An engineer's degree is an advanced academic degree in engineering that is conferred in Europe, some countries of Latin America, and a few institutions in the United States.
In Europe, the engineer degree is ranked at the same academic level as a master's degree, and is often known literally as an "engineer diploma" (abbreviated Dipl.-Ing. or DI). In some countries of Latin America and the United States, the engineer's degree can be studied after the completion of a master's degree and is usually considered higher than the master's degree but below the doctorate in engineering (abbreviated Dr. Ing.) in Europe. In other countries of Latin America, there is no proper engineer's degree, but the title of Ingeniero(engineer, abbreviated Ing.) is used for bachelor's graduates in the context of an undergraduate degree.
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At most countries of continental Europe, universities specializing in technical fields have traditionally awarded their students an engineer's degree lasting 5 years. This degree was typically the first university-awarded degree after finishing secondary education, and completing it granted qualifications to further pursue a doctorate.
Following German custom in higher education, the engineer's degree is called Diplom. In addition to Germany itself, this system was common in states like Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, R. Macedonia and Ukraine.
In German, the traditional engineer's degree is called Diplom-Ingenieur (Dipl.-Ing., in Austria also DI) . This degree is generally equivalent to a Master's degree, which is not to be confused with the old Magister degree. Most programs that used to lead to a Dipl.-Ing. degree lead to Master's degrees today, as the Diplom-Ingenieur as an academical title is phased out because of the Bologna process. However some Universities continue to hand out so-called equivalence certificates that certify the equivalence of a Dipl.-Ing. with the newly introduced M.Sc. Degrees.
The German "Universities of Applied Sciences" (Fachhochschule) awarded the traditional engineering degree Diplom-Ingenieur (FH) (Dipl.-Ing (FH)). This degree also required to write a Diplom thesis. This is also being modified by the Bologna process, as bachelor and master degrees from a University of Applied Sciences are equal to the degrees from a traditional university.[1] Universities of Applied Sciences are phased out and they are changed to universities with own faculties and research institutes. These universities are strongly focused on fields like computer science, engineering or business schools. Subjects like Law or Human Medicine etc. which requires a Staatsexamen (state exam) can only be studied at traditional universities. Since 2005, most Universities in Germany offer Bachelor degree programmes (B.Sc., B.Eng. and others) and Master programmes that lead to the academic degree Master of Science, Master of Engineering, Master of Business Administration and others.
In Turkey typical length of study for professional engineering degree is 4 years. Engineering degree is called mühendis, from word hendese(geometry), meaning "one who knows geometry and calculation". The title is limited by law to people with an engineering degree, and the use of the title by others (even persons with much more work experience) is illegal.
In Finnish, the engineer's degree is called diplomi-insinööri and abbreviated dipl.ins., DI or M.Sc.(Tech.). It is possible to obtain after 4.5 years of studying, or even faster, but the average is around six years. Under the Bologna process, this is split into two parts, the first being one where the students can get the intermediate tekniikan kandidaatti (B.Sc.(Tech.)) degree.
The degree of insinööri (AMK) is a vocational degree from a Finnish University of Applied Sciences (ammattikorkeakoulu), similar to a German Fachhochschule, but it is not interchangeable with the academic tekniikan kandidaatti.
Due to the Bologna process, a new degree called insinööri (ylempi amk) or "engineer (higher amk)" has been introduced, but it carries a requirement of two years of work experience.
In the western Slavic-speaking countries, the engineer's degree is called inżynier (Polish), inžinier (Slovak) or inženýr (Czech), and the abbreviation is inż. in Poland, and Ing. in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which may be written before the person's name.
In Poland, the degree of inżynier is available after 3, 3.5 or 4 years of studies (like the licencjat in non-engineering science) after a final thesis is completed. A magister inżynier (abbreviated mgr inż.) refers to a Master of Science in Engineering, after completing 5 years of study and a written thesis.
In Belgium, there are two types of engineering degrees:
Belgium is particularly noteworthy as having a system under which demands made on students of engineering are particularly severe.
In Portugal, the degree was Licenciado (5 years) and although almost totally equal to a Bologna Master, it was considered a simple Degree for foreign countries (the word engineer is Engenheiro - abbrev. Eng.). The Master also existed (Mestrado) and was a 2 years course over the previous 5 of the Licenciatura.
