Dear All, I attend a top-10 British university and study computer science. I am currently on the MEng course, but I don't like it here, and ideally I would like to leave after this year, which is the third of four years. I have been told that if I leave this year (and pass my exams) I could be awarded an unaccredited BEng. What does this mean the wider world of work? If I apply to a technology company saying I have a BEng in CS, would that be lying? Any advice appreciated.
efriend There are differences between UK and USA in use of the term " unaccredited". It possibly means that your BEng is not accredited by a EC UK licensed professional engineering institution. It means what we call Professional Accreditation in US. It possibly means that you will have challenge to apply for a registration in UK as IEng or CEng. If you become member of IET and want to get registered with Engineering Council then (IET EngC) accredited BEng or MEng degree is required. Since you are attending a top 10 Uni in UK then institutionally your degree is accredited and possibly professionally to but not for Chartered Engineer. but not what we will call in USA professionally accredited MEng. Also 3 year BEng degree based on Balogna agreement may bot be evaluated in USA as comparable to US 4 year degree. Usually EngC UK accredited degree is equated to US ABET accredited degree. This may be important for registration as PE in USA. As to job market in UK or EU. as long as your degree is from properly accredited UK University the professional accreditation is in reality has little wight. IEng and CEng registration is not required for most Engineering jobs in UK. So you need to find out if your degree unaccredited - means not sufficient for Chartered Engineer registration. You may be eligible to register as Incorporated Engineer IEng. If not a secret what is the name of the University. Also is the MEng programme is 5 year program and accredited BEng is 4 year programme? Then we can tell you if your degree will be accredited or not.
Hi Lerner, thanks for the response. Professional accreditation is not of much interest to me. I would like to work in an industrial research/software developer setting. From what I've seen, qualifications like CEng are very rarely (I've never noticed it) prerequisites to getting an interview. I attend the University of York. The official course is an MEng in Computer Science with AI. There are separate BEng's at York. The MEng is 4 years long (5 with an industrial placement (work experience)) and the BEng is 3 years long. I haven't done a Bachelors project this year since I've been on the MEng course, where we instead did more modules in lieu of a project. This will have been the only difference in our degrees. So if I were to leave at the end of this year, that'd apparently be an unaccredited BEng. Charles.
Charles If you will be awarded a Bachelors degree official Diploma of the University of York then your degree is accredited institutionally. Your 3 year BEng degree will be recognised as accredited. As I stated it will not be professionally accredited. This is what it meant when you are told unaccredited. Read the info on the following link: Professional accreditation - Computer Science, The University of York Its about BCS and IET accreditation. It means applying for CITP or CEng via academic rout may be problematic. The degree for all other purposes is accredited. If you want you can apply for 1 year MEng or MSc degree in another university. Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence MEng 4 years Single Subject G4G7 Ok From what I read on the web site Professional accreditation - Computer Science, The University of York Accreditation Accredited courses are generally respected by employers – so you will also be increasing your career prospects. What is meant PROFESSIONALLY accredited - and your courses are accredited professionally as well the degree will be partially meeting the requirements for IEng and or CITP thats all. If you are not interested in these registrations then you have noting to wary about. For example the degree BSc Computer Science and Philosophy is not professionally accredited like other degrees at University of York. Its valuable degree and fully useful just not for CEng or CITP.
GV45 - BSc Computer Science and Philosophy is not professionally accredited like other BEng degrees at University of York. You think employers respect it less because its not BCS or IET accredited? I think small percent of employers even know the difference. I'm a CEng MIET so I do value the registration, I didn't when I was younger but today I'm glad to have it. Most of my colleagues and co workers are not CEng and they have as successful careers or even doing better, one is CIO of major company.
Lerner, I am very grateful for your time, guidance and advice. That has been very helpful for me. Thank you! Charles.
