On the first semester, you will work with load-bearing structures and you will analyse a structural part in order to determine its capacities, strengths and rigidity.

Your analysis will include different methods such as experiments in the laboratories, calculations, computer simulations and modelling. This will make it possible for you to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the different methods.

Description of courses
Read the description for the respective courses for the semester in the most recent version of the curriculum for Structural and Civil Engineering, see under the article Overview of the programme. 

During the second semester, you will work with coastal, offshore and port engineering, and experiments in the laboratories will be a significant part of you and your groups project work.

You will explore the natural loads such as waves, wind, currents and ice and you analyse and consider how the constructions can be modified and improved to strengthen their resistance.

Description of courses
Read the description for the respective courses for the semester in the most recent version of the curriculum for Structural and Civil Engineering, see under the article Overview of the programme. 

During the third semester, you have different options for the structure of the semester:

• You can do an internship in Denmark or abroad, where you take part in the day-to-day operations in the business. During the internship, you will write a project about one or more of your tasks during the process
• You can study a semester at another educational institution abroad or in Denmark
• You can do a regular semester at AAU with courses and project work
• You can begin your Master’s thesis, so your work is spread out over both your 3rd and 4th semester.

On the fourth semester, you write your Master’s thesis, where you draw on all the knowledge, experience and skills you have acquired during your studies.

Depending on your topic choice, the thesis will be in the nature of developmental work, further development, or actual research.

For more detailed description of the courses on each semester, please see the current curriculum for Structural and Civil Engineering (under §18 Overview of the programme). 

You can choose to do an internship in Denmark or abroad during your 3rd semester, where you take part in the day-to-day operations in the business. During the internship, you will write a project about one or more of your tasks during the process. 

Examples of internships abroad

• Densit Engineering Office, Singapore – Strengthening strategies to reinstate offshore platform to serviceable condition

Examples of internships in Denmark

• Rambøll - Determination of buckling length of columns in multi storey plane steel frames
• Cowi A/S - View house, planning larger building projects by computer calculations
• Cowi A/S - Analysis of snow pressure damage on conical steel silo roof

You can choose to study for a semester at another educational institution abroad or in Denmark.

Aalborg University has collaboration agreements with universities around the world, and the programme’s research environment has a wide range of internship contacts.

With a Master's degree (Cand. Polyt.) in Structural and Civil Engineering you can develop and advance new analyses and solutions within civil and structural engineering. 

You are able to find solutions to a given problem within civil engineering and can manage work-related situations that are complex and unpredictable, and which require new solutions.

You will also have competencies within and can participate in the development of digitization of the built environment.

Problem based learning and working in groups during your study programme will give you many useful skills that make you an attractive candidate on the job market. You know how to approach a problem and solve it in collaboration with other people, which is often how things are done in the “real world”.

Field of work
Your work tasks may include:

• Construction of e.g. bridges, roads, houses, ocean windmills etc.
• Planning and administration of construction process
• Project management
• Reducing energy consumption
• Foundations of large constructions
• Design of indoor air-conditioning systems
• Calculations in relation to the construction or the construction process
• Choice of building materials
• Optimising the work environment
• Quality control
• Inspection of the building site for security purposes

Workplaces
As a graduate from Structural and Civil Engineering, many professional fields are open to you. Your future workplace could be at

• a consulting engineering company
• a contracting company
• a manufacturer
• a university as a reseacher and/or teacher 

Aalborg University cooperates with external organisations - both private and public which gives you the opportunity to gain valuable contacts for when you have finished your degree.

If you need guidance on the content and workload of the study, admission, study environment or know more about what it is like to study at Aalborg University, you can contact your student counsellor. The student counsellor is a student themselves and under an obligation to maintain confidentiality. 

Student guidance
Department of the Built Environment
Thomas Manns Vej 23
9220 Aalborg Ø

Phone (Wednesdays 15-17):  93 56 20 44
E-mail: studievejledning@build.aau.dk 
Office hours: Wednesdays 15:00-17:00

See who is in the study guidance team

Do you have questions regarding the composition of your education, admission, study changes, examination rules, credit, exemptions, etc. you can contact the Study Board. 

