Improving the world through engineering

REVIEW OF QUALIFICATIONS GUIDANCE

These guidance notes are intended to complement the Academic

Assessment Form by providing information that you should consider
before completing your form.

Please contact the Membership Helpdesk to identify if completion of the

form is necessary or alternatively, submit the Qualification Checker.

If your qualification is not accredited, or you have no formal qualifications

the Academic Assessment Committee (AAC) can assess your academic
achievements for either CEng or IEng registration. The AAC can either
accept your qualifications as they are or recommend further steps to
enable you to meet the criteria.

We would advise you to complete the assessment form as soon as

possible in case any additional study is required.

On receipt of the completed application form your qualifications will be

assessed against the appropriate benchmark:

Incorporated Engineer – the benchmark is a three year accredited

Bachelors degree in engineering or technology (a BEng/BSc degree). This
may also be demonstrated by a HND/C or Foundation Degree in
engineering or technology plus appropriate further learning to degree
level.

Chartered Engineer – the benchmark is an accredited Bachelors degree

with honours (BEng(Hons)) plus an appropriate Masters degree accredited
or approved by a professional engineering institution or appropriate
further learning to Masters level. This may also be demonstrated by an
accredited integrated MEng degree.

When making a final decision, the committee will take into account the
content of your course(s) and any additional training/study that you have
completed since graduation, whether this is in the form of formal study, or
work-based-learning. Therefore, it is essential that you submit a
detailed CV with your form which clearly shows what you have done in
your work that could be considered as further learning, for example, any
courses that you have attended. You should also include a description of
your current job role.

All applicants who apply for assessment of their qualifications will be

considered against current criteria. You will be advised whether any
further study is required, or if you are invited to submit a Technical Report
to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of engineering

AAC guidance revised February 2009 replacing all previous versions 1

principles as required by the IMechE’s Educational Base, an extract of
this is given in Appendix 1.

If you require any additional assistance when completing the Assessment

of Qualifications form please contact the Membership Helpdesk on 0845
226 9191 from the UK or +44(0)20 7304 6999 from overseas.
Alternatively, you can contact the Helpdesk by email:
[email protected]
Appendix 1 – Extracts from IMechE Educational Base

The Engineering Council UK has defined both general and specific learning
outcomes required of educational programmes providing the base for
registration. These have been intrepreted by the IMechE and incorporated
into its Educational Base. The following extracts from the IMechE’s
Educational Base set the overall context and specific details for the
Learning Outcomes from engineering degree programmes fulfilling the
requirements for registration as Incorporated and Chartered Engineers
and may be used as guidance when determining what information is
required on the self assessment form. The information supplied on the
Academic Assessment form will be assessed against these General and
Specific Learning Outcomes. This information is supplied in order to
assist those completing the forms, ensuring that they have access
to all relevant information (including the assessment criteria) in a
transparent manner.

Section 1. Context for the Learning Outcomes from an IMechE

accredited degree (General Learning Outcomes)
In the table below the central column, related to the BEng (Hons) for
CEng, is the reference column and the ones to the left and right show
enhancements or limitations to it. Where no enhancements or limitations
are shown, the statement in the central column applies. BEng (Hons)
courses for CEng will under UKSPEC require Further Learning to Masters
Level to meet the criteria for CEng registration. Integrated MEng courses
are another option to meet the qualification criteria.
The subject coverage and balance in an IMechE accredited degree is as
follows:

IEng degree BEng(Hons) for CEng Integrated MEng

Place an emphasis on the To be accredited, engineering MEng degrees differ from
application of developed programmes must provide two CEng Bachelors degrees
technology and the different categories of learning in having a greater range
attainment of know-how, outcomes. One category will be of project work,
sometimes within a general in nature, and will apply to including a group
multidisciplinary engineering all types of programmes. The project. They also
environment. The breadth second category will be more provide a greater range
and depth of underpinning specific. These two categories of and depth of specialist
scientific and mathematical outcomes will be inter-related, with knowledge within a
knowledge, understanding the general learning outcomes being research and industrial
and skills is provided in the embodied to a greater or lesser environment, as well as
most appropriate manner to extend within the various a broader and more
enable the application of engineering learning outcomes. general educational
engineering principles within base, to provide both a
existing technology to future foundation for leadership
engineering problems and and a wider appreciation
processes. of the economic, social
and environmental
context of engineering.
A programme accredited for The range of general
IEng will have the general learning outcomes
learning outcomes described described for graduates
earlier in this document. from Bachelors

AAC guidance revised February 2009 replacing all previous versions 2

IEng programmes will have programmes will also
an emphasis on developing apply to graduates from
and supporting the know- MEng programmes.
how necessary to apply Graduates from an
technology to engineering accredited, integrated
problems and processes, and MEng degree will have
to maintain and manage the ability to integrate
current technology at peak their knowledge and
efficiency. understanding of
mathematics, science,
ICT, design, the
economic, social and
environmental context
and engineering practice
to solve a substantial
range of engineering
problem;, some of a
complex nature. They
will have acquired much
of this ability through
involvement in individual
and group design
projects, which have a
greater degree of
industrial involvement
than those in Bachelors
degree programmes.
Knowledge and Understanding
Underpinning scientific and Must be able to demonstrate their The ability to learn new
mathematical knowledge and knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts,
understanding to enable the essential facts, concepts, theories methods etc in
application of engineering and principles of their engineering unfamiliar situations.
principles within existing discipline, and its underpinning
technology to future science and mathematics.
engineering problems and
processes.
Must have an appreciation of the
wider multidisciplinary engineering
context and its underlying principles.
Must appreciate the social,
environmental, ethical, economic
and commercial considerations
affecting the exercise of their
engineering judgement.
Intellectual abilities
To support know-how when Must be able to apply appropriate, The ability to develop,
applying technology to quantitative science and engineering monitor and update a
future engineering problems tools to the analysis of problems. plan, to reflect a
and processes. changing operating
environment.
Must be able to demonstrate
creative and innovative ability in the
synthesis of solutions and in
formulating design.
Must be able to comprehend the
broad picture and thus work with an
appropriate level of detail.
Practical skills
Application of engineering Must possess practical engineering
principles within existing skills acquired through, for example,
technology to future work carried out in laboratories and
engineering problems and workshops, in industry through
processes. supervised work experience, in
individual and group project work, in
design work and in the development
and use of computer software in
design, analysis and control.
Evidence of group working and An understanding of
participation in a major project are different roles within a
expected. team, and the ability to
exercise leadership.
General transferable

AAC guidance revised February 2009 replacing all previous versions 3

skills
Must have developed transferable
skills that will be of value in a wide
range of situations.
Exemplified by the QCA Higher Level
Key Skills and include problem
solving, communication, and
working with others, as well as the
effective use of general IT facilities
and information retrieval skills.
Also include planning self-learning The ability to monitor
and improving performance as the and adjust a personal
foundation for lifelong learning/CPD. programme of work on
an ongoing basis, and to
learn independently.

Section 2. Specific Learning Outcomes

Graduates from accredited programmes must achieve the following five learning
outcomes, defined by broad areas of learning. The learning outcomes are
expressed in terms of underpinning science and mathematics, engineering
analysis, design, economic, social and environmental context and engineering
practice.
“Understanding” is the capacity to use concepts creatively, for example, in
problem solving, in design, in explanations and in diagnosis.
“Knowledge” is information that can be recalled.
“Know-how” is the ability to apply learned knowledge and skills to perform
operations intuitively, efficiently and correctly.
“Skills” are acquired and learned attributes which can be applied almost
automatically.
“Awareness” is general familiarity, albeit bounded by the needs of the specific
discipline.

IEng degree as BEng (Hons) for CEng Integrated MEng

enhancement or degree as
limitation to BEng enhancement of
(Hons) for CEng BEng Hons
Underpinning science and mathematics, and associated engineering disciplines (US)

Knowledge and understanding of A comprehensive

scientific principles and methodology understanding of the
necessary to underpin their education scientific principles of
Knowledge and understanding
in mechanical and related engineering mechanical and related
of the scientific principles
disciplines, to enable appreciation of its engineering disciplines.
underpinning relevant
scientific and engineering context, and US1m
technologies. US1i
to support their understanding of future
developments and technologies. US1

Knowledge and understanding Knowledge and understanding of A comprehensive

of mathematics necessary to mathematical principles necessary to knowledge and
support application of key underpin their education in mechanical understanding of
engineering principles. US2i and related engineering disciplines and mathematical models
to enable them to apply mathematical relevant to the
methods, tools and notations mechanical and related
proficiently in the analysis and solution
engineering disciplines,
of engineering problems. US2
and an appreciation of
their limitations. US2m
Ability to apply and integrate An understanding of
knowledge and understanding of other concepts from a range
engineering disciplines to support study of areas including some
mechanical and related engineering outside engineering,
disciplines. US3 and the ability to apply
them effectively in
engineering projects.
US3m
A comprehensive
working knowledge and
understanding of the

