You can become a quarry or mining engineer by completing a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

• minerals engineering
• mining engineering
• geophysics
• geology
• Earth sciences
• civil engineering

Courses that give you the opportunity to gain work experience through internships, placements or a year in industry may give you an advantage when looking for work after your studies.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

You could apply for a place on a Minerals Product Technician Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship. With experience and further training, you could become a quarry engineer.

You could also apply to do a Geoscientist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, before specialising in quarry engineering.

These apprenticeships can take between 3 and 5 years to complete and combine on-the-job training with off-site study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

You'll need:

• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• operations analysis skills
• maths knowledge
• design skills and knowledge
• knowledge of building and construction
• excellent verbal communication skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• analytical thinking skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

As a quarry engineer, you will:

• use ground surveying techniques to collect site data
• drill earth and rock samples for lab testing
• build computer models of a site and its deposits
• report findings to the management team to wok out a course of action

During operations, you will:

• manage the day-to-day running of quarry operations
• oversee technical staff
• produce progress reports
• monitor health and safety
• draw up plans in case of emergencies like a tunnel collapse or flooding
• plan site restoration for when quarry workings end

You could work at a quarry or in an office.

Your working environment may be cramped, dusty and you may spend nights away from home.

You may need to wear protective clothing.