Civil engineering teaching should not only provide students with a professional foundation, but also cultivate students’ abilities to solve practical engineering problems. This study conducts a comparison and analysis between Tongji University and Politecnico di Milano on school scale and concept, curriculum setting and education reform, as well as international teaching cooperation and exchange. It is found that both universities have a complete engineering teaching system and are committed to improving students’ abilities through innovative teaching methods, but each has its own priorities. The curriculum of Tongji University focuses on the systematization and comprehensiveness of theoretical knowledge, encourages interdisciplinary learning and cultivates broad talents, while Politecnico di Milano puts more emphasis on the combination of theory and practice to provide diversified directions and train engineers to meet the needs of enterprises. Both universities have made remarkable achievements in their internationalization. Combined with the different curriculum systems and teaching methods of the two schools, this study puts forward suggestions on the reform of engineering education, which provides reference for cultivating compound civil engineers with international vision, innovation ability and practical skills.