12 Civil Engineering Degree Programs in Portugal

Politécnico de Leiria is the first Polytechnic in Portugal to be granted the EUR-ACE® label at the bachelor level in Civil Engineering recognized by ENAEE (European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education). The accreditation extended to Master in Civil Engineering, confirming education quality in this particular field of study and placing these programs among the best European universities and polytechnics.

It is the area of ​​engineering that involves the conception, planning, design, construction and maintenance of the built environment. Through Civil Engineering we transform and adapt nature, we design and build cities/populations, transport networks, structures for energy production, water supply and sanitation networks, river and maritime protection structures, thus contributing to promoting the well-being of global society and its sustainable development.

The Master's Degree in Civil Engineering (MEC) aims to promote high-level training in the field of Civil Engineering, guaranteeing students the necessary qualification to perform full functions in this area. This mater course follows on of the Degree in Civil Engineering.

The Doctoral Program in Civil Engineering at the University of Aveiro (PDCiv-UA) has a duration of 3 years, corresponding to a total of 180 ECTS. It is organized in two distinct phases, a first curricular and a second dedicated to the development of research work, preparation of publications and production of the doctoral thesis. The first year comprises the curricular component (60 ECTS) structured in modules of advanced training courses and seminars, in several thematic areas of the scientific domain of: Civil Engineering, comprising the curricular units of Advanced Studies in Civil Engineering (12 ECTS), Monitoring and Observation of Works (6 ECTS) and Research Project Seminar (30 ECTS); Management, with the Entrepreneurship course unit (6 ECTS); and yet, an optional curricular unit from any scientific area (6 ECTS), this curricular unit should be advised by the doctoral student's supervisor, when available. At the end of the first year, the student, within the Research Project Seminar curricular unit, will have to present and publicly defend his / her doctoral work plan before a jury, with the continuation of his / her studies dependent on a positive evaluation of this curricular unit. . Students may be exempted from attending one or more components of the 1st curricular year, in accordance with the stipulations in the Regulations of the Doctoral Program in Civil Engineering of the AU.

The MSc in Civil Engineering aims to give a professional specialization by developing the technical and scientific capabilities of the holders of a 1st cycle in Civil Engineering, which is offered by both institutions. The specialization fields in this 2nd cycle (Structures and Construction) as well as the classes' hours (after-work regime) seek to be in line with the needs and expectations recorded in the region.

The Degree in Civil Engineering (LEC) from the NOVA School of Science and Technology | FCT NOVA confers basic skills in the area of Civil Engineering, providing solid training in Basic Sciences and Engineering Sciences; enhances the students' ability to understand the economic, industrial, commercial, social and professional environment in which engineering activities take place; develops oral and written communication skills in different contexts and with different interlocutors; trains and promotes teamwork and enhances constructive critical thinking and decision-making in current contexts.

The Bachelor (BSc) degree in Civil Engineering of Técnico is an inspiration and a means for those who want to participate in the realization of big dreams in the form of achievements with impact in the improvement of the quality of life. Civil Engineering has as its main purpose the design and operation of structures and systems that, guarantee the efficient exploitation and management of natural resources, allow their appropriate and environmentally correct use by the population.

The general objective of the study cycle is to ensure specialized training in Civil Engineering, of an international nature, necessary for the exercise of the profession with the capacity to assume responsibility for the design of engineering solutions, serving the interest of society in general and its sustainable development.

The civil engineering profession allows those who embrace it to participate in the rational, efficient, and environmentally sustainable control of the forces of Nature for the benefit of the populations. As a civil engineer, one is the protagonist or participant of an adventure: improving humanity’s well-being and quality of life. Civil engineers have the duty to ensure the security of structures and systems that are vital for the operation of modern societies and they carry on their shoulders the responsibility for countless lives; the failure of a structure such as a bridge, a dam, or a building always leads to catastrophic consequences.

The training proposal is clearly multidisciplinary development in the main areas of Civil Engineer: Buildings, Structures, Hydraulics, Geotechnics and Planning, with expression in each of them for the planning, design, design, construction, production, maintenance, rehabilitation and management ventures. In this sense is a comprehensive training without particular focus on any one area of ​​expertise of the Civil Engineer. Being a course of 1st cycle, training mainly aims to prepare for the profession, dedicated to enforcement activities of production processes, maintenance activities, implementation and realization of current solutions. This transfer of knowledge is essentially performed by applying in practical context, favoring the construction of a learning based on "learning by doing".

The creation of the Civil Protection Municipal Offices led to an important need for technical and trained specialists with an interdisciplinary and integrative view on the problems and challenges in these issues. Bridging the objective unavailability of the market to provide, immediately, technicians with the proper training to these demands, and the education system has thus overcome this situation. Enhance more professional, more demanding in terms of capacity and skills of civil protection operators and especially increased ability to work in own networking system of the new organizational scheme. Acting in networks of international cooperation, where once again justified the need for individuals trained to deal with this reality.