The aim of the civil engineering specialization is to train engineers in the building and public works field (BTP). Having received a generalist and cross-disciplinary training, engineers from this specialization have a wide scientific base and a range of effective and versatile design skills, which give them all the components needed to be a senior manager: technical and financial management skills, law, communication, the human dimension, etc.

Every year, the INSA civil engineering specialization takes students who have already completed the science, technology and humanities course at INSA Strasbourg, or a “classe préparatoire” (engineering school preparation course) in a high school, as well as students who have completed 2 or 3 years of a bachelor’s course or a 2-year technical diploma such as a DUT or BTS (see the admissions page on the website).

training

The course is intended to enable each student to acquire fundamental scientific, technical and technological knowledge and to develop his ability to analysis and summarize. This is completed by a progressive integration into professional life, through different internships and projects, as well as at least one period spent abroad.

It includes basic scientific (structural analysis, surveying engineering, hydrology, numerical analysis, fluid mechanics,  building physics, materials and soil mechanics ) as well as specialist training (in areas including reinforced and prestressed concrete, steel construction, timber construction, spatial planning,  geotechnical and earthquake engineering), technical training and a concrete introduction to the economic, social and human realities of companies.

The course offers the student engineer two options: construction and spatial planning.

 

internships and projects

 

End of Year 1: a mandatory “discovery” placement in a company (4 weeks minimum).

The “shopfloor” placement (worker role) in the second year is intended to immerse the student in the building and public works world so that he or she can discover how the teaching received links in with professional practice. An experience on a building site is essential to gain a concrete knowledge of construction techniques.

The “works supervisor” internship in Year 3 places the student in the situation of assisting a site supervisor in a construction/public works company.

The “assistant engineer” internship in Year 4 places the student in the situation of assisting an engineer in a construction/public works company that corresponds to his or planned career. On a building site, he or she will be involved in the tasks of the site superintendent. In a design office, he or she will work in the engineering team. In a research and development laboratory, he or she will work in the research team.

final course project

The last semester of the course is devoted to full-time work on a final course project carried out by each student under the supervision of an engineer in the company employing the trainee and a member of the academic staff at INSA.

This personal project is carried out by the student in a professional situation where he or she is working autonomously and is the culmination of the training received. The work done must enable the future engineer to reveal his or her personal qualities and to make choices about his or her professional orientation. The student has the possibility of discovering the world of research by opting for a subject proposed by a company’s R&D department, or by joining a research team on an ongoing project at a laboratory such as ICube for example.

The “technical trip”: opening students up to the wider world

Each year group goes on a “technical trip” during the course. This week-long trip is intended to open students up to other cultures and techniques. It is also a great opportunity to see some major projects and structures around Europe or elsewhere in the world.

technological research project

The PRT takes place alongside the academic course in semester 9. Students work in pairs on a project generally based on a request or enquiry from an industrial company. It may take the form of a technical-economic feasibility study, a preliminary design project or laboratory work.

engineer and architect

INSA Strasbourg’s dual architect and engineer’s training begins at baccalaureate + 1 year level (after the INSA Strasbourg first year course for the engineers, after the competitive entrance exam for the architects). This is the only way of joining the course.

Students can also train in architecture by choosing the 6-year dual engineering and architecture course. They will gain a bachelor’s in architecture and engineering (a degree issued by the school equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in architecture) on top of their INSA diploma in engineering.

Following the bachelor’s in architecture and engineering, the students can apply to spend an extra three years on a single course to prepare the two INSA Strasbourg diplomas, civil engineering and architecture (7-year course).

Professional training contract

Civil engineering students who have passed Year 4, completed their period abroad and passed the TOEIC exam to the required level, and who are not enrolled on a special course (sport, arts, dual course) can undertake their 5th year on a paid 12-month fixed term work contract, during which they will have salaried worker status.

More information.

Research

During the final year of the engineering course, the students can gain an insight into the research world by preparing a simultaneous research master’s in one of two research teams:

Double degree

Double degrees exist with institutions in Germany, Canada and the United States.

openings

The training received and the different experiences gained during their time at INSA give young graduates the versatility to become:

  • design engineers

The development engineer participates in the design and engineering side of a project, checks the technical compliance of the drawings, adds variants to the project and justifies them, advises the sales engineer and the works engineer.
The design and cost engineer evaluates all the components of the project to work out a price: equipment, personnel, administration.
The methods engineer organizes the building site (equipment, personnel, planning), optimizes the methods and creates special tools.

  • Works engineers

The works engineer assesses all aspects of the project and is in charge of the complete monitoring of its execution. He or she is in charge of relations with the client, the design office, the technical inspection agency and all the other parties involved. He or she negotiates with the subcontractors and coordinates them. He or she directs the work of a team of site superintendent or works supervisors. He or she checks the execution times, the quality of the work and the construction costs.

 Civil engineers can work in range of different sectors including:

  • construction/public works companies
  • the para-public sector (electricity, railway companies, etc.)
  • local authorities

Contacts

Vincent Steiner, head of the civil engineering specialization
00 33 (0)3 88 14 47 26

Civil engineering – surveying engineering department office

0033 (0)3 88 14 47 07