Structural engineer

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role

University

You can do a degree or postgraduate course in:

• structural engineering
• architectural engineering
• civil and structural engineering

You might have an advantage if you do a course that includes an internship or a year in industry placement. Your university careers service can advise on how to find relevant work experience.

You can find accredited courses through the Engineering Council.

Entry requirements:

• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

College

You could do a college course in civil engineering. This might help you to find work as a trainee structural engineer. You'll then need to do more training on the job to qualify.

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Civil Engineer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship and take professional training afterwards to qualify as a structural engineer.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Work

You could start as a civil engineering technician and study for a degree qualification while you're working.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Skills:

• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• maths knowledge
• knowledge of building and construction
• design skills and knowledge
• excellent verbal communication skills
• complex problem-solving skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to read English
• business management skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• operations analysis skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• knowledge of English language
• analytical thinking skills
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• knowledge of systems analysis and development
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• concentration skills
• a good memory

What you'll do:

Structural engineers help to design and build large structures and buildings, like hospitals, sports stadiums and bridges.

As a structural engineer  you could:

• develop engineering plans using computer software
• investigate the properties of building materials like glass, steel and concrete
• work out the loads and stresses on different parts of a building
• use computer models to predict how structures will react to the weather
• inspect unsafe buildings and decide whether they should be demolished
• work out why and how buildings have collapsed

Possible green job

This job could help the environment.

For a structural engineer to be a green job, you could:

• create energy efficient building designs
• recommend the use of low-carbon materials like sustainably sourced timber and recycled steel
• design structures which can be used to generate sustainable energy

Find out more about green careers

Location : You could work in an office, at a client's business, on a construction site or on a demolition site.
Environment : Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and at height.
Uniform : You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

Salary:

Starter : £24,000
Experienced : £55,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

37 - 42 hours a week

Working Pattern is between 8am and 6pm

Career Path:

You could move into:

• construction design
• project management
• research or lecturing
• freelance consultancy work, like providing services to building insurers
• work on construction and engineering projects overseas, with disaster relief agencies

You could also specialise in:

• renewable energy projects
• sustainable building materials
• forensics, where you investigate why a building or structure has failed