Program Overview
Civil engineering is an engineering science that deals with the conception, planning, design, construction, calculation, manufacture and operation of all types of structures that are relevant to our society. These include buildings for structural, transportation, civil and hydraulic engineering, facilities and infrastructure. During your studies, you will learn how to design these types of structures, plan and calculate them in a resource- and energy-efficient manner and build them safely, economically and in an environmentally friendly way. You will deal with various building materials, building constructions and, of course, structural analysis. You will also be introduced to social, ecological and economic aspects of construction as well as resource and energy-efficient issues. Overall, you will gain an overview of the entire planning, construction and maintenance process of a building, or in short: its entire lifecycle.
During your studies, you have various subjects, which consist of one or more modules. A module deals with a specific topic and consists of one or more courses. In the module handbook for your degree program, you will find a description of the modules and their subject assignment as well as a study plan. This gives you an orientation as to which courses you should attend in which semester in order to complete your studies within the standard period of study. It takes into account a balanced distribution of courses over the individual semesters. It also ensures that you are first taught the important basics before moving on to more advanced topics. Your individual course of study may differ from this.
You can focus on your subject specialization in the compulsory elective subject (16 CP), in which you choose two of the four profiles offered:
The program also includes the acquisition of Interdisciplinary Qualifications (6 CP): here you can choose courses relatively freely according to your interests and improve your skills, e.g. from the courses offered by the House of Competence (HoC), Language Center (SpZ) or the interdisciplinary courses offered by the FORUM.
Key Program Features
- • a construction internship before and during the bachelor's degree program is not mandatory
- but is recommended • good previous knowledge of mathematics and physics is of course necessary
- but missing basic knowledge can be made up for at the MINT-Kolleg if required • orientation week at the start of studies • involvement of students in research projects in various disciplines • after the bachelor's degree
- you can choose between five consecutive master's degree programs:Civil EngineeringEngineering StructuresMobility and InfrastructureTechnology and Management in ConstructionWater Science and Engineering (in English) a construction internship before and during the bachelor's degree program is not mandatory
- but is recommended good previous knowledge of mathematics and physics is of course necessary
- but missing basic knowledge can be made up for at the MINT-Kolleg if required orientation week at the start of studies involvement of students in research projects in various disciplines after the bachelor's degree
- you can choose between five consecutive master's degree programs: • Civil Engineering • Engineering Structures • Mobility and Infrastructure • Technology and Management in Construction • Water Science and Engineering (in English) Engineering Structures Mobility and Infrastructure Technology and Management in Construction Water Science and Engineering (in English)
Career Opportunities
Specialists with a degree in civil engineering have excellent career prospects and many fields of activity. They can be found in managerial positions in the following sectors: structural and civil engineering, engineering offices, public administration, consulting firms, railroads, postal services, insurance companies, the energy industry, software companies and many more. In this profession, you mainly design, plan, calculate, build and manage residential, commercial, administrative and industrial buildings, transportation routes (roads, bridges, tunnels, airports), hydraulic structures (locks, dams, reservoirs, etc.), power plants, environmental protection facilities (irrigation and drainage systems, sewage treatment plants, waste incineration plants), civil protection structures and much more. In civil engineering, you will expand your specialist knowledge more and more, and you must be able to adapt flexibly to constantly changing tasks in your professional life. In all fields of activity, you should also think holistically and reconcile social, ecological and economic aspects. You will always have direct contact with people and should be able to work in a team and communicate well. Your strength lies in your technical know-how, which is complemented by a good dose of creativity. As construction companies operate worldwide, foreign languages are also an important "tool of the trade". This is not least because many foreign projects in the field of development cooperation are supervised by civil engineers.
As the bachelor's degree is a foundation course and forms the first part of a complete course of study consisting of a bachelor's and master's degree, you could also decide to continue your studies with a master's degree. You could choose one of the consecutive master's programs offered at KIT to deepen your skills and knowledge and thus qualify for management positions in the above-mentioned industries.
The special feature of KIT is that you can choose from a t
Program Curriculum
During your studies, you have various subjects, which consist of one or more modules. A module deals with a specific topic and consists of one or more courses. In the module handbook for your degree program, you will find a description of the modules and their subject assignment as well as a study plan. This gives you an orientation as to which courses you should attend in which semester in order to complete your studies within the standard period of study. It takes into account a balanced distribution of courses over the individual semesters. It also ensures that you are first taught the important basics before moving on to more advanced topics. Your individual course of study may differ from this.
• Mechanics (26 CP): here you will learn about the Statics of Rigid Bodies, Strength of Materials, Dynamics and Hydromechanics. These are essential aspects of mechanics in civil engineering.
• Mathematics (22 CP): mathematical skills are essential in civil engineering. You will therefore delve deep into Analysis and Linear Algebra, Integration and Multivariate Analysis, Applied Statistics and Differential Equations.
• Building Materials and Building Constructions (25 CP): this subject gives you an initial insight into the importance of building materials for the construction of buildings.
• Basics in Engineering (16 CP): this subject teaches the basics of Project Management, Geology in Civil Engineering and Introduction to Computer Programming. Further engineering fundamentals, e.g. Chemistry of Building Materials and Surveying, can be selected.
• Supplements in Engineering (5 CP): here you choose a project from various offerings, which change regularly, or you supplement your specialist knowledge with additional credit points from the range of fundamentals of engineering, engineering fundamentals, engineering principles and profiles.
You can focus on your subject specialization in the compulsory elective subject (16 CP), in which you choose two of the four profiles offered:
• Structural Analysis (10 CP)
• Structural Engineering (12 CP)
• Water and Environment (8 CP)
• Mobility and Infrastructure (8 CP)
• Technology and Management in Construction Operation (8 CP)
• Geotechnical Engineering (10 CP)
The program also includes the acquisition of Interdisciplinary Qualifications (6 CP): here you can choose courses relatively freely according to your interests and improve your skills, e.g. from the courses offered by the House of Competence (HoC), Language Center (SpZ) or the interdisciplinary courses offered by the FORUM.
Admission Requirements
For the bachelor's degree program in Civil Engineering, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language. Your German language skills must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Important: you must provide proof of the required language skills regardless of your citizenship and by the end of the enrollment period at the latest, but preferably at the time of application.
In what form do I have to provide the language certificates? Please read the following chapters on this website carefully. If you have any further questions, please contact
• Students Office if you are applying as a German, German national or a person with German equivalent status
• the International Students Office if you are a non-EU national
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
No tuition fees (German public university — see fee_details)
Semester contribution ~€235 covers public transport (KVV) and student union services.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
No tuition fees at KIT (German public university). Semester contribution of approx. €235 covers public transport and student services. Funding available via DAAD, Deutschlandstipendium, Baden-Württemberg Stipendium, and KIT internal scholarships.
About Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Karlsruhe, Germany
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of Germany's leading public research universities and among Europe's most prestigious institutions for science, engineering, and technology....
University Profile- Application Deadline EU/German nationals: September 15 | Non-EU nationals: July 15
- Language German
- Duration 6 semesters
- Credits 180 ECTS
