Studies & Degrees in Mining Engineering
Mining Engineering Study Programs
Mining engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with finding, extracting and processing minerals, metals, rock and energy resources. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics defines the work in one sentence: mining and geological engineers use geological and engineering principles to design ways to safely and efficiently extract minerals and other resources. In practice that means designing open-pit and underground mines, planning how the ore reaches the processing plant, and keeping workers safe.
Students start with mathematics, physics, chemistry and geology and then move on to rock mechanics, mine design and planning, drilling and blasting, mineral processing, ventilation, safety and environmental restoration. Laboratory and field work are part of every programme. The Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC) describes its degree as a mix of engineering principles, earth and mineral sciences, mineral processing, health, safety and environmental issues, management, economics and business.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degrees. In the United States the usual entry qualification is a bachelor's degree in mining or geological engineering or a related field. A licence is not required for entry-level engineers there; experienced engineers may later obtain a Professional Engineer (PE) licence. In Canada, McGill University offers its bachelor's programme with an optional co-op route that includes three paid work terms.
- Spain. Mining engineering is a regulated profession with two levels. A bachelor's degree (grado) of 240 ECTS credits that meets Orden CIN/306/2009 qualifies for the profession of Ingeniero Técnico de Minas; these degrees are built around specific technologies such as mine operation, drilling and mineral prospecting, mineral processing and metallurgy, or energy resources, fuels and explosives. The profession of Ingeniero de Minas requires in addition the official Máster Universitario en Ingeniería de Minas (Orden CIN/310/2009); bachelor's and master's studies together must add up to at least 300 ECTS credits.
- Master's degrees and doctorates. Outside Spain, master's degrees are a way to specialise or to move into research. The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining at Queen's University, for instance, lists a Master of Engineering, a Master of Applied Science and a PhD.
- Latin America. The degree is usually a long professional engineering title with its own national name. The Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María in Chile, for example, lists a mining branch of civil engineering (Ingeniería Civil Minas) among its undergraduate programmes. Check the length and title with each university.
Where to study mining engineering
SpainExchange lists 36 active schools for mining engineering. Eight are in Spain, four in Canada, three in the United States and two each in Chile and Brazil; the others are spread over Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and Australia.
In Spain the subject is taught at specialised engineering schools of public universities. Examples are the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Minas y Energía of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Grado en Ingeniería en Tecnología Minera and the master's degree in Ingeniería de Minas), the Escola de Enxeñaría de Minas e Enerxía of the Universidad de Vigo, the engineering school of the Universidad de Huelva, the Escuela Superior y Técnica de Ingenieros de Minas of the Universidad de León, and the Universidad de Oviedo. Teaching is mainly in Spanish.
In Canada the list includes McGill University in Montreal, whose mining programme was founded in 1871 and has an English stream for out-of-province and international students and a bilingual stream, as well as Queen's University in Kingston, UBC in Vancouver and Camosun College in Victoria. In the United States it includes the Colorado School of Mines and The Pennsylvania State University. In Latin America it includes the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María and the Universidad de Santiago de Chile, the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima and the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral in Guayaquil.
Many programmes reflect the local mining industry. Look at the type of mining a school focuses on, and at how much field work and work experience the programme includes.
Careers
Mining engineers work for mining and quarrying companies, engineering consultancies, equipment and explosives suppliers, tunnelling and civil works contractors, and public mining and environmental authorities. Typical roles are in mine planning, production, drilling and blasting, mineral processing, geotechnics and health and safety.
It is a small profession. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of mining and geological engineers in the United States to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 300 openings a year. Demand in other countries depends on the local mining industry.
Frequently asked questions
How do you become a mining engineer in Spain?
A 240 ECTS bachelor's degree that meets Orden CIN/306/2009 qualifies for the profession of Ingeniero Técnico de Minas. To practise as Ingeniero de Minas you also need the official Máster Universitario en Ingeniería de Minas, for a total of at least 300 ECTS credits.
Do I need a master's degree to work as a mining engineer?
Not everywhere. In the United States a bachelor's degree is the typical entry qualification, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Spain the master's degree is required for the regulated profession of Ingeniero de Minas.
In which language is mining engineering taught?
Usually in the language of the country: Spanish in Spain and most of Latin America, English in the United States, and English or a bilingual English-French stream at McGill University in Canada.