Is an Engineering degree worth it for this?

On median DfE LEO earnings a Engineering degree overtakes the no-degree alternative after 18 yrs post-grad, and you repay £142,341 over the life of the loan.

Career route

Do you need a degree to be a mechanical engineer?

Q: Do you need a degree to be a mechanical engineer?

Usually, but there are other routes. Chartership favours the degree, but higher and degree apprenticeships are a well-worn alternative route.

Usually, but there are other routes

Chartership favours the degree, but higher and degree apprenticeships are a well-worn alternative route.

The official route in

The National Careers Service publishes the entry routes for this job — apprenticeship, college, university and direct application — with the GCSE and A-level requirements for each. It is the authoritative source, and worth reading before committing to anything.

How to become a mechanical engineer

National Careers Service — routes and requirements

Find an apprenticeship

GOV.UK — live vacancies

If you do take the degree route

The closest subject is Engineering. On current fees and median graduate earnings, here is what it costs and how long it takes to pay for itself against not going at all.

Worth it after

18 yrs post-grad

Borrowed

£71,160

You will repay

£142,341

Starting salary

£32,400

Full Engineering report

30-year projection, AI risk, adjust your own costs

Engineering vs Software Engineering

Side-by-side comparison

The short answer is our reading of the entry routes, written conservatively — where a non-degree path exists at all, we say so. The National Careers Service profile is the authoritative source and should be your check before deciding. Mechanical engineer earnings shown here are for Engineering graduates, not for this job specifically.