The EngD, which is based at the Industrial Doctorate Centre in Systems in the Faculty of Engineering, becomes one of only a handful of such programmes in the UK to receive this accreditation.

The degree has been accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institution of Mechanical Engineering, and the Institution of Civil Engineers, under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council.

Accreditation is a mark of assurance that the degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). An accredited degree is considered to provide students with ‘some or all of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees, and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords. This creates a pathway for professional CEng registration for the most capable postgraduate students, who are likely to become future leaders in industry and academia.