In Greece, the degree is Διπλωματούχος Μηχανικός (diplomatouhos mihanikos) and the abbreviation is Διπλ.-Μηχ.. The duration of engineering courses is 5 years. Although some institutions issue certificates of equivalence to a Master's degree, these are not officially recognized by the Greek legislation.[2]
In the Netherlands, somebody holding an engineer's degree is an ingenieur. The abbreviation is ing. for en engineer's degree at "hoger beroeps onderwijs" or higher vocational education level and ir. for an engineer's degree at the "Wetenschappelijk onderwijs" or scientific educationlevel. Under the Bologna agreement these are being replaced by English-language abbreviations (B.Sc, BBE, M.Sc, etc.), however Dutch (WO) engineering qualifications are extremely demanding and are rarely for example completed in the nominal time. Note further, that an ing. engineer having completed a 4 year HBO or HTS Higher technical school college course, may enter a nominally 5 year ir. (internationally 3+2 year B.Sc+M.Sc) course at the start of its 4th (1st M.Sc) year, only on completion of a demanding 1 year "schakelprogramma" or crossover programme.
In the United Kingdom the qualification which is minimum for gaining chartered status in engineering is the Master of Engineering (MEng). In England, Northern Ireland and Wales this is a four-year course or a 'sandwich' five-year course (with one year spent working in industry). In Scotland, it is a five year course. The Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) is usually a three year course (four in Scotland), or can also include a year in industry. Many universities offer the BEng, and may then allow a transfer onto the MEng.
The Engineering Council Graduate Diploma is set at the same level as the final year of a British BEng and its Postgraduate Diploma is set at the same level as the final year of a British MEng.
The Graduateship in engineering, awarded by the City & Guilds of London Institute (Institution Established in 1878 recognized by Royal Charter n.117 year 1900), is mapped to a British Bachelor of Engineering(Honours) -BEng(Honours)-degree. The Post Graduate Diploma is mapped to a British Master of Engineering (MEng) degree.
Engineers who have been awarded a BEng(Ordinary) or BEng(Honours) and have appropriate training and experience in the work place are able to apply to become an Incorporated Engineer (IEng), if the qualification has been accepted for this classification, by the engineering council. If an engineer has studied beyond the BEng for an MSc or has an MEng, they may apply to become a Chartered Engineer (CEng), once they have completed the required amount of post graduate work-based competency training and experience. Competency and training requirements are met over a period of 4-8 years in practice for a total of 8-12 years education, training and professional responsibility. Formal structured post graduate training schemes such as the monitored professional development programme administered by IMechE enables the Engineer in training to satisfy the requirements for Chartered Engineer faster.[5]
Chartered Engineer and Incorporated Engineer titles awarded by the Engineering Council UK, are broadly equivalent to North American Professional Engineer (PEng / PE) and Professional Technologist (PTech) designations, but with often a far greater geographical recognition.
MIET-Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology is recognised as regulated engineering profession by virtue of the Statutory Instruments n.2007/2781-The European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulation 2007-Directive European Union 2005/36/EC. http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications/regprof/index.cfm?fuseaction=profession.regProfs&profId=6361&mode=desc&cId=0&quid=3
This meaning retains the 19th century idea that "real" engineers were military personnel, while "other" engineers were civilians.
Moscow School of Mathematics and Navigation was a first Russian educational institution founded by Peter the Great in 1701. It provided Russians with technical education for the first time and much of its curriculum was devoted to producing sailors, engineers, cartographers and bombardiers to support Russian expanding navy and army. Then in 1810, the Saint Petersburg Military engineering-technical university becomes the first engineering higher learning institution in the Russian Empire, after addition of officers classes and application of five-year term of teaching. So initially more rigorisms of standards and teaching terms became the traditional historical feature of the Russian engineering education.[3] In Russia, the degree is специалист инженер (specialist is an engineer) or master's degree is an engineer, was traditional a degree after 5-6 years of stud, but now (when Russia adopted the Bologna declaration) appears a first degree "bachelor is an engineer" after 4 years of stud. Additional programs (3-4 years, after a traditional specialist-magister) provide the title of "Ph.D. inginer" ("Кандидат").
