Engineering Council

Why you should choose an accredited degree
In the UK, most engineering degrees are accredited.  There are several advantages in choosing one:

• Some employers specifically recruit from accredited degree programmes
• You can be sure that your accredited degree is recognised professionally
• Once you have gained the relevant work experience, the process of seeking professional registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) is more straightforward
• Internationally, UK-accredited degrees are more widely recognised than those that are not accredited.

Accredited engineering degrees provide you, your parents, advisors and employers with a mark of assurance that the degree programme meets the standards defined and set by the engineering profession.  You can also be confident that on completion, you will have met some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills required for eventual professional registration.

Look for the start date
When choosing a degree, it’s the accreditation status when you start that matters. The period of accreditation for each programme is typically five years, counting from the first-year student intake date.  If accredited status is removed during your degree, you and any other students already on that programme would still graduate with an accredited degree.  Students starting a degree part way through the programme should check the accreditation status as if they had entered the first year.

If your degree programme isn’t accredited
Your choice of degree will, of course, depend on other aspects in addition to its accreditation status.  These may include the engineering discipline, the breadth of coverage, the laboratory and other facilities, the opportunity for placements in the UK or overseas, and the extent of university-employer relationships.

Engineering degrees don't have to be accredited.  A university decides whether or not it wishes to apply for accreditation of its programmes. 

If you hold a non-accredited degree you may also work towards becoming an IEng or CEng.  Your application will be individually assessed by your chosen professional engineering institution.  Advice will be offered about any additional learning that should be followed in order to demonstrate equivalence with an accredited programme.