
Best Civil Engineering Degree Accredited by Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)
Malaysia needs at least 200,000 engineers by 2020 in order to attain the status of a developed nation. To date, there are only 70,000 registered engineers in the country. Civil engineers need an accredited bachelor’s degree in Malaysia with skills in decision-making, leadership, mathematics, organisation and problem-solving. Civil Engineering fresh graduates in Malaysia will earn an average of RM2,800.
To work as a Professional Engineer in Malaysia, one needs to graduate from a degree at a top private university that’s accredited by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). This is a very important criteria that students should keep in mind when choosing a university.
Demand for qualified civil engineers in Malaysia is increasing. In order to succeed in the engineering field, students must choose the best university in Malaysia that has the experience and facilities to equip them. Engineering may not be the easiest course to study, but it continues to be in demand in Malaysia and globally. You’re also more likely to find employment quickly and work your way up the career ladder with an engineering degree from a top private university in Malaysia.
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- Education Pathway to Professional Engineer in Malaysia after Studying a BEM Accredited Engineering Degree
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Top Private Universities for Civil Engineering Degree Accredited by Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)

Chong Han, Foundation in Engineering at Taylor’s University
Premier private universities in Malaysia for the Civil Engineering degree programme are
What is the Education Pathway into a Civil Engineering Degree at a Private University in Malaysia?
Students after SPM or IGCSE / O-Levels wanting Top Foundation in Engineering programmes at the best private universities in Malaysia can go for the Foundation Studies (Engineering and Science) at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia Foundation Programme offers tailored pathways to their Civil Engineering degree through the Foundation in Science. Top ranked Universities like University of Nottingham Malaysia also offer the Foundation in Science into their BEM accredited Civil Engineering degree.
Students after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels who are sure of choosing engineering for their degree studies may go for the Foundation in Engineering. If you are still not sure whether you want engineering or other science courses, you may choose the Foundation in Science programme at premier private universities in Malaysia.
Students after the external Pre-University Programme such as A-Levels, UEC, STPM, SAM, CPU, MUFY or AUSMAT may enter directly into the Civil Engineering Degree programme with relevant results.
Importance of the Accreditation by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) for the Civil Engineering Degree
The Engineering Degrees of these universities are accredited by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) which is a signatory to the Washington Accord. This accreditation ensures that Engineering Graduates will have the following benefits in countries who are signatories of the Washington Accord:
- Opportunities to register as a Graduate Engineer with Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) or the relevant professional bodies in other countries who are signatories under the Washington Accord.
- Pathways to becoming a Professional or Chartered Engineer.
- Assurance that graduates are considered as having met international academic standards for engineering practice.
Importance of English as an additional Skill
Other than the academic quality of the universities, students must seriously consider the student environment. Research has shown that employers have rejected 56% of job interviewees because of the lack of skill in the English language.
Graduates with a strong command of the English language have also been found to earn 25% higher salaries and have faster promotions in their jobs. Therefore, in order to succeed, students should choose a private university with an English-speaking student environment to enhance their career competitiveness.
You may save a few thousand by going to a cheaper university with a non-English speaking environment, but remember, you will be getting 25% lower salary and slower promotion for the next 50 years of your work life.
Study Civil Engineering if you like Maths & Physics in SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels
Civil engineers need a wide range of expertise. So if you’re interested in becoming a civil engineer, you should try to get good skills in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM subjects).
Most civil engineering projects need to be able to stand up to natural forces (like wind and water), and man-made forces (like vehicles, equipment and people). For example, civil engineers:
- Design roads so they don’t sink into the ground when heavy lorries drive along them
- Build flats so they don’t fall over when the wind blows
- Construct tunnels so they don’t flood when it rains
You need to be able to understand and measure forces and movement, and to calculate the strength of the structures you’re designing. What you learn in maths and science – especially physics – will help you do this.
The structures that civil engineers design and build are mainly on the ground and have to be supported by the soil and rocks underneath them. The strength of the ground varies from place to place, and different rocks and soil have different properties (e.g. how quickly water drains through them). If you don’t want your structure to sink into the mud, you have to know about the various types of ground and design the right kind of foundations for the site. For this reason, studying geography or geology is also good idea.
As designers and innovators, civil engineers create things that didn’t exist before and do things in ways that haven’t been done before. They try to make our environment as attractive as possible by designing things that are interesting and pleasant to look at. They also make sure that these things blend in well with their surroundings. So if you’re creative and enjoy art and design and technology, these would be good subjects to study too.
Civil engineers usually work in teams and are often involved in projects in many parts of the world. This means that languages, teamwork and communication skills will also come in useful.
Civil Engineering Degree Course at the Top Ranked Heriot-Watt University Malaysia

Heriot-Watt University is ranked 2nd for Civil Engineering in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2016 and 9th in the Complete University Guide 2016. The programme at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia covers the main civil engineering disciplines of Structures, Geotechnics, Water Engineering, and Highway Engineering, and provides students with the key skills and knowledge required to become chartered civil or structural engineers.
After graduation, students are equipped to work for engineering consultants, contractors or government at management level. The core curriculum includes instruction in all main subject areas, concentrating on analysis and materials behaviour, with increasing focus on design and management in the specialisation years. Throughout, there is an emphasis on the personal development of students within a professional environment.
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia civil engineering graduates have excellent employment prospects. They design and oversee construction projects such as urban drainage systems, roads, bridges, buildings and airports.
All civil and structural engineering programmes at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia are supported by the civil engineering industry advisory committee, which includes representatives from major multi-national employers offering advice, guidance and work placement opportunities.
*MEng CIVIL ENGINEERING (pending MOE approval) at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
BEng students who meet the progression requirements for the MEng programme may transfer programmes at the end of Year 2.
ll undertake a one-semester capstone project to assess and gauge their understanding of their learning and the outcome of their formal education. They will also undertake a research and development project in their final year of study.