Standard Educational Route - The MEng Degree
The main career objective for a young professional engineer is to qualify as a chartered engineer. This is a measure of professional engineering competence awarded by the main engineering institutions. Requirements for chartered status are in two broad categories - education and training. The most direct route to attaining the required educational standard is to take an accredited MEng degree at a UK university. This is normally a four year programme in England and five years in Scotland.
Entry to MEng degrees now requires a high level of performance in school examinations. The minimum entry standard varies between universities and departments but is often below that required for medicine, accountancy etc. This difference is mainly caused by the relationship between numbers of applicants and the number that can be accepted. It does not represent a lower intellectual requirement for professional competence. The intellectual requirement for successful professional engineers is of the highest order.
It is important to realise however, that the assessment of ability resulting from school examinations may not always correlate well with the needed abilities of a professional engineer. Some pupils with straight A's may find that they cannot cope with some of the professional engineering activities and some who do not achieve high grades from school examinations may have special abilities that are relevant to successful professional engineers. This is of course true for entry to any profession.
Professional engineers, in contrast to people who has served an apprenticeship in an engineering trade, have undertaken a formal university or college training and have had their qualifications recognised by a professional institution for part qualification for chartered status - the top qualification for professional engineers. The accreditation of degree courses is controlled by the Engineering Council see: www.engc.org.uk/ukspec/default.aspx
Note that not all university engineering degree courses are accredited by the institutions and you must choose one that is ,otherwise you may not attain chartered status. Seek advice from the institutions before undertaking your degree.
Where To Study
Most universities offer degrees in engineering. Links to faculties/schools in Scotland which offer accredited engineering degrees are given in the table which follows. An accredited degree is one which has been accepted as partial pre-qualification for chartered engineering status.
Other Educational Routes
One can progress to chartered status by taking a BEng degree which involves one year less full-rime study than an MEng degree. A further year or equivalent year of study is required to meet the educational qualifications for chartered engineering status.
Some engineers develop to chartered status by starting with an apprenticeship and taking part-time classes. Although this is not now a common way to qualify it can be a very good way of combining practical experience and education leading to high levels of competence.
Entry To Universities
Higher level passes in Mathematics and Physics are normally a main requirement for entry to an engineering degree course. Other subjects at higher level which are worthwhile to take are: Technological Studies (may be acceptable as an alternative to Physics), English, another science, Graphical Communications and Advanced Higher Mathematics.
The Format Of Engineering Degree Courses
Basic issues addressed in a degree course in engineering normally include:
Basic mathematics and science. Only a small proportion of professional engineers make extensive use of mathematics. A basic grounding is however needed to work with mechanics. - The mechanics, fundamental theory, materials technology and design methods of the engineering area to be studied. Electrical and electronic engineers are focused on electrical theory, mechanical engineers on statics, dynamics and fluid mechanics, civil/structural engineers on structural mechanics, fluid mechanics and geotechnical engineering, etc.
- Basic principles in management. Management is a main feature of professional engineering involving the control of processes and of personnel.
- Applications/project work. Engineering degrees increasingly incorporate project work throughout the curriculum. Design, build and investigative contexts are addressed often working in groups. Such project work is very good for giving experience of applying and integrating material covered in the taught classes, for giving experience in managing projects and in team working.
Continuing Education
While some of what you learn about at university will form a foundation for later use in practice, what the professional engineer needs to learn about throughout their careers is a moving feast. Ideas move on, new knowledge emerges, new methods are developed. It is essential for professional engineers to keep up-to-date with such developments.