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Planning Your Undergraduate Civil Engineering Studies

This webpage provides information on the recommended sequence of courses that must be satisfied in order to complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Civil Engineering. You are strongly advised to consult the websites of the University, Faculty of Engineering and Department of Civil Engineering for detailed information that will help you plan your studies and register for the appropriate courses each term. Below are several important links to the McGill Course Catalogue, a source of detailed program information, which is updated on a yearly basis:

Students should consult with an academic advisor at the beginning of each academic year to prevent problems that may result in an unnecessary delay in graduation. To do this, please consult with one of the Academic Advisors in the Department of Civil Engineering. For additional assistance, you may also consult with advisors in the McGill Engineering Student Centre.

Recommended Sequence of Courses

The undergraduate program accommodates students admitted from different educational backgrounds. Students who have been admitted from Quebec CEGEPs will be enrolled in the 7-Semester program (110 credits). Students who have been admitted from outside of Quebec (that is, from other Canadian provinces or internationally) will be enrolled in the 8-Semester program (139) credits. Please consult the documents linked below for the recommended sequence of courses for the 7-Semester and 8-Semester programs, respectively. 

    WARNING

    The Civil Engineering program can change over time and, in fact, a major  change is being implemented as of Fall 2026. 

    Students MUST follow the Civil Engineering program based on their year of admission, as outlined below.

    In the case of discrepancies between this web page and McGill's Course Calendar, the calendar is considered to be the official source of program information.

    If you have any doubt about which program you should follow or if you wish to register in courses in a sequence that does not correspond to the recommended 7- or 8-Semester program in which you are enrolled, please consult with an Academic Advisor in the Department of Civil Engineering. They will help you optimize your schedule for the remainder of your studies and prevent unexpected delays in graduation.

    Advanced Standing

    Depending on their educational background, some students may be admitted to their program with either transfer credits or exemptions for McGill courses. In such cases, students will need to deviate from the recommended sequence of courses linked above. For more information on transfer credits or exemptions, please visit the following website and attend the scheduled sessions with advisors to help you plan your studies: Transfer Credits | Faculty of Engineering - McGill University.

    Complementary Studies - Impact and Humanities and Social Studies Courses

    As part of your Civil Engineering program, you are required to complete courses that are classified as either "impact of technology courses" or "humanities and social sciences courses". The number of these courses you are required to complete differ depending on whether you are admitted to the 7- or 8-semester programs and on whether you are admitted with advanced standing (see above). 

    For students admitted in Fall 2026 or later:

    For students admitted in Fall 2025:

    For students admitted before Fall 2025:

    Important Considerations

    Here are some important things that you should consider as you select your courses each term:

    • 1 credit (cr) is equivalent to 3 hours of studies per week during a 13-week term. These hours are distributed between time in lectures, time in tutorials or laboratories, and independent study time. For example, if a 3 credit course is labelled as (3-2-4) in the course description, this course involves 9 hours of studies distributed between 3 hours of lectures, 2 hours of tutorials and/or labs, and 4 hours of independent study time each week for 13 weeks. For courses with final exams, additional time will be scheduled during the exam period at the end of each term.  
    • Not all courses are offered each term or each year. Please consult Minerva to establish which courses are offered in a particular term. 
    • The sequences of courses are designed to provide an optimum path for you to graduate in a timely manner from the civil engineering undergraduate program.
    • By following the prescribed sequence of courses, you will avoid scheduling conflicts (lectures, labs and tutorials) and will ensure that you satisfy course prerequisites that must be satisfied required in order to register for individual courses.
    • If students are granted advanced credit toward courses, this will inevitably change the sequence of courses that are to be taken. Please consult with a departmental Advisor to plan course registrations at the beginning of each academic year.  
    • If you choose to take a reduced course load in any term, it may be possible to complete some course requirements during the summer semester. Plan ahead. 
    • Except with the Faculty's permission (see an Advisor), you should not register for more than the maximum credits per term permitted by the Faculty of Engineering (that is, typically 18 credits for a student in good academic standing).
    • If you are registered for fewer than 12 credits in a term, you will be considered a “part-time” student in that term. While this will reduce your workload, it will inevitably extend the overall length of your studies. It may also have important implications (e.g., your eligibility for scholarships). Therefore, it is important that you consult with an advisor before reducing your course load to less than 12 credits. 

    Undergraduate Student Handbook

    For more information about the Civil Engineering undergraduate program, please consult the Undergraduate Student Handbook

    Key Academic Dates

    There are many dates and deadlines during the academic year that all students should be aware of and which can have important implications. Please visit the following website for these dates and deadlines, which change each year: McGill Important Dates.

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