• Question: How long do you have to train before becoming a engineer

    Asked by liverum12 to Claire, Neil, Marcus, Kate, Alex on 16 Jun 2014.
    • Photo: Claire Brockett

      Claire Brockett answered on 16 Jun 2014:

      Hi liverum12,
      Great question – and the answer is, it depends!
      I did a BEng degree in Medical Engineering, which took 4 years as I spent one year working in a company, and then I did my PhD which took another 3 years. But there are many different routes to becoming an engineer – quite a few engineering degrees are now an MEng which takes 4 years.

      There are also a number of apprenticeship schemes running in the UK, where you get training and qualifications whilst you work (try looking here: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/) – this is a great way to get experience and training together. There are a few qualifications you can get this way (including a degree part time) so the duration of training can vary quite a bit.

    • Photo: Marcus Johns

      Marcus Johns answered on 16 Jun 2014:

      My undergraduate degree in chemical engineering took 5 years – 4 years of studying for a Masters in Engineering, MEng, with a year-long placement in my 4th year.
      This means that I can technically work as an engineer, but most companies want you to become chartered – which means that you are a qualified member of a professional body, e.g. the Institute for Chemical Engineers – in order to be able to hold more senior positions. This takes at least another 3 years to achieve and large international companies, such as BP or Rolls Royce, have graduate schemes that are designed for you to gain your chartership at their end.

    • Photo: Alex Lyness

      Alex Lyness answered on 17 Jun 2014:

      Hey liverum12,

      The answer is… how good an engineer to you want to be?

      As soon as you leave school and become an apprentice or enter a degree you are entitled to call yourself and ‘engineer’. Marcus is right about becoming Chartered once which is an important thing or professional engineers and usually takes 3-5 years after you’ve originally qualified.

      However, I think a really good engineer never stops training and is constantly learning and getting better, hence why a lot of engineers on here are pushing on and getting PhD’s. It’s a way of life!

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