Study Engineering Abroad

Will my degree be recognised?

Theoretically, if you study engineering in the European Union then your degree will be recognised. If you study at a good university elsewhere, your degree will be recognised.  However, engineering is perhaps the hardest of all subjects on which to offer clear cut advice.  It is essential that you check with the professional organisation responsible for your branch of engineering (for example, Institute of Chemical Engineers) as you may very well find that there are difficulties with some universities' qualifications.

Having said that, there are many excellent universities around the world that offer courses in engineering and many of them are now teaching some degrees in English. 

Does it make sense to study engineering abroad?

Depending on the branch of engineering you study, you can expect to have a very international career ahead of you. Like most professions, engineering firms are extremely global in their operations. As a young engineer you might find yourself working on projects all around the world. It therefore stands to reason that an international education could help you prepare better than a standard university degree from a UK university.

Some universities (such as SKEMA, see below) teach a number of engineering degrees in English. These degrees can be taught as dual degrees, where you spend two years studying in France and two years elsewhere. Such courses are particularly attractive to many future European engineers.

What grades do I need to get in?

This really depends on the university you choose.  There are some world class universities where you will need world class grades just as there are in the United Kingdom.

What else should I bear in mind?

As already mentioned, we think the most important thing for you to consider is whether your degree is recognised. After you have clarified that, then you have the choice of some excellent universities around the world.

Engineering courses at UK universities are probably the most likely to offer bursaries so it is worth considering that it may be cheaper for you to study in England than for most other students. On the other hand, there are ways for you to study engineering completely free of charge in some European countries, such as Denmark and Sweden.

Where should I look for engineering degrees abroad?

While there are unlikely to be many universities in any European country that teach in English, you will usually be able to find one or two. The next difficulty is that not all universities offer all branches of engineering taught in English. Some may only specialise in one area, such as aviation engineering at TU Delft.

At postgraduate level you will find a much wider range of courses in English.

Australian universities such as University of Newcastle offer excellent courses in a wide range of engineering subjects, particularly mining engineering.

Where can I study engineering abroad? (undergraduate)

France - SKEMA (formerly ESC-Lille)

Australia - University of Newcastle

Where can I study engineering abroad? (postgraduate)

Australia - University of Newcastle