10 Hardest Engineering Degrees In the World In 2025

Ever wondered how that cool bridge or the awesome gadget you use every day got built? That's the magic of engineering! It is all about using your knowledge of science and math to design, create, and build things. This bugs us with questions like, what are the most difficult courses in engineering, and which one is the hardest engineering degree? We will be answering all these questions along with the 10 hardest engineering degrees in the world.

Top 10 Hardest Engineering Degrees

Determining the hardest engineering degrees is certainly subjective and depends on individual strengths and interests. That said, there are classes across different types of engineering courses that have rightfully earned reputations for pushing students to their academic and time management limits. Below are the top 10 hardest engineering degrees students will encounter:

1. Aerospace Engineering

Ever look up and see airplanes streaking across the sky? Do you ever wonder how those giant machines actually fly? Maybe you've even admired the cool design of a plane and thought, "Wow, how did someone build that?" Aerospace engineering, which focuses on the design and testing of aircraft and spacecraft, is considered the hardest engineering branch in the world. If you answered “yes” to all these questions, then the hardest engineering branch in the world - aerospace engineering - might be your calling. It is the toughest branch in engineering in the world due to its complex blend of aerodynamics, materials science, and advanced mathematics.

Aerospace Engineering

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Category	Details
Applications	Hypersonic flights, reusable launch vehicles, and space exploration.
Key Areas of Study	Aerodynamics, Thermodynamics, and Advanced Mathematics.
Best Countries to Study	USA, UK, Canada, France.
Top Universities	Caltech, Purdue University, Imperial College London, University of Michigan.
Average Salary	$65,000 to $75,000 annually.
In Demand occupations	Aerospace Engineer, Spacecraft Designer, Flight Systems Engineer.

2. Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineers are essentially tasked with creating systems that are able to produce refined products from raw materials. As one of the hardest engineering degrees, chemical engineering usually deals with the chemical principles to solve real-world problems through engineering, is a field that challenges students to innovate and optimise systems to produce refined products from raw materials. Chemical engineers look after:
1. Core Materials: Plastics, Polymers, and Fibres
2. Health Essentials: Pharmaceuticals and Antibiotics
3. Daily Necessities: Processed Foods and Personal Care Products
4. Sustainable Energy: Biofuels and Fuel Cell Innovations

It is often considered the toughest engineering course because of the advanced chemistry, especially organic and physical chemistry.

Chemical Engineering

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Category	Details
Applications	Pharmaceuticals, biofuels, polymers, food processing, and personal care products.
Key Areas of Study	Reaction Engineering, Thermodynamics, Process Design and Control.
Best Countries to Study	USA, Europe, Asia.
Top Universities	ETH Zurich, MIT, University of Tokyo, Delft University of Technology.
Average Salary	$78,350 to $191,700 annually.
In Demand occupations	Process Engineer, Environmental Engineer, Product Development Engineer.

3. Computer Engineering

As the toughest course in engineering, computer engineering Combines the principles of computer science and electronics, computer engineering focuses on designing hardware and software that power the digital world. Computer engineers have your back for everything related to computer-related hardware and software compatibility. If you are keen on this subject, you should brace yourself for mastering both Electrical Engineering (hardware and circuits) and Computer Science (software and programming), bridging the gap between the two fields. Many students also take up specialized internships and courses to build hands-on expertise and stay ahead in this demanding field. In fact, even highly successful figures like Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, one of the alumni of Harvard University who studied computer science, have mentioned pulling all-nighters to pass the course.

Computer Engineering

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Category	Details
Applications	Embedded systems, operating systems, network architecture, AI.
Key Areas of Study	Digital Logic Design, Programming, Systems Architecture.
Best Countries to Study	USA, India, Germany, UK.
Top Universities	Carnegie Mellon University, MIT, University of Oxford, Nanyang Technological University.
Average Salary	$76,630 to $93,226 annually.
In Demand occupations	Computer Engineer, Systems Architect, Embedded Systems Engineer.

