Fourah Bay College offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to equip students with essential skills and knowledge for their future careers. Our focus on Civil Engineering includes a comprehensive curriculum that leads to a Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng.) degree, with opportunities for further study culminating in a Master of Engineering (M. Eng.) degree.
In addition to engineering, we emphasize the importance of water and sanitation initiatives. Our programs assess the role of NGOs in establishing essential water and sanitation facilities for rural communities in Sierra Leone. We also run the 'Water for Survival' program, which addresses local water and sanitation challenges.
Furthermore, our Arts Department is dedicated to fostering creativity through the establishment of a Theater Arts Program. We are committed to developing strategic plans that will enhance the cultural activities within our community and prepare students for a vibrant future in the arts.
How Engineering, Water Studies and the Arts Connect in Practice
Programs in civil engineering, water and sanitation, and theatre arts can look like separate worlds, but in a city like Freetown they meet often. Roads, drainage channels and water supply systems shape daily life across the hillsides and the coast. Engineering students who understand that context design better solutions. Steep terrain, heavy rainy-season downpours and fast-growing informal settlements all affect how infrastructure performs, and coursework that uses local case studies helps graduates plan for these conditions from the start.
Why water and sanitation deserve their own focus
Safe water and adequate sanitation are among the most direct ways engineering improves public health. Rural communities in Sierra Leone often depend on wells, springs or rainwater collection. Studying how these systems are sited, built and maintained, and who looks after them once a project ends, gives students practical insight. Research into the role of NGOs is useful because many facilities are delivered through partnerships. Knowing what makes a borehole or latrine programme last, such as community ownership, spare parts and training for local caretakers, is as valuable as the technical design itself.
The place of theatre and culture
A theatre arts programme adds something engineering alone cannot: communication. Drama has long been used in West Africa to share health messages, including hygiene and handwashing campaigns, in ways that reach audiences beyond the classroom. Students in the arts build skills in storytelling, performance and community engagement. Those skills support cultural life and can strengthen development work too.
Planning your own path
If you are weighing these options, consider:
- Which subjects you enjoy and where you want to work after graduating
- Whether a first degree followed by postgraduate study, such as a B.Eng. then an M.Eng., fits your goals
- How fieldwork, projects and community placements are built into each course
You can compare course options on the Programs page, read about research interests on the Research page, and check entry requirements under Admissions. Always confirm current details with the college directly before you apply.
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