In Belarus and Ukraine, the degree is специалист инженер (specialist inzhenyer), a first degree after 5 years of study.
In France, the degree is Diplôme d'Ingénieur, while the title is Ingénieur diplômé (ID) but is never used before the holder's name. The degree can be obtained after five years of engineering studies after the Baccalauréat. After the French "baccalaureat" (High School diploma), about 10% of students are accepted in "Classes preparatoires" (intensive classes), where physics, mathematics, or biology are taught. National Examinations, with restricted acceptances in the engineering schools, are realized after the first two years.
In Italy until 2001 there were two degrees: a 3-year "diploma in ingegneria" (BEng level, title abbrev. "dipl. ing.") and a 5-year "laurea in ingegneria" (MEng level, title abbrev. "ing."). Since 2001 reform, the bachelor level is called "laurea" (abbrev. "L") and master degree level is called "laurea specialistica" or "laurea magistrale" (abbrev. "LS"). Accordingly, today after 3 years of engineering studies can be obtained the degree called "laurea in ingegneria" (BEng level) and the title of "dottore in Ingegneria" (abbrev. "dott."). After five years of engineering studies can be obtained the degree called "laurea magistrale in ingegneria" (MEng level) and the title of "dottore magistrale in Ingegneria" (abbrev. "dott."). After a "state exam" you become "Ingegnere" (abbrv. Ing)[4]
Romania followed the German system until 2009. The engineering degree was called Diploma de inginer, and the graduate was called a Inginer diplomat. This 5 years of studies was equivalent to a Master/Bachelor's degree (BSc/B.Eng/M.Sc/M.Eng). The five year course concludes with a comprehensive set of specialising exams (examen de diploma). Marks 9 or 10 are considered exceptional. The master degree, called Inginer Master was obtained after following a one year post-graduate program. Some universities had called Diploma de Sub-inginer which is was 3 year course equivalent with a college degree. Following the Bologna process the graduates obtain the Inginer licentiat degree, after following a 4 years program. In this case the Inginer Master degree is obtained after an additional 2 years graduate program.
The situation in Spain is very similar to France but without the Grandes Écoles. Engineer's degrees traditionally used to be (at least nominally) six-year programs but the tendency since the mid 90s has been to reduce them to five years. The last step to get the degree is the Proyecto de Fin de Carrera (Degree Project), which involves a combination of application development and some research work. Students submit a dissertation that they have to defend. The Spanish official name for the degree is Ingeniero (Engineer). There is also a shorter type of engineering degree called Ingeniero Técnico (Technical Engineer), which is a three-year degree (involving also a Degree Project) and is roughly equivalent to a Bachelor of Engineering. A distinctive characteristic of Spanish engineering degrees is that the average duration of studies up to graduation is about 40% above the nominal duration and that the drop-out rate is considerable.[5]
In Croatia, the old system included the engineer's degrees diplomirani inženjer (abbr. dipl.ing.) which was awarded by university faculties, and a lower ranked engineer's degrees inženjer (abbr. ing.) which was awarded by polytechnics, in a similar vein to the situation in the Netherlands. The old dipl.ing. degree could later be upgraded to a magistar (abbr. mr., Magister degree) and then a doktor (abbr. dr., Doctorate). The situation was the same in other countries previously part of Yugoslavia. In Serbian abbr. is dipl.inž.[6]
Following the introduction of the Bologna process, universities divide higher-education studies in three cycles, corresponding to a 3-year bachelor's degree, a 2-year master's degree, and a doctoral degree.
Accordingly, engineering studies which lasted 5 years are now divided in two parts: first, the bachelor's degree (baccalaureus, three years), and the second optional part (two years), after which either the traditional engineer's degree or a master's degree (MEng or MSc) is awarded. In this new scheme, the graduate must complete the master's degree before attempting to pursue doctoral education.
Countries have varied in the implementation of the Bologna process. Most traditional universities continue to have a primary academic degree program, for example, a 5-year Civilingenjör in Sweden, that is distinct from the 3+2 scheme that awards the bachelor's and master's degrees.
