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An image to illustrate the Top-up Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Build upon your existing vocational qualification to obtain an honours degree with this top-up Bachelor of Engineering. Designed for those with an OU Foundation Degree in Engineering or equivalent vocational qualification, it lets you tailor your final stage of study to your background and interests. You can develop advanced knowledge and skills in areas such as communications, design, electronics, environmental management, mathematics, mechanical modelling, nanoengineering, renewable energy or structural integrity. Alongside specialist modules, you’ll complete an engineering project that showcases your professional and technical capability. This top-up degree opens doors to wider career opportunities and professional recognition.
This course is accredited by a number of professional bodies:
Engineering Council Accredited Degree logo
Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) logo
Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) logo
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) logo
Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) logo
This top-up engineering degree has one stage, comprising 120 credits.
You’ll begin at Stage 3 (your existing qualification makes up Stages 1 and 2), and choose 90 credits based on your previous engineering study and experience (see our advice sheet), plus complete your degree with a 30-credit project module.

ModulesCreditsStart month
You’ll choose at least 30 credits (and up to 90 credits) from:
Innovation: designing for change (T317)60Oct
Electronics: signal processing, control and communications (T312)30Oct
Environmental management: pathways to sustainability (T330)30Oct
Mathematical methods and fluid mechanics (MST326)30Oct
Mechanical engineering: computer-aided engineering (T329)30Oct
Nanoscale engineering (T366)30Oct
Renewable energy (T313)30Oct
Structural integrity: predicting and assessing performance (T367)30Oct
You may choose up to 60 credits from:
Communications technology (TM355)30Oct
Computational applied mathematics (MST374)30Oct
Deterministic and stochastic dynamics (MS327)30Oct
Graphs, games and designs (MST368)30Oct
You'll study the following:
The engineering project (T452)30Feb

By studying this degree, you’ll:
You’ll be supported throughout by personal tutors, structured study materials, optional tutorials, and detailed feedback.
You’ll be awarded a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) upon successful completion.
Your honours classification (first, upper second, lower second or third class honours) will depend on the grades you gain at Stages 2 and 3.
You'll also have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our Academic Regulations or contact us.
You can achieve this top-up degree in as little as one year and have a maximum of five years to complete it. Our module-by-module approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that works best for you.
You can complete this top-up degree in one year by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s similar to a student at a campus-based university.
You can complete this top-up degree in two years by studying part-time. That’s roughly half the rate of a student on a full-time course at a campus-based university.
Your last module (T452) ends in September, so you’ll receive your final results in December rather than June/July. You should consider this if you’re planning further study and wish to use your degree as an entry qualification.
At the OU, flexibility and support go hand in hand. You’ll be in control of when and where you study, with clear deadlines to guide your progress. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other commitments, our approach helps you fit learning into your life. Students consistently praise the support we provide, and from the very start, you’ll be part of a vibrant OU learning community.
As you progress through your qualification, you’ll have access to a dedicated online study space, expert tutor guidance, optional live tutorials, and a wide range of resources to help you succeed. The sections below outline what you can expect.
Your module website will be a central hub for your learning, giving you easy access to:
Discover how the OU’s module websites, course materials, and support tools help you study online with confidence.
Each module has a dedicated tutor who will guide you through your studies. They’ll provide feedback, help you find resources, mark your assignments and support your learning journey.
For extra support, you can attend optional live tutorials with your tutor. These are usually conducted online, and most are recorded so you can review them later.
See how OU tutors and tutorials help you build confidence, connect with others, and get the support you need to succeed in your studies.
Our assessments reinforce what you’ve learned and show your understanding. Assessment types vary by module and may include:
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a wide range of support services and be part of a vibrant learning community. Our subject-specific Student Support Teams can help with general queries and any updates to your OU account. You’ll also benefit from:
Discover the support network and learning tools you'll have access to throughout your studies.
You must have passed one of the following OU qualifications within the last eight years:
Alternatively, you must have a completed vocational qualification from somewhere else that meets the following criteria:
£8,176*
Your course fees cover your tuition, assessment and study materials, but there are still a few additional costs that can come with studying. For this qualification, you'll need:
*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to a fee limit, as set out in the University's Fee Rules.

Over 85% of our students in England fund their studies with a Tuition Fee Loan, meaning they pay nothing upfront.
Repay in monthly instalments while you study.
Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.
More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.
Combine your payment options to fund your studies the way you want.
If you’re a serving member of the British Armed Forces (or you’ve recently left), you may be eligible to use ELCs to cover up to 100% of your course fees.
You may be eligible for:
If you hold an Open University Foundation Degree (X11) or Diploma of Higher Education in Engineering (W11 or W93), email [email protected] to register. To start in October, you must register by 10 September.
If you hold an eligible entry qualification from another institution, download, complete and return the Top-up Bachelor of Engineering application form with evidence of your previous study. To start in October, you must apply by 13 August.
If you have queries about the application process, email [email protected].
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).
Our BEng (Hons) is a general engineering qualification that provides an entry into a wide range of more specialist engineering roles. Examples include:
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.
Engineering Council Accredited Degree logo
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) or another accredited qualification.
Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) logo
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) or another accredited qualification.
Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) logo
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) or another accredited qualification.
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) logo
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) or another accredited qualification.
Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) logo
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.
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.
Check you meet the Entry requirements, then see How to apply.
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Our prospectus will help you explore your course options, get a feel for life as an OU student, and register for study.
Request a prospectus
Check you meet the Entry requirements, then see How to apply.
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