Standards for education, training and professional development of all engineers in the UK have been considerably revised in recent years to ensure qualifications remain on a par with the best internationally, and that they also meet the changing needs of commercial and industrial markets. Today the focus is very much on gaining practical experience as well as academic achievements.
The entry requirement for mechanical engineering degree courses is normally three high grade 'A' levels (now A2) in maths, physics or physical sciences and one other subject. Five GCSE/S grades at grade C or above including maths and English and in most cases a science subject will also be required.
Which Course / University?
There are many universities offering degrees in mechanical engineering and there is a wide variation in the types of courses and specialisms offered within these degrees, so it is a good idea to check the prospectuses carefully before applying. It is possible to do joint honours with a range of other subjects both sciences and arts including business and language courses. It is important that you ensure that your degree is an accredited course recognised by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. There are three-year courses, which are full time and usually lead to a BEng qualification. There are also four-year courses leading to a MEng qualification. In order to become chartered you need to have completed at least four years of academic study.
If you take a BEng degree it is possible to add a further year of specialised study known as a Matching Section. There are also sandwich courses available that include a year spent in industry gaining practical work experience. In order to become a chartered mechanical engineer you need to spend a period of time gaining approved work experience after graduating known as Initial Professional Development (IPD). This usually lasts for at least four years, after which you can apply to become chartered.
For a list of UK Universities running Mechanical Engineering courses, log on to the UCAS website: www.ucas.co.uk. A list of IMechE accredited courses can be found at: www.imeche.org.uk/profdev/degree_accreditation.htm