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The academic accreditation process

Academic accreditation is designed to work in partnership with your department. Your Bachelors, Integrated Masters (MEng), MSc, EngD and Foundation degrees can be accredited for up to five academic years, based on how they fulfil the educational requirements for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng).

New to accreditation

If you do not already have IET accreditation there are usually three steps to accreditation:

  • The initial review: we’ll ask you to send us programme specifications, module description and prospectus so two or more of our accreditors can review your programme for suitability. They will assess whether your programme falls within the IET remit (or is more suited to another professional body) and the percentage of non-technical content.
  • An advisory visit: if your department is new to accreditation, has undergone significant changes, or your accreditation lapsed over two years ago, we’ll come for an advisory visit. We’ll then send you a report on which programmes are accreditable and what you need to do next.
  • The accreditation visit: up to four accreditors will review your submission and visit your department with an IET staff member (the Visit Panel). They will put together a report asking you to define an action plan which will then be reviewed before being submitted to the Committee.

Outcomes from an accreditation visit:

Following an accreditation visit, the IET will award accreditation for up to five years.  You can then schedule your next accreditation visit for five years time for re-accreditation. If you receive between one and three years accreditation you will need to follow one of the next steps:

  • Monitoring visit or review: If your department was not awarded a full five-year accreditation, the accreditors will either visit or conduct a paper-based review at the end of a limited period (usually two or three years). The Visit Panel which will consist of the previous Visit Panel Chair and one other panel member will ask for an evidenced updated action plan, materials are reviewed and a visit conducted if appropriate. The Visit Panel will submit a report with recommendations on whether to extend your accreditation period. The Committee Chair will then approve the recommendations.
  • A first output review: once the first cohort of a new programme has graduated, you must send us the final year examination papers and results, individual project results and a sample of project reports and external examiner reports. These will be reviewed by two accreditors who will decide whether to extend your accreditation or arrange a monitoring visit.

Changes to accredited programmes

  • An extension request review: if your organisation structure has changed significantly and you want to extend your accreditation beyond five years, you can send us evidence of the changes and your action plan. The Visit Panel Chair and another panel member will review your report and choose to extend by up to a further two years. A monitoring visit may be needed.
  • A programme change review: if your programme changes significantly, you’ll need to request a review to make sure that the assessed AHEP learning outcomes can still be achieved. The accreditors will look at the change in programme and decide whether a visit is needed.
  • A commonality review: if you are introducing new programmes which share at least 70 per cent commonality with an existing accredited programme, you may be able to apply for accreditation without a visit.

How to apply

If you haven’t been accredited before or your accreditation has lapsed, speak to the academic accreditation team first. You can then apply (or reapply) through ADAMS.

If you’re interested in applying, make sure you read the terms and conditions which will apply to all academic accreditation.

Academic Accreditation Fee

Each accredited UK department or school pays £900.00 (including VAT) annually, with international rates applying elsewhere.

View our policy and guidance documents

What do the visits involve?

The Visit Panel is made up of industry and academia accreditors and an IET staff member. When they come, they’ll explore your programme’s:

  • learning outcomes
  • aims and objectives
  • assessment regulations and progression conditions
  • structure, content and industrial input
  • projects and coursework
  • staff
  • resources and facilities
  • quality assurance procedures, and
  • external examiner reports.

The Visit Panel makes recommendations to the Academic Accreditation Committee (AAC) which is responsible for all decisions. Once accredited, your programme will be added to the IET and Engineering Council programme database.

Get involved

Interested in becoming an Academic Accreditor? Find out more about the role.