Engineering is about the application of mathematics and science to those practical ends which affect our daily lives. Modern society depends on it, and it is more sophisticated than ever before. The difficult problems of sustainability and the environment which now preoccupy us can be tackled not only by better discipline but also by better engineering.

The engineering profession is now exceptionally wide-ranging; it covers every kind of product from dams to chemical plant to silicon chips, all having this in common: they have to be understood, designed, and made. What's more, they have to be made economically, efficiently, and better than the last time (or better than the competition). The qualities of a good engineer include not only a high degree of technical competence but also imagination, strength of purpose, commonsense - and a social conscience. It is not surprising that engineering graduates are highly regarded not only in industry but also in other fields.

Although it is possible for graduates in some other subjects to become chartered engineers - that is, full members of one of the Institutions - it is very much more straightforward and more common to do so with an accredited engineering degree.