Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
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Degree
- Code
- B24
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Made up of
- 360 credit points
Description
This 360-point honours degree offers an opportunity to pursue a programme in general engineering, with some specialisation in one of several engineering disciplines. Its learning outcomes are closely aligned with the Quality Assurance Agency’s benchmark statement for engineering: they include acquisition of knowledge and understanding, intellectual abilities, practical skills and general transferable skills in your chosen area of study.
Planning your studies
Entry to the BEng (Hons) is through the Level 1 course Personal and career development in engineering (T191), but most of the other courses you will take are Level 2 and Level 3 courses in the BA/BSc degree programme. If you are new to study or to the OU, we recommend that you start your studies with a different Level 1 course before embarking on T191. We particularly recommend Engineering the future (T173) and, if you have no mathematical background, you should consider Using mathematics (MST121). If you complete this Level 1 work successfully you’ll have a firm foundation for future studies as well as credit points that count towards your degree.
You register your intention to study for the BEng (Hons) when you register for T191 but you can then ask us to link courses that you have already studied towards the degree. You must include at least 120 points from OU courses that have not been counted in an OU diploma or other first degree you have been awarded.
If you have already completed the Foundation Degree in Materials Fabrication and Engineering (G18) (or Diploma of Higher Education in Materials Fabrication and Engineering (E56)) you can 'top up' your foundation degree or DipHE to a full honours degree with 120 points from the right courses at Level 3 plus 15 points from Key skills for professional engineers (T397) to gain a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (B24) (375 points in total).
The postgraduate MEng (M03) award builds upon the BEng (Hons). You will need to complete your postgraduate MEng studies within 4 years of completing the BEng (Hons) element of the award. The MEng is accredited for registration as Chartered Engineer (CEng) by the Institution of Engineering Designers. See the Engineering website for further information.
Career relevance and employability
On graduation you may be eligible to apply (via an appropriate engineering institution) to the Engineering Council (ECUK) for registration as Incorporated Engineer, or you might want to work towards Chartered Engineer status by undertaking more academic study. If you’d like to know more about professional recognition, download our Recognition leaflet 3.3 Professional Engineering Institutions or ask our Student Registration & Enquiry Service for a copy.
You can also ask our Student Registration & Enquiry Service for a copy of the careers publication OU study and your career if you want to find out more about the process of career development and about sources of careers information and guidance.
For planning your next career steps, visit the OU Careers Advisory Service.
There’s more information about the career relevance of degrees on the national HE Prospects website.
Courses
For this 360-point honours degree you require:
15 points from the following compulsory course:
| Level 1 compulsory course | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
15 | Oct 2010 |
And 90 points from technology courses (other than T191, T397 or T450/T455) of which at least 60 must be at Level 2 or above.
And a further 120 points from technology, mathematics or science courses at Level 2 or above.
Successful completion of at least two residential schools associated with undergraduate courses whose codes begin with T, M or S.
And 15 points from the following compulsory course:
| Level 3 compulsory course | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
15 | Oct 2010 |
And 30 points from one of the following optional courses:
| Level 3 optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Jan 2010 |
|
30 | Feb 2010 |
|
30 | Feb 2010 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses TM420, TM421, TM422, TM423, TM424, TM425, TM426, TM427
To complete the 360 points needed for an honours degree, the remaining points up to a maximum of 90 points can be from any OU undergraduate courses. You must ensure that you have the required number of points at each level.
In terms of level of study the 360 points must include:
- at least 240 points of technology, mathematics or science courses at Level 2 or above (not including T397)
- within these 240 points, 30 points must be the Level 3 project course and at least a further 90 points must be at Level 3 and at least 60 points must be technology courses at Level 2 or above
- you can count up to a maximum of 90 credit points from postgraduate-level courses towards the degree, but not against the Level 3 requirement.
You can study courses in any order except that:
- you must successfully complete T191 in order to register for the degree
- you cannot take T397 until you have successfully completed T191
- you cannot take the 30-point project course (T450, T455 or M450) until you have successfully completed a related, specified Level 3 course
- you must take at least 120 points' worth of courses after you have registered for the degree by studying T191 (although there may be exceptional circumstances where this requirement is waived)
- you can include a maximum of 60 points from 10-point courses in this degree.
Credit from specified courses may be counted towards this award for up to a maximum of 10 years after we have stopped presenting them – please see individual course descriptions for future availability.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of courses so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
You can apply to transfer a maximum of 210 points of relevant study towards the BEng (Hons).
Credit transfer details for this qualification:
Classification of your degree
On successful completion of the required courses you will be awarded a BEng (Hons) degree and will be entitled to use the letters BEng (Hons) (Open) after your name. Your degree will be classified as either first-class honours, upper second-class honours, lower second-class honours or third-class honours. The class of degree is determined by the best grades you achieve in a minimum of 120 and up to 240 points from Technology, Mathematics or Science courses at Level 2 or above, which must include the Level 3 project course, whether or not it is among your best Level 3 grades, and at least 90 points from other Level 3 courses not including T397. The courses that are used to classify your degree must not have already been used to classify a previous degree that you hold. You will have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony to collect your award certificate.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
- Introduction to the Award Regulations
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
- Schedule A to the Award Regulations
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
About this page
An undergraduate qualification in Engineering and Technology.
Study explained
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
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