England

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Accessibility statement
Engineering brings together scientific, creative and problem-solving skills in a vast range of contexts. It's at the heart of many industries.
Employers value qualified engineers for their rigorous approach to problem-solving and high level of numeracy. These skills open up a wide range of other career opportunities due to the transferable skills gained by studying engineering.
The UK has great strengths in its engineering, technology, and design sectors, being world leaders in areas such as aerospace, motorsports, and energy. New technologies, particularly nanotechnology, have created demand for jobs, and graduates can find employment across a whole range of manufacturing and service industries, from food and fashion to construction and transport. Engineering is also central to finding innovative and intelligent solutions to decarbonising infrastructure and moving to clean technologies.
There are opportunities in research, design and development, commissioning, project management, technical sales and marketing, technical journalism and patent work. UK-trained engineers are in demand for projects abroad and as employees of international firms, and with the right experience and qualifications you can also work as a self-employed consultant.
Campaigns such as WISE (Women into Science, Engineering and Construction) have emerged to tackle the low rates of women in STEM subjects and a growing skills shortage. Several large companies and professional organisations also have mentoring schemes for women. The Women's Engineering Society is a professional network of women engineers, scientists and technologists offering inspiration and support to women entering the profession.
For sector news, analysis and information, visit The Engineering Council and Enginuity websites. For information about typical jobs within the sector – including day-to-day activities, the qualifications you need and what you might expect to earn – visit the Prospects careers website. If you live in Ireland, look at the relevant information on the GradIreland website.
We offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in engineering, and related courses in areas like design, technology, environmental management and systems thinking.
We are very proud that our engineering qualifications have been accredited and recognised by the professional engineering institutions, enabling you to apply for registration as an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer – depending on your level of study.
OU engineering courses will also help you to develop as an ethically responsible professional equipped with high-level employability skills such as:
FACT: 94% of OU Engineering and Technology graduates are in employment six months after they graduate.
If you’re not quite ready for degree-level study, our Science, technology and maths Access module (Y033) could be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s designed to build your confidence and study skills while introducing subject knowledge in the disciplines of science, engineering and design, environment, mathematics, and computing and ICT. By the end of the module, you’ll be well prepared to begin your first full OU course.
Many engineering roles require significant experience in addition to a relevant qualification. Open University courses put you at a distinct advantage in this regard. We’ll encourage you to apply your learning immediately to your own role and build on your experience as a context for developing real-world knowledge and skills. However, if you’d benefit from additional settings to contextualise your learning, you could consider volunteering. The Institution of Engineering and Technology’s website is a good place to start. You can also explore our voluntary work pages or the following national websites:
The OU has an active and growing LinkedIn presence with over 100,000 students and alumni that you can access to explore work experience opportunities once you are registered. In addition to this, our OpportunityHub hosts a wide range of job vacancies and work experience opportunities for OU students. You can also look at the work experience section of our Help Centre.
Level info