Grades of membership
Whether you're in the beginning of your career or already in senior management, our range of membership grades are designed to suit everyone.
The level of membership depends on your experience and qualifications. And, as you progress, you can apply for a membership upgrade to ensure your level always reflects your current position.
Fellow (FIMechE)
Chartered Engineer (CEng MIMechE)
Incorporated Engineer (IEng MIMechE)
Engineering Technician (EngTech MIMechE)
Associate Member (AMIMechE)
Student Affiliate (university students)
EngTech Affiliate (apprentices)
Affiliate (anyone without formal engineering qualification)
The following, indicates our routes to membership:
Fellowship of is available to professional engineers who are able to demonstrate that they are working in a senior role with significant autonomy and responsibility. They must also demonstrate that they are committed to Continuing Professional Development and promoting the engineering profession to young and developing engineers. Applicants for Fellowship are assessed against quality statements which define the level and type of work that a Fellow should be doing.
It is possible for non-Members to apply directly for Fellowship; these candidates will first be assessed against the UK-SPEC requirements in CEng, IEng or EngTech, and then assessed against the qualities for Fellowship.
Fellows can use the abbreviation ‘FIMechE’ after their name, along with the abbreviation of their registration level (CEng, IEng or EngTech). Fellowship is the highest level of membership offered by the Institution.
Fellows have access to all the benefits associated with membership of the Institution, such as discounted events and conferences, discounted subscriptions to technical journals and use of the Business Centre at One Birdcage Walk.
There is an annual subscription fee for Fellowship, which becomes due each January.
Find out how to apply
Chartered Engineers are professional engineers working to develop solutions to engineering problems, using new or existing technologies, through innovation, creativity and change. They may be developing new technologies, promoting advanced designs and design methods, introducing new and more efficient production techniques or pioneering new engineering services. They will have knowledge of engineering principles to Masters level, although formal academic qualifications are not the only way to demonstrate this. The assessment criteria for CEng Members is set by the Engineering Council and published in UK-SPEC.
Becoming professionally registered as a Chartered Engineer is proven to enhance your career prospects, increase your earning potential and provide international recognition of your expertise.
As a Chartered Engineers, you can use the abbreviation ‘CEng MIMechE’ after your name. This designation is globally recognised as a mark of professionalism and commitment to engineering practice. Chartered Engineers are eligible to apply for international registrations, such as EurIng, and also Chartered Environmentalist registration.
CEng Members have access to all the benefits of membership, including networking at regional events, reduced rates for conferences and events, discounted subscriptions to technical journals.
There is an annual registration fee, in addition to annual subscription fee for CEng Members. This becomes due in January each year.
For out how to apply
Incorporated Engineers are professional engineers working to maintain and manage the application of current and developing technology; they may be undertaking work in engineering design, development, manufacture, construction and operation.
They will have knowledge of engineering principles to Bachelors level, although formal academic qualifications are not the only way to demonstrate this. The assessment criteria for IEng Members is set by the Engineering Council and published in UK-SPEC.
As an Incorporated Engineer, you will be able to use the abbreviation ‘IEng MIMechE’ after your name, a designation globally recognised as a mark of professionalism and commitment to engineering practice. Incorporated Engineers are eligible to apply for international registrations, such as IntPE, and also Chartered Environmentalist registration.
IEng Members have access to all the benefits of membership, including networking at regional events, reduced rates for conferences and events, discounted subscriptions to technical journals.
There is an annual registration fee, in addition to annual subscription fee for IEng Members. This becomes due in January each year.
Find out how to apply
EngTech is a level of professional registration exclusively for people working as Engineering Technicians.
Engineering Technicians will have knowledge and understanding of technical matters to NVQ/SVQ level 3, although do not need to have any formal qualifications in this field. Membership of the IMechE and registration as an EngTech are based on the competences set by the Engineering Council in UK-SPEC.
As an Engineering Technician, you will be able to use the abbreviation ‘EngTech MIMechE’ after your name. This designation is recognised globally as a mark of professionalism.
EngTech Members have access to all the benefits of membership. Engineering Technicians are also eligible to apply for Chartered Environmentalist registration.
There is an annual registration fee, in addition to the annual subscription fee for EngTech Members.
Find out how to apply
Graduates with an appropriate degree in a STEM subject are eligible to become Associate Members of the Institution.
Associate Members can use the ‘AMIMechE’ abbreviation after their name, which demonstrates to employers that they are committed to becoming a professional engineer.
As an Associate Member, you will receive a copy of PE magazine every month and will have access to all the membership benefits, as well as including free careers advice, discounted training courses, discounted events and conferences, and networking opportunities at regional events.
Associates will be able to use Career Developer, which is a range of online tools to allow you to log initial professional development and will ultimately assist you in registering as a professional engineer. You will also be able to get feedback from experienced IMechE mentors and support from our professional development consultants.
There is an annual subscription fee, due in January each year.
Student Affiliates who apply for Associate membership before the end of the year in which they graduate do not need to pay any application fees and will not be charged any subscription fees until the following year.
Apply online now
Any undergraduate studying a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) is eligible to join the Institution as a Student Affiliate.
As a Student Affiliate of the Institution, you can begin your journey towards professional registration, which is proven to enhance your career prospects, increase your earning potential and provide international recognition of your expertise.
Student Affiliates have access to the full range of member benefits, as well as access to the Business Centre facilities at One Birdcage Walk. Student Affiliates also have access to free careers advice and tools to record professional engineering experience.
It is free to join as a Student Affiliate and there will be no subscription fees to pay for the duration of your course. When you are in your final year you will also receive a copy of the Institution’s PE magazine every month.
After graduation, Student Affiliates can become Associate Members of the Institution.
Apply online now
Apprentices or anyone studying at a further education college can become an EngTech Affiliate.
As a EngTech affiliate of the Institution, you can begin your journey towards professional registration, which is proven to enhance your career prospects, increase your earning potential and provide international recognition of your expertise.
EngTech Affiliates have access to the range of member benefits, including free careers advice, discounted training and development courses, and networking opportunities at a wide range of local events.
It is free to join as an EngTech Affiliate and there will be no subscription fees to pay for the duration of the apprenticeship or course.
Find out how to apply
You do not need any formal qualifications to be an Affiliate; anyone with an interest in Mechanical Engineering can join at this grade.
Affiliates will be sent a copy of PE magazine every month and will have access to all the membership benefits, including discounted rates at IMechE conferences and events, use of the Business Centre at One Birdcage Walk and access to the Institution’s information and library services.
There is an annual subscription fee, due in January each year.
Find out how to apply
Find your route to membership
Still unsure which grade of membership is right for you? Try our interactive route finder.