Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find out the
detailed requirements and specifications that must be met for the
accreditation of an undergraduate or postgraduate engineering
degree to be
awarded?
I am interested in
getting the programmes at my University accredited by more than one
Professional Engineering Institution - what are my options for
arranging the
visit(s)?
I am interested in
applying for an EAB visit, but the accreditation of the various
programmes at my University runs out at different times - how
should I proceed?
When do EAB visits take
place?
How many members of the
visiting panel should I expect on an EAB
visit?
How long after an EAB
visit will I find out the Institutions' decisions regarding
accreditation?
How do I find the
Engineering Council reference for my programmes, as required on the
Initial Data Form?
How do I search for a
particular programme on the Engineering Council Accredited Courses
Database?
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How can I find out
the detailed requirements and specifications that must be met for
the accreditation of an undergraduate or postgraduate engineering
degree to be awarded?
Under UK-SPEC, the decision to accredit a programme
is made on the basis that it delivers a series of specified
learning outcomes. The Engineering Council publication The Accreditation
of HE Programmes gives details of the generic output standards
for accredited programmes required by UK-SPEC. The EAB Submission for Accreditation (Form ACC2) shows
all the information that is required on an accreditation visit. The
Form's Appendices A, B and C detail the various learning outcomes that
must be met for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to
be accredited.
I am interested in getting the
programmes at my University accredited by more than one
Professional Engineering Institution - what are my options for
arranging the visit(s)?
You have three options. Firstly, you can apply for
an EAB visit, which allows you to invite several Institutions on a
joint visit. You have a single point of contact through the EAB
secretariat and complete one set of submission documentation. For
further information on EAB visits, click here. Secondly, you can contact the
Institutions directly to request a joint visit. Normally one of the
Institutions would take the lead in arranging such a visit. Or
thirdly, you can contact the Institutions to arrange separate
visits to look at your programmes. Contact details for the
Institutions can be found here.
I am interested in
applying for an EAB visit, but the accreditation of the various
programmes at my University runs out at different times - how
should I proceed?
You can still apply for an EAB visit, but you should
contact the Institution(s) whose accreditation runs out before the
planned visit to seek advice on the best way forward.
It might be possible for the Institution(s) to extend
accreditation for a short period (sometimes following a paper
review) or for the Institution(s) to look at backdating the
accreditation at a subsequent visit.
When do EAB visits
take place?
Most EAB visits take place between
October and May. Visits are normally two days in length and take
place mid-week. Visits should be scheduled during term time
because the visiting panel will need to meet with students on
the programmes being looked at.
How many members of
the visiting panel should I expect on an EAB
visit?
Each Institution on an EAB visit will normally send
two or three panel representatives and there will also be one or
two staff members in attendance.
How long after an
EAB visit will I find out the Institutions' decisions regarding
accreditation?
A visit report and action plan will be produced
after the visit (normally within 6 weeks). You will be asked to
check the factual accuracy of the visit report and complete the
action plan (usually within 3 weeks). Your response will be sent to
the Institutions for consideration by their committees. A final
decision letter will be issued once all of the Institutions have
made a decision on accreditation. Due to the varied times at which
their committees meet, this could take several months. However,
wherever possible, the EAB secretariat will provide informal
feedback on any decisions made in the interim.
How do I find the
Engineering Council reference for my programmes, as required on the
Initial Data Form?
If the programme has previously been accredited
(even if the accreditation has lapsed) then you can find the
Engineering Council reference by searching the Accredited
Courses Database. The Engineering Council
reference is the 3 or 4 digit number given underneath the programme
title. If the programme has not previously been accredited, then it
should be described as 'New' on the Form.
How do I search for
a particular programme on the Engineering Council Accredited
Courses Database?
You can search the database at: /education--skills/accreditation/accredited-course-search.aspx.
Enter the programme title in the Keywords field. The
system will automatically search for full time programmes in the UK
so you may need to alter the Location and Type
fields as appropriate. When you click Search, a list of
all the universities with programmes that match your search
criteria will be displayed. You can view the records (and find the
Engineering Council reference) by clicking on the appropriate
university name.