4. Architectural Engineering

Architectural engineering, which focuses on the structural design and sustainability of buildings, is one of the toughest fields due to its demand for proficiency across various skills, including math, science, art, and history. The graduates of architectural engineers focus on the structural viability of a building, its electrical, lighting and heating systems, as well as its environmental and security systems. It may be the hardest engineering degree, but the competitive salary will let you reap the benefits of your effort. In today’s world, where sustainability has grown from an optional benefit to a necessity, architectural engineering, the most difficult field in engineering, provides the avenue to design structures that promote sustainability.

Architectural Engineering

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Category	Details
Applications	Sustainable construction, environmental systems, security systems.
Key Areas of Study	Materials Science, Lighting Systems, Environmental Systems, Structural Design.
Best Countries to Study	USA, Canada, UK, Australia.
Top Universities	University of Toronto, MIT, University of Sydney, ETH Zurich.
Average Salary	$73,286 to $105,163 annually.
In Demand occupations	Architectural Engineer, Structural Designer, Environmental Consultant.

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5. Biomedical Engineering

For those who have had the intuition or interest to develop better equipment to facilitate medical processes, biomedical engineering might be your choice. Biomedical engineers are basically behind constructing advanced equipment and systems that help with medical practices, such as artificial internal organs or devices that can diagnose a person’s ailment. It combines engineering principles with biology to advance healthcare. Biomedical Engineering is often regarded as the hardest engineering majors due to its broad, interdisciplinary nature, combining diverse fields and extensive memorization of biological concepts.

Biomedical Engineering

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Category	Details
Applications	Prosthetics, artificial organs, diagnostic tools, tissue engineering.
Key Areas of Study	Biomechanics, Biomaterials, Medical Robotics, Tissue Engineering.
Best Countries to Study	USA, UK, Canada, Singapore, Australia.
Top Universities	Harvard University, MIT, University of Melbourne, National University of Singapore.
Average Salary	$64,840 to $82,590 annually.
In Demand occupations	Biomedical Engineer, Clinical Engineer, Tissue Engineer.

6. Mechanical Engineering

With so many people wanting to do mechanical engineering, how is this the toughest course in engineering? Well, mechanical engineering is a field that analyzes mechanical systems in industries like automotive, aerospace, and robotics. As such, this toughest engineering course touches everything that involves mechanical systems. From mechanical components in a machine to the human body, mechanical engineers have expertise in them all. One can refer to them as a jack of all trades because this toughest branch of engineering has a broad scope, demanding students to master fundamental principles of physics and apply them to designing and improving a wide range of machines, from engines to hydraulic systems.

Mechanical Engineering

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Category	Details
Applications	Engines, hydraulic systems, manufacturing equipment, biomechanics.
Key Areas of Study	Solid Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics, Material Science, Thermal Systems.
Best Countries to Study	USA, Germany, UK, Japan, South Korea.
Top Universities	University of Cambridge, Stanford University, RWTH Aachen, MIT.
Average Salary	$64,799 to $142,989 annually.
In Demand occupations	Mechanical Engineer, Thermal Systems Engineer, Product Design Engineer.

7. Nuclear Engineering

It can be a bane or a boon, but one thing is clear: nuclear energy and its implications are here to stay. While the nuclear arms race is a commonly known phenomenon, nuclear energy isn’t just used for destruction. Being one of the hardest engineering degrees, it Focuses on the use of nuclear energy for power generation and medical applications, such as providing the heat required to refine metals and producing hydrogen as a clean energy fuel. But this is not all; the toughest course in engineering also equips students with expertise in the following areas:
1. Medical Isotope Production
2. Radiation Detection
3. Nuclear Waste Management
4. Navy Nuclear Propulsion
Nuclear engineering is the toughest course due to its demand for deep knowledge in physics, chemistry, and advanced mathematics, alongside managing radioactive materials and intricate systems.

