universities. Civil engineers are in demand for projects that range from motorways to waste management, from geotechnics to building renovation, from construction management to bridge-building and from high rises to flood protection – and their skills are needed at every stage, from planning to dismantling. They are trained specialists in solid construction, structural steel construction, timber engineering, geotechnics, construction operations, transport and hydraulic engineering. As a civil engineer, you need to be interested in mathematical and scientific topics and be ready to tackle creative and planning tasks. A good imagination and the ability to think and act in a networked way are all good qualifications for a civil engineer.
The Bachelor’s degree course in construction at Bern University of Applied Sciences, Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering in Burgdorf, will provide you with the practically-oriented tools for your professional life as a civil engineer.
Admission requirements
- Completed vocational training in the construction field, with a federally recognised vocational training higher national certificate
- Higher secondary school certificate with an internship related specifically to the construction industry
- Completed professional training outside the construction industry, with a federally recognised vocational training higher national certificate and an internship related specifically to the construction industry
- We can provide you with support in accomplishing your internship through:
Duration
Six semesters full-time; eight semesters part-time
Start
September (Calendar week 38), Closing date 31st July.
Language of teaching
German
Course fees
CHF 750.- per semester
CHF 100.- registration fee
CHF 80.- examination fee, per semester
CHF 90.- charge for materials, per semester
(In case of differences between the prices mentioned in the printed study guides and the ones on the internet under www.ahb.ch, the ones on the internet are effective.)
Location of course
Burgdorf
Course director
Dr. Ing. Markus Romani
Structure of course
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Bern University of Applied Sciences:
multifaceted, practically oriented, individual
Training to become a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering is just as varied at the professional life of a civil engineer. The syllabus is taught by lecturers with wide-ranging professional experience in the construction industry. The moderate size of classes allows teaching staff to give students individual attention. Excursions, as well as laboratory and project work, reinforce the practical relevance of the course. Obligatory modules form the core of the course, while each student can shape his or her course individually by choosing from among a number of optional modules. The course is internationally accredited.
In the first and second semesters, a broad basis is laid for an understanding of the laws of science, the rules of communication and the fundamentals of construction. Core subject matter is taught in the following obligatory modules:
- Structural design, mathematics and physics
- Communication in German and English
- Building materials and structural engineering
During the third to the sixth semesters the course moves on to specialised teaching, with the obligatory modules covering the subjects of structures and infrastructure. In the former, this includes not only the areas of structural design, but also the correct use of construction materials such as steel, concrete and wood. For infrastructure, the emphasis lies on the topics of transport systems, hydraulic engineering and foundation engineering. Special theme weeks focusing on building practice, surveying and the culture of building also expand the students’ professional competencies.
From the fourth semester, students can start to follow their personal interests by choosing optional modules from the areas of structures and infrastructure. The selection of optional modules is constantly adapted and updated to keep pace with developments in the construction industry.
- Structures: constructing and calculating steel, concrete and timber structures
- Infrastructure: transport systems, hydraulic engineering, managing construction and businesses, and foundation engineering
- Project week: surveying, the culture of building and building practice
- Projects: structures and infrastructure
- Optional modules: opportunities to gain greater insights into topics related to the themes of structures and infrastructure
Thesis
In the sixth semester students write a thesis as the final element of the course. The three-year bachelor’s degree course provides graduates with a professional university qualification that awards students the protected title of “Bachelor of Science BUAS in Civil Engineering”. The course is compatible with European requirements and follows the guidelines of the Bologna reforms.
Specialisation
During the course, students specialise in the professional areas of structures and infrastructure. Both obligatory and optional modules are offered. The obligatory modules lay the specialist groundwork, whereas the optional modules allow students to add to and deepen the knowledge they have acquired. This means that existing professional preferences can be fostered early.
By including newer topics as optional modules, we enable students to learn about new technologies, trends and fields of work, while nonetheless ensuring that they acquire a firm professional foundation through the obligatory modules.
Career prospects
Even in difficult economic times, graduates holding a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree are sought after on the job market, as there are not enough graduates in civil engineering to meet demand. This means that graduates have excellent chances of getting jobs and advancing during their careers.
Attractive fields of work
The fields in which civil engineers can work include planning, construction and the maintenance of:
- transport routes, tunnels and bridges
- water supply infrastructure and drainage systems
- power generation structures such as power stations and dams
- residential, office and industrial buildings made of concrete, masonry or brickwork, wood or steel
- structures for environmental protection
Potential employers
The range of possible employers is as wide as the range of fields of activity and includes:
- engineering firms
- the public sector
- banks and insurance companies
- large companies in the infrastructure field
- construction companies