Engineering and Entrepreneurship
Engineering and entrepreneurship is a combination that addresses one of the most significant gaps in the conventional engineering curriculum: the commercial, organisational, and creative skills needed to turn technical expertise into new products, companies, and ventures. Engineers produce many of the world's most significant innovations, but translating those innovations into successful businesses and social impact requires a set of skills that goes beyond technical knowledge. Combining engineering with entrepreneurship gives you both the technical competence to develop real solutions and the entrepreneurial mindset to bring them to market.
At the University of Exeter this three-year, full-time programme is professionally accredited, meeting the academic requirements for chartered engineer registration through the Engineering Council. You will develop engineering knowledge alongside the principles and practice of entrepreneurship, innovation, and venture creation, learning to identify opportunities, develop business models, build teams, and manage the journey from idea to commercial reality. Exeter has strong connections to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the South West and beyond, and the programme is designed to connect your learning with real-world innovation challenges and opportunities.
Graduates of engineering and entrepreneurship go on to careers across the full spectrum of engineering sectors and the entrepreneurial economy. Many move into roles in technology startups, innovation consultancies, corporate innovation teams, or venture capital, where the combination of engineering credibility and entrepreneurial skill is particularly valued. Others build traditional engineering careers in which their entrepreneurial formation makes them more effective at identifying and pursuing new opportunities.
Some graduates launch their own ventures, using their technical expertise and entrepreneurial training to build new products or services. The accredited status of the programme supports progression towards chartered engineer status. Further study at Masters level in engineering management, entrepreneurship, or a specialist engineering field is also available.