Civil engineering is the oldest engineering profession. Ancient feats such as the building of the Egyptian pyramids, the construction of Great Wall of China and the development of the Roman road systems are all based on civil engineering principles. Almost 200 years ago, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the first professional engineering society in the world, was founded in London. Its charter defined the profession as:”…being the art of directing the great sources of power in Nature for the use and convenience of man, as the means of production and of traffic in states both for external and internal trade, as applied in the construction of roads, bridges, aqueducts, canals, river navigation and docks, for internal intercourse and exchange, and in the construction of ports, harbours, moles, breakwaters and lighthouses, and in the art of navigation by artificial power for the purposes of commerce, and in the construction and adaptation of machinery, and in the drainage of cities and towns…”Civil & Environmental engineers are involved in almost every aspect of our daily lives. They shape the environment in which we live on both the micro and macro scales by designing, constructing and operating various types of public and private facilities such as roads, bridges, water & energy systems, ports, railways, airports and residential complexes.

Professors in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Nazarbayev University possess diverse academic and professional backgrounds and are establishing standards of excellence in teaching, research and service in Kazakhstan. Our vision is to be recognized as the regional leader in Civil & Environmental Engineering education and research in Eurasia and compete in the international academic arena with similar professional communities all over the world. Our mission is to provide students with a broad education in mathematics, physics, engineering sciences, civil & environmental engineering fundamentals, communication skills, and the humanities, that will prepare them for the practice of civil & environmental engineering at the professional level. The goal of Civil & Environmental Engineering at NU is to develop and graduate students who will contribute to the improvement of the quality of life and the sustainable development of Kazakhstan and the wider world. Our students are taught to value and uphold the importance of professional responsibility, cultural diversity, teamwork, technological innovation, and lifelong learning. We believe students, staff and faculty are our main assets and the source of our strength.

The Civil & Environmental Engineering degree programme in the School of Engineering and Digital Sciences is based on an innovative curriculum of systems-based education (where engineering problems are tackled in an integrated way), combined with specialisations in the disciplines of civil & environmental engineering. The BEng programme comprises the University Preparatory Certificate programme, followed by four years of engineering modules leading to the award of a BEng degree in the Civil Engineering disciplines. Exceptional students may apply for direct admission without completing the Preparatory Certificate Programme. After graduation from the BEng program those students that qualify will then be able to undertake a two-year Masters degree programme.

Academic programs: