When launching new programmes or reviewing or making changes to existing ones, you’ll need to go through your own institution’s internal validation process (your Registry or similar function will be able to advise on this), as well as considering the Quality Assurance Agency’s subject benchmarks. You’ll also need to consider whether you wish to have the programme accredited by the appropriate professional institution.
Accreditation is the process of reviewing an engineering degree programme to judge whether or not it meets the defined standards set by the Engineering Council.  Accredited engineering degrees offer a mark of assurance that the degree programme meets the standards defined and set by the engineering profession.
Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes (AHEP): Accreditation is a mark of assurance that a degree programme meets the standards set by the profession. The Engineering Council licenses over 20 professional engineering institutions (PEIs) to undertake accreditation of HE programmes in line with its standards and requirements for accreditation which are set out in the AHEP document.
Accrediting institutions interpret the Engineering Council’s standard as appropriate for their own sector of the profession. They use the accreditation process to assess whether specific educational programmes provide graduates with some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual professional engineer registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).  Programmes may be accredited as fully or partially meeting the educational requirement for registration as either IEng or CEng.  If you are thinking of developing a new programme and wish to apply for accreditation, the Engineering Council and the appropriate PEI are always pleased to provide informal advice and guidance.
More information:
- Accreditation and Quality Assurance Toolkit home
- About the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Toolkit
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland
- Wales
- Quality Assurance
- Enhancement
Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.
