Top-up Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

Key features of the course

• Accredited on behalf of the Engineering Council – see Careers.
• Progress from your vocational qualification (e.g. HND) to an honours degree.
• Choose modules to fit with your previous study.
• Develop your analytical skills – key to successfully studying engineering.
• Prepare for further engineering study at postgraduate level.

Entry requirements

You must have passed one of the following OU qualifications within the last eight years:

• Foundation Degree in Engineering (X11)
• Diploma of Higher Education in Engineering (W11)
• Foundation Degree in Materials Fabrication and Engineering (X12)
• Diploma of Higher Education in Materials Fabrication and Engineering (W12)

If you have, email the Partnerships Team on [email protected] to register.

Alternatively, you must have a completed vocational qualification from somewhere else that meets the following criteria:

• in engineering or a closely related subject
• includes a total of 240 credits, 120 of which are at FHEQ level 5 or SCQF level 8 (e.g. DipHE, HND or foundation degree)
• passed within the last 8 years
• includes specific content as described in the advice sheet

Download, complete and return the Top-up Bachelor of Engineering application form with evidence of your previous study. Applications to start in October 2023 must be received by 10 August 2023. Applications will be reviewed by one of our academic assessors.

Skills for career development

The areas of knowledge, competence and skills that this degree develops include: the ability to use specialist knowledge to solve problems creatively; collaborative working and communication skills; project management skills; the ability to turn concepts into reality.

Your study will give you the skills expected of an Incorporated Engineer, in providing solutions to engineering problems. These may involve using existing or developing new technologies, designs, refining production systems or developing new services.

On graduation this qualification, combined with the appropriate evidence of professional practice, will enable you to apply (via an appropriate engineering institution) to the Engineering Council for registration as an Incorporated Engineer.

If you wish to carry on with your studies, you can work towards our Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering (E22), leading to the MSc in Engineering (F46).

Career relevance

Our BEng (Hons) is a general engineering qualification that provides an entry into a wide range of more specialist engineering roles. Examples include:

• mechanical engineer
• electronic engineer
• structural engineer
• production engineer
• biomedical engineer
• environmental engineer
• materials engineer
• other roles within engineering management
• manufacturing engineer

Accreditation

This degree has been accredited by the professional institution(s) below 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). An accredited degree will provide you with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.
 

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer when combined with an approved qualification such as our Foundation Degree in Engineering (X11).
 

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer when combined with our Foundation Degree in Engineering (X11).
 

Accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as an Incorporated Engineer when combined with our Foundation Degree in Engineering (X11).

Accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Incorporated Engineer when combined with our Foundation Degree in Engineering (X11).

Other careers

Qualified engineers are much in demand for their rigorous approach to problem solving and high level of numeracy. These skills open up a wide range of other career opportunities – for example in management or finance – as well as in engineering itself. Opportunities exist in research, design and development, commissioning, project management, technical sales and marketing, technical journalism and patent work. With appropriate experience and qualifications it’s also possible to be a self-employed consultant.

Exploring your options

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice – including online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

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