As a student of structural engineering, you must have a passion for design and construction and be interested in pursuing a career within this particular sector. The course content will allow students the opportunity to gain an understanding of the relationship between design, construction and functionality alongside the importance that instruction plays within a social context.

It is also important for any undergraduate on this course to have an interest in both maths and physics as the principles of these subjects will provide strong foundations on which your knowledge in this discipline will be built upon. Similarly, the programme itself is also very demanding and the students who are hard working, organised and capable of independent study are those who tend to be successful on this course.

The majority of students who opt to study structural engineering do so with the intention of pursuing a career as a structural engineer, designing structures that are due to remain standing under stress. For a graduate with strong qualifications, this particular field can be quite lucrative with the entry level salary in the UK being approximately £23,000 - £32,000 per year in the UK.

Similarly, given that structural engineering skills are crucial on a global scale, there are also the opportunities for talented graduates to take advantage of travel opportunities.

Yet pursuing a career in this particular sector isn’t compulsory for those with degrees in structural engineering. Graduates may take the PGCE to teach engineering in a secondary school environment, or the GDL before pursuing a career in law. Similarly, many graduates in this field of study find work in sectors such as finance, banking and sales.

Structural Engineering courses at reputable universities often request high grades with A-levels in maths and science often being considered ideal for applicants wishing to study on the undergraduate programme. The majority of courses will last a minimum of 3 years, although some programme will extent the course by a further year in order to encourage students to partake in industry-related work placements.

Similarly, there are also a number of post-graduate courses available to those wishing to pursue a course of study in structural engineering. These programmes will last a minimum of a year, although part-time courses may last longer. If you’re looking to pursue this route, then you should have a strong honours degree in a related subject, as well as the relevant work experience.

If you are not a native speaker of English, but wish to apply for a place on a structural engineering course, then don’t worry! Universities will still consider your application for a place, but they expect you to sit an IELTS test and score a minimum of 6.0-6.5 before your course commences.

Irrespective of which course you decide to study, the location of the university itself should also be taken into consideration when deciding where to study. Discovering new cultures and meeting new people is a huge part of student life and it is vital that you make the most of your university experience. It is important that your university of choice is located in an environment where you will thrive both socially and academically. Some potential students prefer to study in big cities with large campus universities whereas others prefer smaller establishments with a more communal focus.

You should always look at the entry requirements and your own finances before submitting an application to your university of choice. Do you have the right grades for entry? Are the fees manageable along with the cost of living? If you’re still struggling to secure funding there are a number of options available to you including scholarships and bursaries.

The most important thing to consider when you’re deciding where to study are the module options available at each of the universities, and the skill-sets of the lecturers. Although many of the core degree modules are similar between courses, different universities will offer a number of different optional modules. If you already have an idea regarding which area of study you are interested in specialising in, it is worth investigating whether your university of choice offers you module choices that will benefit your post-graduate career.