Civil engineers are among those responsible for the construction of structures and buildings. Drawing inspiration from their creative and intelligent minds, they can design and build the best structures, buildings, bridges, towers, and similar projects. These buildings may serve as homes for people in the community for years, and the towers may be recognized as symbols of a city. In the following article, we will introduce the field of civil engineering and how to study construction at the top universities in Iran.
The job market for civil engineers and the employment of civil engineers on a large scale includes “designing and supervising construction projects such as the design and construction of roads, bridges, water and energy systems, as well as public facilities like ports, railways, and airports.”
Civil engineering dates back centuries and can be considered one of the largest fields within engineering disciplines. Civil engineers are involved in projects at every stage, from design to construction and supervision, and they see themselves as responsible for executing the project correctly until its completion.
Civil engineers also conduct tests during projects and even before they begin, in order to determine the soil strength of the area and its capacity to support the construction project. By doing this, they can identify the type of building materials that should be used in the construction and, for example, conclude whether concrete or asphalt is more suitable for this specific project.
Civil engineers must also be in direct communication with the financial manager and the finance and accounting department of each company, as they need to provide cost estimates for equipment and labor, as well as software programs for use in planning and designing systems and structures.
Iran’s top universities in the field of civil engineering
University of Tehran
Tehran University is one of the top universities in Iran. It has numerous faculties and autonomous research centers. According to the Shanghai rankings in 2022, Tehran University ranks after Azad University and Sharif University of Technology in the field of Civil Engineering.
It is important to know that the University of Tehran is the first university in the country to offer a degree in Civil Engineering, providing a comprehensive curriculum that includes Transportation Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Port and Marine Structures Engineering, Construction Management, Water Engineering, and the specialization of Earthquake Engineering, among others.
Today, the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Technical Faculty Campus of the University of Tehran is one of the largest educational faculties that is expanding and establishing new academic disciplines and specializations. The scope of responsibilities and activities of this faculty is significantly beyond that of a conventional faculty compared to specialized universities, and it is developing towards becoming an international faculty within the comprehensive technical and engineering university of Tehran.
The establishment of a practical hub for engineering and management of civil infrastructure, which has been approved by the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology, demonstrates the unique capabilities of this faculty in conducting specialized and interdisciplinary research. Additionally, the computer center and equipped laboratories of the Faculty of Civil Engineering provide the following unique facilities for the educational and research activities of the faculty:
Laboratory of Geology, Engineering and Rock Mechanics
- Laboratory of building materials
- Water and environment measurement and monitoring laboratory
- Soil Mechanics Laboratory
- Pavement laboratory
- Fast computing lab
- Structural laboratory
- Laboratory of hydraulics and fluids
- Mapping laboratory
Iran University of Science and Technology
The Faculty of Civil Engineering at Iran University of Science and Technology is located in the southwest part of the university and is one of the most successful educational and graduate units of this institution. This faculty is engaged in training specialized and committed personnel, considering its quantitative and qualitative development, numerous successes, and promising prospects at all levels of education. It is worth mentioning that the result of these continuous efforts is the compilation of a diverse collection of master’s and doctoral theses, most of which have been published as articles in domestic and international journals.
Scientific honors of the faculty and professors
- Model faculty in the country in 1371
- Has 5 national patents
- It has 74 international articles (ISI) and 155 national and international conferences annually
- The first faculty to organize doctoral studies in Iran
- National model professor, chosen by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology in 2012, 2016 and 2018.
- An exemplary national researcher, chosen by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology in 2013
- A lasting figure in civil engineering from the Academy of Sciences and Broadcasting Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the first period
- The author of the best civil engineering book, first place in civil engineering festival in 2008
- The author of the book Mechanics of Soil as the best civil engineering book of the country in 2005
- The profile of the Iranian Hydraulic Association in 2004
Research and educational laboratories
- Environmental Laboratory
- Concrete Technology Laboratory
- Laboratory of building materials
- Strength of Materials Laboratory
- Hydraulic laboratory
- Concrete structure and technology research laboratory
- Soil Mechanics Laboratory
- Geological laboratory
- Traffic laboratory
- Nano Lab
- 3D printing laboratory
- Transportation Data Analysis Center
Scientific hub and research centers
- Scientific pole of fundamental studies in structural engineering
- Transportation Research Center
- Bitumen and Asphalt Research Center
- Soil Mechanics Research Center (Geotechnics)
- Road Transportation Applied Safety Research Center
- Repair and strengthening research center of road technical building
Amirkabir University of Technology
In the first section, this faculty at Amir Kabir University of Technology has established research agreements with the Ministries of Roads and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Energy, the Khuzestan Water and Power Organization, and the Center for Building and Housing Research in various fields of civil engineering, and is currently executing projects in these areas. In the second section, research activities, whether related to students’ theses or in the form of research projects by faculty members, are conducted using analytical, numerical, laboratory, and field study methods.
These types of projects, which have been carried out with the guidance of or by the faculty members of the department, have focused on areas such as soil and concrete, earthquake effects, structural connections, offshore platforms, roads and transportation, traffic control, shell structures, sand stabilization, durability of concrete in the Persian Gulf region, bridge loading, silos, rock mechanics, tunnels, docks, lightweight concrete, polymer fiber concrete, and special concretes. The mechanisms of scour at bridge foundations, issues related to groundwater and porous environments, urban water systems, wastewater treatment, river engineering, flooding, and dam failure, among others, have been studied using the facilities of the laboratories and the computer center of the faculty.
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
The Faculty of Engineering of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad was established in 1354 and since then it has played its role as the engineering pole of eastern Iran.
The available facilities, including dormitories, clubs, sports and recreational amenities, access to high-speed internet, rich libraries, and quiet study areas, distinguish Ferdowsi University of Mashhad as one of the best academic environments in Iran for students. These are the reasons why many Iranian and international students choose Ferdowsi University of Mashhad for their higher education.
Shahid Beheshti University
The Faculty of Civil Engineering, Water, and Environmental Sciences at Shahid Beheshti University consists of four departments: Water Engineering, Wastewater and Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Structural and Earthquake Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, and Transportation. Graduates of these fields play a significant role in various sectors of the water industry, including design, implementation, operation, and maintenance, demonstrating their capabilities and competencies in execution, research, management, and consulting. Students at this university draw inspiration from a distinguished and valuable academic environment, not only in Iran but also in the region. The university and its members are at the forefront of global research in many areas, and education is informed by the latest advancements in each discipline.
Last Word
The field of civil engineering is recognized as one of the most popular disciplines in Iran and around the world. Many students are studying in this field or are considering pursuing their studies in it, striving to enroll in the best universities in Iran and globally to secure a promising career for themselves. In this article, we have introduced some of the top universities for civil engineering. This list includes the leading universities in Iran that you can choose for your studies.
