Starting an engineering degree is exciting, but understanding your options can feel overwhelming. One of the biggest decisions you’ll face is whether to study a BEng (Hons) or an MEng.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences, explain how each route works, and help you understand which pathway might suit your career goals in engineering.
Awards: Degree Options and Outcomes
The BEng (Hons) degree is a four-year undergraduate course where upon completion, you will graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours award.
The MEng degree is an integrated master’s course traditionally completed over a five-year period. However, we do offer a fast-track option, where you can complete the course in four years.
To complete the MEng in four years, you will take part in an industry placement over the summer months in Years 3 and 4, along with a block of advanced modules, which is hugely appealing to employers. You will graduate with a Master of Engineering award, which will equip you with the full academic requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.
The BEng (Hons) and MEng share the same first four years, except from the Individual Project module in Year 4. The MEng programme will provide more advanced modules over the summer months of Years 3 and 4 for those that do the fast-track route, or in Year 5 for others.
Transferring: Switching Between BEng and MEng
If you apply to a BEng (Hons) course and meet the required academic standards at the end of Year 2 or 3, you will be given the opportunity to transfer onto the MEng programme.
To achieve official Chartered Engineer status, you need to demonstrate the required professional abilities and commitment through education and work experience. Through education, you can achieve this via an accredited MEng course, an accredited BEng (Hons) course plus an appropriate master’s degree, or an accredited BEng (Hons) course plus an approved Further Learning to Master’s Level.
You must also be a member of a professional engineering institution (i.e. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)). According to the Engineering Council, once you achieve Chartered Engineer status, you could improve your career prospects and achieve higher earnings.
Course Accreditation and Industry Recognition
Most of our BEng (Hons) and MEng courses have been accredited by IMechE and/or IET under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).
Our accredited courses will provide you with all the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Whether you choose BEng or MEng, both routes offer strong foundations for a successful engineering career. The right choice depends on your goals, ambitions, and how far you want to take your studies.