Looking to accredit your Graduate Training Programme? RINA offers a comprehensive accreditation service that ensures your programme meets the highest industry standards. Accreditation demonstrates your commitment to developing future naval architects and maritime engineers, helping you attract top graduate talent and support their journey toward professional registration. 

Graduates who have successfully completed an accredited Graduate Training Programme are able to demonstrate their competences in relation to the UK-SPEC and their commitment to lifelong CPD. This also allows them a more direct route to application for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration.

For a company to accredit their training program, they must demonstrate to RINA that their graduate trainees have experienced and can demonstrate the competencies within the UK-SPEC. RINA has developed a sector-relevant contextualised framework known as the Initial Professional Development (IPD) framework which provides a range of practical examples and skills that all links back to the UK-SPEC.

Currently accredited Graduate Training Programmes

RINA currently accredits a range of Graduate Training Programmes delivered by leading companies around the world. 

For more information, please visit our Course Directory pages. 

Application Process 

To make a submission for the accreditation of a Graduate Training Programme you must first complete a RINA Application Form for Accreditation of a Graduate Training Programme and provide all required supporting documentation.    

On receipt of the application and all supporting documentation, RINA will conduct a comprehensive risk assessment to determine whether an in-person component of the visit is necessary. This assessment will guide the decision-making process and ensure an appropriate approach is taken for each case. 

If a visit is deemed necessary then these will take place over a single day and will need to incorporate a review of every site where the programme may be delivered. 

Fees 

For further information or guidance, please feel free to email the Membership Director at  before making a submission.  

Accreditation of education programmes is a mark of assurance that the programmes meet the standards set by the relevant profession.  The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) is licensed by the Engineering Council to accredit programmes of learning within the set requirements of AHEP4, whilst applying its own stipulations appropriate for the naval sector.  The accreditation process specifically assesses whether educational programmes provide some, or all, of the underpinning knowledge and understanding for eventual professional registration as either Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng).    

Once a programme is accredited, it usually retains accreditation for up to five years.  

Benefits of having academic programmes accredited by RINA

Accredited programmes offer significant advantages for individuals, institutions, employers, and society. For individuals, accreditation provides international recognition and assurance that their degree meets the standards expected by the engineering profession. It supports informed decision-making when choosing a course and can offer a competitive edge in the job market, as many employers prefer or require graduation from an accredited programme. Additionally, it facilitates the path to professional registration, such as IEng or CEng. 

Higher Education Institutions benefit from a structured, developmental accreditation process that helps them assess and improve programme quality. Accreditation enhances the global appeal of programmes, making them more attractive to prospective students and improving graduate employability, which can positively influence institutional rankings.  Accreditation also assures employers that graduates possess the underpinning knowledge and understanding required by the industry, with professionally registered graduates providing a competitive advantage by demonstrating credibility and competence to clients and regulators. 

How do your students benefit from studying an accredited programme?

Depending on the level of accreditation awarded, Students on accredited programs will meet the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng) registration. Graduating from an accredited course will help improve graduate employability as they have studied against an internationally recognised set of standards. Your students will be able to demonstrate they have developed the relevant skills and knowledge for an engineering career and professional registration.

International Accreditation

RINA accredits Naval Architecture and Maritime programmes from International Universities. Accreditation is a flexible process that aligns the AHEP-4 accreditation standards to international providers and Quality Assurance processes. Accreditation provides international benchmarking against other accredited programme and can play a key part of recruiting and retaining students.

RINA can provide extensive support to an International University wishing to apply for accreditation status. Please contact  to discuss your accreditation requirements.

Stages of the accreditation process 

The overarching process for seeking accreditation of naval architecture degree courses, delivered both in the UK as well as overseas is as follows: 

Stage 1 – Initial Submission

When an institution feels it is ready to proceed with its application for accreditation, it must first submit an Initial Submission Form (ACC1).  This captures all required information for RINA to assess the type of accreditation being sought, the extent and level of programmes being submitted and the type of institution making the submission.    

Once RINA is satisfied that the programme is likely to meet the fundamental accreditation requirements, an accreditation team will be appointed and a visit to the HEI will be arranged. If a second PEI is involved, a mutually convenient date will be set, along with an agreement on which institution will act as the lead accreditor.  

Stage 2 – Main Submission

Once a date for the visit is confirmed, the HEI will start preparing its main submission for review.  This will consist of completion of the Full Submission Form (ACC2), as well as all required appendices (ACC2/A – D), and collation of all supporting documentation. 

This will need to be uploaded to a mutually accessible file share platform at least 12 weeks prior to the visit taking place. 

Stage 3 – Visit

Visits from members of the accreditation panel tend to take place over a two-day period and will consist further review of provided documentation; meetings with relevant staff and students as well as tours of relevant facilities.  These will normally be held during term time so that the visiting accreditation team can be assured that they meet with staff, students and visit supporting facilities and laboratories.  

If the HEI have franchised degree programmes, degrees delivered through collaborative partnerships and/or degrees delivered at different campuses, arrangements would need to be made to visit all campuses involved in delivering programmes they are invited to accredit.  

Fees 

RINA corporate partners are charged a slightly discounted fee.    

For further information or guidance, please feel free to email the Membership Director at  before making a submission.