In France, engineering is taught in Ecoles d'Ingénieurs, which are part of the French Grandes écoles system. Since the Bologna process, the Diplôme d'Ingénieur is officially considered to be at the level of a European master's degree.
In the United States, the degree of engineer or engineer's degree is the least commonly obtained advanced degree in engineering. It is usually preceded by a master's degree and is not a prerequisite to a doctoral degree, serving instead as a terminal degree. The availability of degrees and the specific requirements differ considerably between institutions and between specialties within an institution. In the past, it was not uncommon for a would-be engineer to earn an engineer's degree as their first and only college degree. But since World War II this has fallen out of favor, and it becomes continually more difficult to find a school that offers this option. It is worth noting that Regulation and licensure in engineering in the U.S. usually requires an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) engineering program accreditation, which is only granted to bachelor degrees and, rarely, master's degrees.
For graduate students in engineering, the two-year master's degree is most commonly followed by a traditional research doctorate (Ph.D.). However, the engineer's degree provides an alternative to the doctorate for professional engineers rather than academicians. Some graduate programs such as those offered at Stanford, Caltech and the Naval Postgraduate School require a thesis for the engineer's degree but the research requirements are generally less than those of Ph.D. candidates and more comparable to those of master of science students. Other universities such as Santa Clara University do not have a specific research requirement. For this reason, some consider an engineer's degree to be on a level between a master's degree and a doctorate.
A degree with some form of the word engineer or engineering in the title is not necessarily an engineer's degree. Particularly, a "Master of Engineering" (M.Eng.) or "Engineering Doctorate" (Eng. D) degree is not an Engineer's degree, nor is any other bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree. Rather, the engineer's degree is in a category of its own. For example, a student with a B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering might next earn the degree Electrical Engineer. The person would then have a B.S. in E.E., a M.S. in E.E., and an E.E. degree. The former two are degrees in engineering, and only the latter degree is actually an Engineer's degree.
In Latin America a degree or title of Ingeniero is awarded that may be translated as "Engineer", however, its international academic equivalence depends on each country's educational system, and may be compared to a 4-year bachelor's degree or even a 6-year post-master's degree. Its award may imply obtaining a state licence to legally practice in the field, or a professional certification outside academic environments.
In Mexico, the educational system follows closely that of the United States. University education is structured in three cycles, as Licenciatura (bachelor's degree), Maestría (master's degree), and Doctorado (doctorate).
The "Engineer" degree is a general denomination for a Licenciatura (first cycle) degree in a technical field, which implies obtaining a professional credential (cédula profesional).[7] The graduate is technically and legally a Licenciado (Lic.), but commonly he or she will use the title of Ingeniero and the abbreviation Ing. before his or her name.
For engineering, completing all taught courses of a Licenciatura does not automatically awards the graduate the title and licence of Ingeniero, for this, a written thesis or very good qualifications are required. It is the case that many people finish all courses in an engineering program, but only formally obtain the diploma and title of Engineer, and the professional credential, after some years of work experience.
Degrees in engineering require 4 to 5 years to complete. After this, the graduate may enroll in a postgraduate program, such as a master's degree, or in exceptional cases, directly into a doctoral degree. Despite its length, the degree of Ingeniero is generally not equivalent to a European Dipl.-Ing, as it doesn't include a strong research component.
Bachelor Of Studies(BS) This is a 4 year Engineering degree. Like Bachelor of Studies in Computer Engineering.
In India the Engineering Degree is referred as B E (Bachelors of Engineering) and B. Tech. (Bachelors of Technology) at undergraduate level. Whereas as Masters level it is M Tech (Masters of Technology) and M. E. (Master of Engineering). At undergraduate level the duration of course can vary from 3 - 4 years with on additional year of training. Whereas at Master's level the duration is usually between 2 - 3 years. There are other courses like BCA (Bachelors in Computer Application), MCA (Masters in Computer Application), B.Sc. IT (bachelor of Science - Information Technology), M.Sc. IT (Master of Science - Information Technology),Msc.Tech (Master of science in Technology) the graduates from these courses are also referred as Engineers in the Industry, specially the Software Industry, but the Engineer's degree is M. Tech, M.E., B.Tech and B.E.
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