The Department of Civil Engineering has established a reputation for both the training of engineers and the advancement of the state of knowledge via research, thus contributing to the development and maintenance of civil infrastructure within and outside South Africa. Graduates of the Department are sought after globally and many are working well beyond our borders.

The UP Civil Engineering Department has produced about 40% of all civil engineers in South Africa over the past 50 years. Many of these engineers have made major contributions to the development and wealth creation in South Africa over these years. We are proud of this history and are building on these achievements of the past with a new vision and strategic direction for the future.
 
The BEng degree course is structured to fully meet and even exceed the requirements of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) which is the stepping stone for registration as a professional engineer. Consequently, a BEng (Civil) degree from the University of Pretoria is a recognised qualification for working as an engineer well beyond the borders of South Africa.

The departmental staff are research active in all disciplines of civil engineering and hence, the Department offers postgraduate courses in the fields of Geotechnical Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Structural Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Railway Engineering and Civil Engineering Materials.  Currently, the Department has 200 students enrolled in BEng(Hons), MEng and PhD courses, many of whom are nationals from neighbouring Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries and further afield. 

From 2019, tuition is presented in English only.

In EBIT, under lockdown level 1, all departments will follow a hybrid approach when classes starts.