Study Board of the Built Environment
Thomas Manns Vej 23
9220 Aalborg East
E-mail: inst.build.sdnvn@build.aau.dk 

Read more about the Study Board.

Are you a student at AAU? In AAU Study and Wellbeing Guidance, we can help you with, among other things, choices during your study programme, study doubts, study techniques, motivation, wellbeing, leave and study resignation or perhaps just a conversation about your thoughts regarding your study programme and wellbeing. We are happy to talk to you about anything big or small.

See opening hours and contact information

Aalborg University is famous for its problem based learning where you work in a team on a large written assignment often collaborating with an industrial partner. This study method is also called “The Aalborg Model for Problem Based Learning”. The method is highly recognised internationally, and the university is host to a successful UNESCO chair in Problem Based Learning in Engineering Education and a Centre for PBL and Sustainability approved by UNESCO.

The problem based project work at Aalborg University gives you a unique opportunity to acquire new knowledge and competences at a high academic level in an independent manner. You get to apply theory to practice when you work to solve real-life problems, and you will be well prepared for your future career. Learn more about PBL.

When doing project work, you work closely in groups with other students. This gives you the opportunity to cooperate, share knowledge and to explore larger and more complex academic problems than what you would have been able to do on your own. Furthermore, the groups serve a social purpose and make it easier for you to get to know your fellow students and feel more at home at the university. Learn more about teamwork at AAU.

Aalborg University works closely with the business community. This means that as a student you will work with real issues from companies and organisations. Thus, while you are studying, you already have the opportunity to enhance your academic competences with a business-oriented and practical angle.

At Aalborg University teaching is research based. This means that your lecturers are doing research within the same academic field as he or she is teaching. You thus have access to the latest knowledge and dedicated teachers who are passionate about what they teach. The teaching material not only includes books but may also consist of, for example, current academic articles from journals.

The laboratories at Aalborg University are of the highest standard, and they play an important role in teaching. You will work under the best laboratory conditions with access to the latest technology, which is vital for your benefiting from the teaching.

As a university city Aalborg has many advantages. The city is Denmark's fourth largest, and a good 20 percent of the municipality's inhabitants are students. The city has much to offer when it comes to culture, sports and leisure, but at the same time, has a manageable size and safe environment. Compared to other major university cities, it is easy to find good student accommodations in Aalborg. Learn more about student life in Aalborg.

Aalborg University is famous for its problem based learning which means that you work in a group on a written assignment each semester - possibly in collaboration with an industrial partner. This study method is also called “The Aalborg Model for Problem Based Learning”. The method is highly recognised internationally; including by UNESCO.
The problem based project work at Aalborg University gives you the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and competencies at a high academic level in an independent way. You get to apply theory to practice when you work to solve real-life problems, which will ensure that you are well prepared for your future career.
Learn more about PBL.

When doing project work, you work closely in groups with other students who have roughly the same academic interests and ambitions as yourself. This gives you the opportunity to cooperate, share knowledge and to explore larger and more complex academic problems than you would have been able to do on your own. Furthermore, the groups serve a social purpose and make it easier for you to get to know your fellow students.
Learn more about group work at AAU.

Aalborg University works closely with the business community, which means that during your studies you work with real issues from companies and organisations. Thus, you will already have the opportunity while studying to obtain practical experience with the theory you learn at the university.

At Aalborg University, we offer research-based teaching, which in short means that your lecturers conduct research in the same area they teach. You thus have access to the latest knowledge and dedicated teachers who are passionate about what they teach. The teaching material thus not only includes books but may also consist of current articles from journals. 

The laboratories at Aalborg University are of the highest standard, and they play an important role in the teaching. You will work under the best laboratory conditions with access to state-of-the-art technology, which is vital for your benefiting from the teaching.

As a university city, Aalborg has many advantages. The city is Denmark's fourth largest, and a good 20 percent of the municipality's inhabitants are students. The city has much to offer when it comes to culture, sports and leisure, but at the same time, has a manageable size and safe environment. Compared to other university cities in Denmark, it is easy to find good student accommodation in Aalborg.
Learn more about student life in Aalborg and what it means to study in Aalborg.