Engineering is an international career

An engineering qualification travels well because technical skills have a universal language of their own.

Irish engineers have an excellent reputation and have contributed to projects all over the world.

Engineers Ireland is a signatory to both the Washington Accord and the Sydney Accord, which means that accredited engineering programmes are recognised internationally by other signatories. These include Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the USA and the UK. Chartered membership of Engineers Ireland is sometimes a requirement in some countries. Also under these engineering agreements, qualifications accredited by The Institution of Engineering and Technology are generally globally recognised. However, in countries where masters degrees are more common, a basic honours degree may be viewed as somewhat inferior.

Also, according to Engineers Ireland, ‘Irish citizens holding Engineers Ireland professional titles are entitled to be granted the equivalent of those titles where they exist in any other EU member state.’ In addition, professional bodies in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong-China, New Zealand and South Africa have deemed that Chartered Engineers from Ireland will be eligible for the award of an equivalent title ‘without being required to undertake a professional review’.

The EU Services Directive works to ensure the mobility of skills within EU member states. Engineering degree programmes accredited by Engineers Ireland and the Institution of Engineering and Technology are eligible for inclusion in the Fédération Européenne d’Associations Nationales d’Ingénieurs Index (FEANI Index), leading to the title of EUR ING when all requirements are met.

Even if you choose to remain based in Ireland, a career in engineering provides many opportunities to travel. Proficiency in a second language greatly increases opportunities to apply your skills abroad.

For more information on the recognition of Irish engineering qualifications abroad, see