Civil engineering and sustainable construction

Photo: Bouygues - Above All - Centrale Nantes

Overview

Is it possible to design and construct a building with clean energy resources and zero carbon footprint? Are there ways to reduce flood risk without raising dikes? How do you install resilient energy structures in an active earthquake zone? How do you construct an electricity grid in a hurricane zone? Which factors do you have to keep in mind to ensure that new roads or structures will endure the effects of climate change? What impacts do societal challenges have on major construction projects according to the type of stakeholder (government, residents, businesses and the environment)?

If questions like these fascinate you, then the Civil Engineering and Sustainable Construction Specialisation is the right choice for you.

You will acquire advanced knowledge and associated analytical and problem-solving skills in a range of key Civil Engineering sub-disciplines that you need to take on complex civil engineering challenges.

You will learn everything a civil engineer needs to know in order to design, construct and manage large projects in construction & infrastructure, water management, and traffic & transport. Particular attention will be paid to sustainability and environmental aspects.

Contribution to sustainable development goals

Learn more about Centrale Nantes' commitment to the 17 sustainable development goals

Admission

International students can follow this specialisation, taught in French, via:
 

• A double degree programme - Open to international students selected by our partner institutions. Selected students spend two years studying courses from the engineering programme at Centrale Nantes. This usually includes one year of the common-core engineering curriculum followed by one year of specialisation. Double degree students are typically accepted after successfully completing two or three years of higher education in their home institution.
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• The fast-track engineering programme: Open to students with a Bachelor's or equivalent degree in science. Our fast-track programme gives international students who are qualified to bachelor level the opportunity to gain the 'diplôme d'ingénieur' in just two years.
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Course Content

2024/25 Academic Year

Autumn Semester	Spring Semester
Civil engineering materials	Eco-construction and mixed construction
Structural Calculations	Structural design 1
Mechanics and Physics of Materials	Civil engineering projects and urban planning
Soil and Rock Mechanics	Earthquake Engineering
Reinforced Concrete	Project 2
Case Studies	Internship
Geotechnical Engineering
Methods and Management
Project 1

Download syllabus

Examples of projects and internships

Examples of past projects

• Design and construction of an office building: in response to a call for tenders (Bouygues).
• Behaviour of superficial foundations and piles.
• Design and construction of an underground car park: in response to a call for tenders (Bouygues).
• Modelling of concrete creep in deep storage centres.

Examples of past internships 

• Ensuring production quality control for the different phases of pre-stressing.
• Project management - design and operations of Bouygues Telecom site development.
• Project management - underground tunnel construction work.
• Thermo-mechanical modelling of bituminous materials.
• Modelling of a full-scale test of crack growth under traffic on bituminous roads.

After the specialisation

Industry sectors

• Public works and buildings
• Construction
• Risk management
• Recruitment across all company sizes from
• multinationals to national and local SMEs etc.

Career prospects

• Construction project management
• Civil engineering risk management
• Consultancy
• Methods
• R&D in civil engineering

Student Feedback

Video of Amal, a student in the Civil Engineering and Sustainable Construction specialisation (video in French with English subtitles).

Video transcript

Pitch your specialisation: Amal, Civil Engineering and Sustainable Construction specialisation

My name is Amal Korkmaz. I'm currently in my 3rd year of Civil Engineering and Sustainable Construction at Centrale Nantes, on a double degree programme with the Lebanese University, where I did 2 years of general engineering, and 2 years of civil engineering, structures and buildings. 

20 secondes to pitch your specialisation:

In this specialisation, you learn everything a civil engineer needs to know to design, build and manage major projects in various fields, with clean energy resources and a zero-carbon footprint. For example, how to build and design a resilient energy structure in an active seismic zone. 

3 reasons to choose this specialisation: 

For starters, on this course you'll acquire advanced knowledge and analytical skills to tackle the various complex challenges of the civil engineering world. In addition, there's a strong focus on sustainability and the environment. And finally, the wide range of courses means that students can choose the field in which they want to specialise in the future. 

Why Centrale Nantes?

Centrale Nantes has proven its academic excellence by ranking among the top 4 engineering schools in France, and first in its commitment to the environment. What's more, it's renowned for its brilliant researchers and laboratories equipped with cutting-edge technologies, especially in the field of civil engineering. 

What's next? 

Now, to complete my course at Centrale Nantes, I have to do a six-month internship. Thanks to the school, I've been able to find an internship that matches my personal interest and my career plan. I'm going to be a structural engineer in a design office.