Engineering courses

To become an engineer, studying the right qualifications is essential. This usually involves completing a degree accredited by a recognised industry body. Learn more about the engineering courses that provide a viable route into this profession

A-levels and college courses

If you want to become an engineer once you've left school, studying maths and physics A-levels at college or sixth form is the most popular route, while budding chemical engineers should pursue chemistry.

Further maths or design and technology are also helpful for core engineering A-levels.

The grades you'll need to get into university vary depending on the institution and course, but the most prestigious universities seek top marks.

For example, to study an undergraduate engineering degree at the University of Cambridge, you'll require two A-levels at grade A* and one A, while the University of Oxford asks for the same but specifies that the two A* grades need to be in physics and maths (or further maths).

While all engineering courses require you to work hard at A-level to gain a place, not all programmes demand A* grades.

For entry onto the Engineering BEng at the University of Birmingham, you'll need AAB (including maths), while the Electrical and Electronic Engineering BEng at the University of Nottingham requires ABB.

Alternative college qualifications

Both the University of Birmingham and the University of Nottingham institutions consider relevant BTEC diplomas and HND qualifications instead of A-levels.

For instance, there's the Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma in Engineering and the Level 5 HND Engineering.

You may also be able to get a place on a degree course or enter the profession directly if you've studied other further education (FE) qualifications, such as T Levels or an HNC.

Examples include the:

Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control T Level
HNC Electrical and Electronic Engineering
HNC General Engineering.

Many standalone qualifications can help you to become an incorporated engineer (IEng) with the Engineering Council, but you'd need to continue your education to become chartered.

Read more about college courses and how these qualifications compare with one another.

Engineering degrees

You can typically choose from two undergraduate engineering degrees:

Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) - a three to four-year academic degree in engineering science. The BEng focuses on the technical and practical aspects of engineering.
Bachelor of Science (BSc) - similar length to the above but offers a broader perspective on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

Top universities for engineering

The Complete University Guide's University League Tables 2025 identifies seven key engineering degree specialisms and the top universities in each area:

Aeronautical and aerospace engineering - Imperial College London, University of Bristol, University of Bath, University of Southampton, University of Sheffield.
Chemical engineering - University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University of Bath, University of Nottingham.
Civil engineering - University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University of Bristol, University of Bath.
Electrical and electronic engineering - University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, UCL, University of Southampton.
General engineering - University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Bristol, Durham University, University of Warwick.
Manufacturing and production engineering - University of Cambridge, University of Sheffield, University of Strathclyde, University of Southampton, University of Leeds.
Mechanical engineering - University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University of Oxford, University of Bristol, University of Bath.

Degrees accredited by a professional body

The majority of specialist courses will be endorsed by the professional body covering that discipline. For example:

Discover whether your degree is accredited by viewing the Engineering Council's (EC) recognised course search.

General engineering degrees

It's common for students to pursue a general engineering degree, as you can often choose to specialise in your third year. Indeed, some organisations actively seek employees with a more rounded engineering knowledge.

For those who haven't studied engineering at university, you may find these subjects are also relevant:

However, students of non-engineering degree subjects may be required to complete a conversion course or professional qualification to work in some of the key roles mentioned.

Masters in engineering

While postgraduate study isn't essential for entry into many engineering careers, a Masters degree can deepen your knowledge and help you to build sector-specific skills and forge industry connections. They are also highly sought-after in product design and research and development (R&D).

If you want to become a chartered engineer (CEng), you'll need to study a four-year Master of Engineering (MEng) accredited by a professional engineering institution.

For example, the MEng Mechanical Engineering at The University of Manchester is endorsed by the IMechE and puts you on the path towards the CEng designation with the Engineering Council.

On the other hand, the MEng Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol is approved by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and provides exemptions for some of its exams.

There are also one-year Masters options for those with a specialist or general engineering degree.

For instance, the University of Southampton's MSc Civil Engineering is designed for civil engineering graduates with a 2:1.

Alternatively, the MSc Automotive Technology at the University of Bath allows those with a 2:2 in an engineering or science subject to focus on an automotive engineering career.

To see what's available, search postgraduate engineering courses.

Engineering PhDs

The Doctor of Engineering or Engineering Doctorate (DEng or EngD) is a professional Doctorate primarily aimed at those already in the industry.

This qualification is also the perfect stepping stone into a higher education lecturer or postdoctoral researcher career. Read more about getting an academic job.

As a major research institution, the University of Cambridge provides various opportunities to gain a PhD in engineering, which can be achieved within three to four years.

The main areas of research include:

civil engineering
electrical engineering
energy, fluid mechanics and turbomachinery
information engineering
manufacturing and management
mechanics, materials and design.

A Masters degree isn't always required to do a PhD in engineering, but an engineering background is preferable for selection.

Explore PhD study.

Other pathways into engineering

EngineeringUK champions other educational pathways into engineering besides the typical full-time university route. This is especially true if you aren't looking to reach chartered engineer status immediately.

Online engineering courses

If you can't commit to a full-time course you can also consider online and distance learning courses.

By studying part time, you can still seek to gain one of the qualifications mentioned but fit it around your other work and personal commitments.

You'll find that online engineering courses are available from a range of providers, including:

Get tips on choosing an online platform and working while studying.

Find out more

Consider 5 exciting careers in engineering.
Read about finding engineering work experience.
Get an overview of the UK's engineering industry.