Improving Playing Strength
I expect on this site you could get up to 1800 --1900 in a few months with application. There are all sorts of training facilities offered on the site take them up, if you have time, and see how it goes. Play lots in the university club which probably has some good players and join in any matches they may run.
My suspicion is that you will have to devote a lot of time to study so my advice would be don'y let civil engineering be a side line, remember chess is the side line.
May I wish you the best in both endevours.