Degree Course Accreditation

If you are running an undergraduate or postgraduate degree course that enables students to gain knowledge of several core disciplines, enables them to integrate knowledge across domains and enables them to apply a systems approach, then consider applying for CIEHF degree course accreditation.

Accredited degree courses are recognised as CIEHF Qualifying Courses. Graduates from Qualifying Courses are eligible for Graduate Membership of the CIEHF and this contributes to their future application as a Registered Member.

Qualifying Courses are promoted through this website, at careers events and in response to enquiries for training. Only Qualifying Courses are recommended to people who ask us about ergonomics/human factors study.

You can use a special Qualifying Course logo and the text “This is a CIEHF Qualifying Course” in your publicity for the course.

Quick eligibility check

  • My course covers essential knowledge in the following CIEHF Professional Competency areas:
    • Ergonomics/human factors principles
    • Ergonomics/human factors theory and practice
    • Human capabilities and limitations
    • Design and development of systems
    • Professional skills and implementation
  • My course ends with a substantial ergonomics/human factors-based research project.
  • My course falls within my institution’s academic quality management system.
  • At least half the programme content will be led by Chartered members of the CIEHF.
  • There will be a minimum of two Chartered members of the CIEHF on the programme teaching team.

Key points

Content

To be accredited as a CIEHF Qualifying Course a programme must cover essential ergonomics knowledge content. The Professional Competency areas covered on the course should each last a minimum of 150 hours (15 Credits UK), up to a suggested maximum as follows:

  • Ergonomics/human factors principles: 300 hours
  • Ergonomics/human factors theory and practice: 600 hours
  • Human capabilities and limitations: 300 hours
  • Design and development of systems: 450 hours
  • Professional skills and implementation: 150 hours

The course must also include an ergonomics-based research project of either laboratory-based research, user-inspired research or application-based work that extendsto approximately 600 hours.

Programme standards

Your course must meet the following programme standards:

  • Curriculum: The programme must be delivered in English and reflect current scholarship, research and practice including a critical awareness of current issues and developments in ergonomics. A programme specification should be available that provides the programme aims and intended learning outcomes. The teaching and learning strategy should ensure sufficient breadth and depth of coverage of the Institute’s programme curriculum requirements.
  • Assessment: All essential taught knowledge areas must be separately assessed in English and contribute to the final award classification. Essential curriculum themes should be assessed, but this does not need to be separated from knowledge areas. Assessment should be shown to be valid, reliable, fair and appropriate to the level of award, e.g. through moderation by an external examiner. Marking should be undertaken only by appropriately qualified staff.
  • Entry criteria: The programme must specify entry criteria that allow equality of opportunity and access to a diverse range of applicants.
  • Awards: Successful fulfilment of the programme’s requirements must lead to the conferment of a named award from a Higher Education institution.
  • Leadership: The programme provider must appoint an appropriately qualified (e.g. Chartered Member of the CIEHF) director or leader for the programme, who provides an ergonomics overview and brings coherence to the course.
  • Staffing: The programme provider must have adequate staffing in place to support the effective delivery of the programme. At least half of the programme content must be led by members of the CIEHF and there should be a minimum of two members of the Institute on the programme teaching team.
  • Resources: The programme provider must have appropriate resources in place to support the effective delivery of the programme be it delivered on-campus (e.g. resources such as lecture rooms and laboratories) or at a distance (e.g. resources such as online discussion forums and interactive virtual work environments).
  • Quality management: The programme provider must have quality management systems (e.g. External Examiners and periodic review of the validity of the programme).
  • Ethics: The programme must cover ethical conduct and ensure students work ethically.
  • Misconduct: The programme providers should have policies and procedures in place to detect and deal with issues that may arise with student conduct during assessment.

How to apply

1. Complete the competency checklist

Download the application form which contains the Professional Competency checklist.

2. Compile your supporting documents

Gather electronic copies of the programme handbook, detailed curriculum, assessments, module specifications, staff CVs and other documentation that demonstrates the programme meets all the requirements.

3. Complete your application

Complete the application form and email it to us, together with your supporting documents.

4. Pay the application fee

Once we have received your application, we will issue you with an invoice for the application fee, together with instructions on how to pay. Once you have paid the invoice, we can begin the assessment process.

Questions you might have


The application fee is £200+VAT. Then for each year of accreditation, including the first, there is a fee of £100+VAT.

Accreditation lasts for 5 years or until changes are made to any key area (i.e. duration, teaching staff, content, assessment). If this occurs, the course must be reassessed. We reserve the right to carry out random spot checks on any of the Qualifying Courses.

Your course will be assessed by qualified Education & Training assessors of the Professional Affairs Board of the Institute.

Apply for course accreditationApply now