Civil Engineering

You acquaint yourself with the different aspects of the civil engineering field. You act both in the role of researcher and of designer, and analyse an existing civil engineering infrastructure, such as a bridge or a quay. You learn how civil engineering constructions are built, how they work, and how they can continue to function in the next thirty years. You also learn the impact of hydraulics and hydrology on the built environment.

In the second part of the first year, you acquaint yourself with the concept of sustainability and circularity in civil engineering. How you can continue to live, work and recreate despite climate change? You act in the role of an advisor, and you advise clients on how cities and constructions can be designed sustainably and used with as little energy as possible, thus making them less strain on the environment.

In the first half of the year, you will study inland infrastructures and systems. Think about roads, ports, and airports. How can they be designed to maximum efficiency? How can they be sustainable and fit for future challenges in the built environment? To tackle these challenges you will need knowledge of structural engineering, geotechnics, water management, environmental engineering, and more. You will act as a researcher, designer, and advisor and you will develop an innovative design for a new infrastructure.

In the second half of the second year, you get to work on constructions that protect the coast from flooding. You learn how to investigate whether a dike will be strong enough to protect the land behind it, and how to design new dikes that are both long-lasting and environmentally friendly. You also work with dredging techniques: constructing islands near a coastline. You discover how to mine and move sand while keeping nature in mind, and how to manage this process from a project manager's perspective.

In the third year of the programme, you carry out an internship, in the Netherlands or abroad. During your internship, you acquaint yourself with working as a civil engineer in a company or organization, and you act professionally according to your role and responsibilities.

Furthermore, you complete a six-month minor. Through this minor, you enhance the depth or breadth of your knowledge and skills. You can carry out your minor at one of the water-related research groups at HZ, at another HZ study programme, or at another university, in the Netherlands or abroad.

In the first semester, you focus on the management of existing structures and infrastructures and you act as an advisor for hydraulics and underground structures. In the same semester, through a project, you develop solutions for coastal challenges by working in cooperation with students from architecture and water management.

During the final semester of your study, you carry out a graduation assignment with a Dutch or foreign company of your choice.

With your pre-university diploma, VWO or an international equivalent, you can qualify for the three-year track of the Civil Engineering programme.

HZ Honours Programme

Want an extra challenge alongside your degree? The HZ Honours Programme is an optional programme running alongside your bachelor's that gives you the freedom to tackle a real-world social issue, one you choose yourself. Working with students from different study programmes, you can address national or international challenges, from sustainable production to community development.

Previous Honours students have travelled to destinations including Costa Rica, Zanzibar, Rio de Janeiro, Bali and the Philippines to work on impactful international projects. As an ICT student, you could contribute by building digital platforms, analysing data, developing apps, creating AI solutions or improving smart systems that help organisations and communities solve complex problems.

After completing the programme, you receive an additional Honours certificate alongside your Bachelor of Science degree.

To quality for admission for the Civil Engineering programme, you need:

• A diploma equivalent to the Dutch Secondary Education Diploma, which gives you access to higher education.
• A good level of mathematics and physics. No mathematics? After following this online course you are still able to be admitted to the study programme.
• A good command of written and spoken English. Your level of English should be equivalent to and IELTS score of 6.0.

Read more about the admission requirements.

To be admitted to this programme, you need a diploma equivalent to a Dutch secondary education diploma (HAVO, VWO, or MBO level 4).

If your diploma is listed on the recognised foreign diplomas list , you are admissible provided you meet the additional requirements. If your diploma is not listed, you are still welcome to apply, we will assess your qualification individually. To ensure a fair evaluation, we work with Nuffic, the Dutch organisation responsible for assessing international diplomas.

If you do not have the required secondary school diploma and are 21 years or older, you may still be eligible for admission. HZ offers the possibility to take an alternative entrance exam.