AAC guidance revised February 2009 replacing all previous versions 4

 role and limitations of
ICT, and an awareness
of developing
technologies in ICT.
US4m
Engineering Analysis (E)

Ability to monitor, interpret Understanding of engineering principles Ability to use

and apply the results of and the ability to apply them to analyse fundamental knowledge
analyses and modelling in key engineering processes. E1 to investigate new and
order to bring about emerging technologies.
continuous improvement. E1i E1m

Ability to use the results of Ability to identify, classify and describe Ability to use extract
analysis to solve engineering the performance of systems and data pertinent to an
problems, apply technology components through the use of unfamiliar problem, and
and implement engineering analytical methods and modelling apply in its solution
processes. E2i techniques. E2 using computer based
engineering tools where
appropriate. E2m
Ability to apply quantitative Ability to apply quantitative methods An understanding of the
methods and computer and computer software relevant to capabilities of computer
software relevant to mechanical and related engineering based models for
mechanical engineering disciplines, to solve engineering solving problems in
technology, frequently within problems. E3 engineering, and the
a multidisciplinary context. ability to assess the
E3i
limitations of particular
cases. E3m
Ability to apply a systems Understanding of and ability to apply a
approach to engineering systems approach to engineering
problems through know-how problems. E4
of the application of the
relevant technologies. E4i

Design (D)

Define a problem and identify Investigate and define a problem and Wide knowledge and
constraints. D1i identify constraints including comprehensive
environmental and sustainability understanding of design
limitations, health and safety and risk processes and
assessment issues. D1 methodologies and the
ability to apply and
adapt them in unfamiliar
situations. D1m
Design solutions according to Understand customer and user needs
customer and user needs. D2i and the importance of considerations
such as aesthetics. D2

Identify and manage cost drivers. D3

Use practical creativity and Use creativity to establish innovative Ability to generate an
innovation. D4i solutions. D4 innovative design for
systems, components or
processes to fulfil new
needs. D4m
Ensure fitness for purpose Ensure fitness for purpose for all Ability to generate ideas
(including operation, aspects of the problem including for new products and
maintenance, reliability etc). production, operation, maintenance and develop and evaluate a
D51 disposal. D5 range of new solutions.
D5m
Adapt designs to meet their Manage the design process and
new purposes or applications. evaluate outcomes. D6
D6i

Economic, social and environmental context (S)

Knowledge and understanding Knowledge and understanding of The ability to make

of commercial and economic commercial and economic context of general evaluations of
context of engineering engineering processes. S1 commercial risks
processes. S1i through some
understanding of the

AAC guidance revised February 2009 replacing all previous versions 5

 basis of such risks. S1m
Knowledge of management Knowledge of management techniques Extensive knowledge
techniques which may be which may be used to achieve and understanding of
used to achieve engineering engineering objectives within that management and
objectives within that context. context. S2 business practices, and
S2i their limitations, and
how these may be
applied appropriately to
strategic and tactical
issues. S2m
Understanding of the requirement for
engineering activities to promote
sustainable development. S3

Awareness of the framework of relevant

legal requirements governing
engineering activities, including
personnel, health, safety, and risk
(including environmental risk) issues.
S4

Understanding of the need for a high

level of professional and ethical conduct
in engineering. S5

Engineering Practice (P)

Understanding of and ability Knowledge of characteristics of A thorough

to use relevant equipment, particular equipment, processes, or understanding of
tools, processes, or products. products. P1 current practices and its
P1i limitations, and some
appreciation of likely
new developments.
P1m
Knowledge and understanding Engineering workshop and laboratory Extensive knowledge
of engineering workshop and skills. P2 and understanding of a
laboratory practice. P2i wide range of
engineering materials
and components. P2m
Knowledge of contexts in Understanding of contexts in which
which engineering knowledge engineering knowledge can be applied
can be applied (e.g. (e.g. operations and management,
operations and management, technology development, etc). P3
technology development,
technology application etc).
P3i

Ability to use and apply Understanding use of technical

information from technical literature and other information
literature. P4i sources. P4

Awareness of nature of intellectual

property and contractual issues. P5

Ability to use appropriate Understanding of appropriate codes of

codes of practice and industry practice and industry standards. P6
standards. P6i

Awareness of quality issues Awareness of quality issues. P7

and their application to
continuous improvement. P7i

Understanding of the Ability to work with technical Ability to apply

principles of managing uncertainty. P8 engineering techniques
engineering processes. P8i taking account of a
range of commercial
and industrial
constraints. P8m

AAC guidance revised February 2009 replacing all previous versions 6