Message from the HoD

 Prof Wynand Steyn

The Department of Civil Engineering has established a reputation for both training of engineers and advancement of the state of knowledge via research, thereby contributing to the development and maintenance of civil infrastructure within and outside South Africa. Graduates of the Department are employed in various capacities in South Africa, Africa and internationally.

The UP Civil Engineering Department has produced approximately 40% of all civil engineers in South Africa over the past 62 years. Many of these engineers have made major contributions to the development and wealth creation in South Africa. 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.

In 2018, the University of Pretoria is 110 years old and the Department of Civil Engineering 62 years. The Department has 43 full-time staff positions (25 academic and 17 support staff), 3 part-time positions and 1131 students (934 undergraduate and 197 postgraduate).  Of the Department's staff, 4 hold NRF ratings, 21 are registered professional engineers with ECSA and 4 are SAAE Fellows.
 
The BEng degree course is structured to fully meet and 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 internationally.

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 around 200 students enrolled in BEng(Hons), MEng and PhD courses, including nationals from neighbouring African countries and further afield. 

The Department has started construction of a new laboratory and research facility on the Hillcrest campus during 2018 with the generous support of SANRAL and UP, and it is expected that this development will provide a platform for further enhancement of teaching and research activities.