Have you ever looked at the majestic construction marvels around you and wondered how were they built? Well, none of these magnificent structures would have come into existence, if it weren't for the civil engineers. Civil engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with the designing, planning, construction, maintenance and operations of large scale infrastructure. The study of civil engineering covers a plethora of scientific concepts like mechanics, hydraulics, material science, statistical analysis and others.

Civil Engineering is one of the oldest disciplines of engineering. Courses in the field involve coursework in mathematics, statistics, engineering, mechanics, fluid dynamics etc depending upon your the specialisation. The eligibility criteria for different course types are as follows -  

Eligibility Criteria's for different Civil Engineering Courses

• Diploma Level: The candidate should shave passed class 10th examination from a recognised education board.
• Graduation Level: For admission into UG programme, the student must appear for the relevant entrance exams. Also, he should have successfully cleared the class 12th with physics, chemistry and mathematics as the main subjects.
• Post Graduate Level: For admission into the PG programme, the student must appear for the relevant entrance exams. And must have successfully obtained an undergraduate degree i.e. B.Tech in Civil Engineering .   
• Doctoral Level: For admission into the doctoral programme, the student must have a postgraduate degree i.e. M.Tech in Civil Engineering from a recognised university.  

Entrance Exams for Civil Engineering

Entrance exams are conducted at national, state and university levels for admission into different disciplines of engineering. Some of the popular exams that students must appear for are as follows -

For Undergraduate Courses

• Joint Entrance Exam - Mains (JEE Mains)
• Joint Entrance Exam - Advanced (JEE Advanced)
• VIT Engineering Entrance Examination (VITEEE)
• The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHTCET)

For Post-Graduate Courses

• Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Exam (UPSEE)
• Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test (BITSAT)
• VIT University Master’s Entrance Examination (VITMEE)
• Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)
• Birla Institute of Technology & Science Higher Degree Exam(BITS HD)

Civil Engineering is one of the core fields of engineering and has attracts a lot of students every year. The course teaches the students about how to develop better infrastructural facilities while at the same time sustaining an eco-friendly environment. These courses include a mix of traditional classroom learning, work in laboratories, and fieldwork. The different courses offered at various levels are -

• Diploma Course -  This course offers the students a polytechnic diploma in Civil Engineering and can be pursued both after class 10th and class 12th. The duration of the course is of 3 years.
• Undergraduate Course- This is a 4 year duration course that leads to an undergraduate degree of B.Tech (Bachelors of Technology) in Civil Engineering. You can do the course after successful passing out from class 12th.
• Postgraduate Course- This is a 2 years duration course that leads to a postgraduate degree of M.Tech(Masters of Technology) in Civil Engineering. An undergraduate degree in a relevant field is essential for students to pursue this course. 
• Doctoral Course - This is a research based course that leads to a doctoral degree of Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) in Civil Engineering. A postgraduate degree in relevant subjects is essential for students to pursue this course.

Sub-Specialisations offered under Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering is a very broad and deep field in the area of technical education. Students can specialise into a variety of subjects after successful completion of their undergraduate degree. Some of the popular subjects that students specialise in their master and other higher studies are as mentioned below -

• Structural Engineering- This field deals with designing and analysis of different structures like buildings, flyovers, bridges, tunnels, towers etc. Structural Engineers make sure that the structure is strong and can withheld all the atmospheric conditions.
• Transportation Engineers - This field deals with the application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional designing, operation and management of facilities for different modes of transportation. They ensure that the modes are safe, efficient, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical and environmentally compatible movement of people and goods.
• Construction Engineering - This field deals with the designing, planning, construction and management of various infrastructures. These infrastructures include roads, tunnels, bridges, dams, airports, railroads, buildings etc. Construction engineers are more involved with the practical aspects of projects. 
• Geotechnical Engineering - This field deals with study of behaviour of earth materials. Geotechnical engineering is an important aspect in civil engineering. It also has applications in military, mining, petroleum and other engineering disciplines that involve construction on the earth's surface or beneath it.
• Material Science and Engineering - This field deals with the design and discovery of new materials (especially solids).
• Forensic Science - This field deals with the application of scientific knowledge and methodology to criminal investigations and legal problems. It is a multidisciplinary subject and encompasses various fields of science such as chemistry, biology, physics, geology, psychology, engineering etc.

Major Subjects Covered in a Civil Engineering Course

Some of the major subjects covered in a civil engineering course are as follows -

• Civil Engineering Materials
• Construction Management
• Construction Practices
• Elements of Surveying
• Engineering Geology
• Environmental Engineering
• Hydraulics
• Introduction to Transportation Engineering
• Soil Mechanics
• Transportation Engineering Lab

In India, 'Indian Institutes of Technologies' i.e. IIT's are considered to be the best colleges for pursuing engineering courses. Also, the Top 10 UGC recognised engineering colleges in the country as per the NIRF rankings 2018 are as follows -

• Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Madras
• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Bombay
• Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur
• Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi
• Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur
• Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee
• Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati,  Guwahati
• Anna University, Chennai
• Jadavpur University, Kolkata
• Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad

There is a multitude of opportunities for civil engineers today. Almost every country is running the race of development. And civil engineers play have a great role in this race. A civil engineer is responsible for building towns, cities, residential societies, roads, rail networks, highways, dams, flyovers and many other things. The infrastructure that helps build is what ultimately counts in where the country stands in the race of development.

Based on their specialisations civil engineers can find work in a multitude of industries. Some of the popular job profiles for civil engineers are -

• Construction Engineers - These engineers are involved in managing construction projects and ensuring that they are built in accordance with plans and specifications. They are mainly responsible for the design and safety of the temporary structures used during the construction process. They also oversee the budget, time management and communication aspects of a project. 
• Geotechnical Engineers - Their work involves ensuring that the foundations for building objects are solid. Their area of focus is how the structures build by engineers like for example buildings and tunnels are interacting with the earth around it. They are also responsible for designing and planning for slopes, retaining walls and tunnels.
• Structural Engineers - They are responsible for designing and assessing major projects like the buildings, bridges, dams etc to ensure their strength and durability.
• Transportation Engineers - They are responsible for planning, designing, operating and maintaining everyday systems like streets and highways. However, they are also involved in the planning of larger projects like those of airports, harbours, mass transit systems etc. 

Popular recruiters for Civil Engineers

Some popular recruiters that offer good job opportunities to civil engineers are as mentioned below.

• Gammon India Ltd.
• Hindustan Construction Company
• Jaiprakash Associates Ltd
• Lanco Infratech Limited
• Larsen & Toubro Ltd.
• Emaar Properties
• Marafiz Contracting
• Ralls Construction
• Shapoorji and Pallonji
• PAC Constructions
• Punj Lloyd

After pursuing a course in Civil Engineering, one earns an average salary of around Rs. 3-4Lakhs per annum. The amount of experience that the candidate has also influences their salary prospects. Thus, after a few years of experience like about over 5 years, civil engineers can easily earn a salary of around Rs. 7-8 lakhs.