This page is intended to give a view for people not familiar with
the UK educational system, and therefore is a very simple view. It
is intended to allow comparisons with other countries.
This is based upon the typical education of a UK chemical engineer.
The engineer goes through School taking selective specialist examinations at 18 then to University, taking a 4-year degree MEng which is accredited by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) as providing a suitable education for the profession.
The engineer may or may not take a Postgraduate Qualification (MSc, PhD) then gets a job in industry which provides professional training and practice.
Typically after 5-10 years, the engineer prepares a Training and Experience Report and is interviewed by senior engineers who report to the IChemE. If this is satisfactory, then the engineer gains full membership of the IChemE and is placed on the Register of Chartered Engineers of the Engineering Council. Otherwise, the engineer may be advised to obtain further experience or study to complete the requirements and apply again when that has been done.
The title 'Chartered Engineer' is the final qualification for a professional engineer, shown by letters CEng after the name. This is awarded by the UK engineering institutions which belong to the Engineering Council. It typically requires a minimum of 4 years training and professional experience after gaining an approved education such as MEng (Master of Engineering) degree. See a Guide to the Engineering Institutions.
Some institutions which belong to the Engineering Council provide professional qualifications of a lower standard, namely Incorporated Engineer and Technician Engineer. More details are given on the Engineering Council webpages Assessing Engineers, and particularly Standards and Routes to Registration
Nearly all University teachers of engineering have a PhD, but only a
minority have CEng.
Nearly all senior engineers in industry have CEng, but only a minority
have PhD.
Link to School education in the UK
Link to University education in the
UK
Link to Postgraduate education in the
UK
Link to index page