Bachelor in Civil Engineering

In the Bachelor's program in Civil Engineering, you’ll gain hands-on, practical experience. You’ll apply what you learn immediately and get insights into the professional world. Your work will shape the spaces we live in—ranging from single-family homes to skyscrapers, revitalized rivers to hydropower plants, and construction sites to tunnels. Graduates of the Civil Engineering program at OST are highly sought-after professionals who design, build, and maintain the infrastructure that supports our society, always with a focus on safety, sustainability, and economic efficiency.

Program at a Glance

Degree
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Program Start
Each September during week 38

Duration of Studies
6 semesters full-time
10 semesters part-time or adjusted to your individual schedule

Tuition
CHF 1,000 per semester

Campus
Rapperswil-Jona campus

Registration Deadline
Applications are open until all study places are filled.

Good to Know
Since the courses are taught in German, we kindly refer you to the German pages for more detailed information.

Advantages of a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering at OST

Customized Module Selection: In the Bachelor's program in Civil Engineering, you have the flexibility to choose modules from the areas Construction & Preservation, Geotechnics & Transportation, and Hydraulic Engineering & Environment. This allows you to design a study program tailored to your interests and strengths.
Contribution to Society and Nature: Your work will help create a safer and more sustainable future by planning and maintaining residential buildings, bridges, water supply systems, and transportation routes. Decisions regarding construction materials and durability directly support climate-friendly and sustainable development.
Promising Career Prospects: Civil engineering offers diverse career paths, including roles in structural engineering, infrastructure development, and hydraulic engineering.
Flexibility: The program can be completed full-time or part-time, with the option to switch between models at the end of a semester. You can also customize your schedule by deciding how many modules to include each semester, adapting the program to your individual needs and lifestyle.
Hybrid Learning: Many modules are offered in a hybrid format and recorded, giving you the choice to participate on-campus or online. Recorded content also allows you to revisit materials while preparing for exams.
Comprehensive Learning Experience: You’ll gain technical skills such as calculating structural components and foundations, explore material properties through lab exercises, use advanced software to visualize structures and water flows, and refine communication skills essential for real-world projects.

Program Focus and Content

In the Civil Engineering program, you have significant freedom to select modules from three main focus areas, allowing you to design a schedule that suits your interests and goals. The three focus areas are: Construction & Preservation, Geotechnics & Transportation, and Hydraulic Engineering & Environment.

Construction

Civil engineers work with materials like concrete, wood, and steel. They design and calculate entire structural systems and individual components, considering factors such as structural safety, functionality, durability, and cost-effectiveness.

Preservation

Civil engineers maintain existing structures by assessing their condition through non-destructive testing methods and structural analyses. They also implement maintenance and reinforcement measures to extend the lifespan of these structures.

Geotechnics

Civil engineers analyze soil and rock properties, as well as soil mechanics. Based on this, they design appropriate excavation systems, foundations, and retaining structures while also working on underground construction methods.

Transportation

In traffic engineering, civil engineers plan and optimize road traffic systems, taking traffic volumes into account. They develop cost-efficient solutions for road and rail construction.

Hydraulic Engineering

Civil engineers address hydraulic challenges in areas like water supply, wastewater treatment, river revitalization, hydropower plants, and flood protection.

Environment

In environmental engineering, civil engineers focus on topics such as contaminated sites, landfills, emissions, sustainability, and resource management. They develop both technical and organizational measures to address these challenges.

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