Nuclear Engineering

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Category	Details
Applications	Medical isotope production, nuclear power, waste management, radiation detection.
Key Areas of Study	Reactor Physics, Radiation Safety, Fluid Dynamics, and Nuclear Materials.
Best Countries to Study	USA, UK, France, Canada, Germany, Japan.
Top Universities	MIT, Tsinghua University, University of Tokyo, Stanford University.
Average Salary	$70,000 to $90,000 annually.
In Demand occupations	Reactor Engineer, Radiation Protection Engineer, Nuclear Materials Engineer.

8. Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering, one of the hardest engineering degrees, is the study of the construction and design of systems and devices that use electricity as their main source of power. It Focuses on systems and devices using electricity for power or communication. As it is the hardest engineering degree, it has been a viable specialisation in the field ever since the inception of electricity. This field demands a deep understanding of fundamentals and the ability to troubleshoot complex issues in real time. The mathematical challenges, including advanced trigonometry and nonlinear calculus, further add to its difficulty.

Electrical Engineering

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Category	Details
Applications	Power generation, telecommunications, microelectronics, robotics.
Key Areas of Study	Circuit Design, Advanced Calculus, Control Systems.
Best Countries to Study	USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Japan.
Top Universities	Stanford University, University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich, MIT.
Average Salary	$70,263 to $149,020 annually.
In Demand occupations	Electrical Engineer, Robotics Engineer, Power Systems Engineer.

9. Civil Engineering (Structural)

Civil engineering (structural) is a specialised branch of civil engineering focused on the design, analysis, and construction of the framework or "bones" of structures. It Focuses on the design and durability of structures like buildings and bridges. Structural engineering is one of the toughest engineering branch, ensuring that buildings, bridges, dams, and other structures can safely endure the forces they encounter. This most difficult engineering branch demands diverse areas like land surveying, foundation design, construction management, and traffic flow, requiring students to master numerous skills and specialisations.

Civil Engineering (Structural)

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Category	Details
Applications	Smart materials, seismic-resistant designs, sustainable construction.
Key Areas of Study	Surveying, Construction Management, Structural Analysis.
Best Countries to Study	USA, UK, Singapore, Netherlands, Australia.
Top Universities	ETH Zurich, National University of Singapore, Delft University of Technology.
Average Salary	$61,221 to $236,274 annually.
In Demand occupations	Structural Engineer, Bridge Engineer, Seismic Design Engineer.

10. Advanced Control Systems Engineering

Advanced Control Systems Engineering is a field that involves designing, analysing, and optimising control systems to achieve specific objectives under constraints. It plays a crucial role in designing control systems to optimize performance in industrial processes. This field is considered the toughest engineering course due to the complexity of the systems involved and the need for precise control. The optimisation algorithms, which are integral to these systems, need to solve rather complicated problems to meet the performance specifications systematically. Furthermore, the toughest engineering course in the world demands designing highly reliable, lightweight systems capable of functioning in extreme environments with minimal energy input, often without the possibility of repairs.

Advanced Control Systems Engineering

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Category	Details
Applications	Robotics, manufacturing systems, automotive control systems.
Key Areas of Study	Control Theory, Optimization Algorithms, Embedded Systems.
Best Countries to Study	USA, UK, Japan, Germany, South Korea.
Top Universities	Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Tokyo.
Average Salary	$87,115 to $116,202 annually.
In Demand occupations	Control Systems Engineer, Robotics Engineer, Automation Engineer.

Engineering Difficulty Ranking

This ranking of engineering majors highlights those with the highest percentage of difficult professors. Here is a breakdown of the hardest engineering degrees along with their ranks, difficulty level and growth rate.

Rankings for Engineering Major

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Rank	Difficulty (in %)	Engineering Major	Growth Rate (in %)
1	80	Chemical	8
2	72	Electrical	2
3	71	Aerospace	3
4	68	Mechanical	9
5	66	Nuclear	1
6	63	Material	5
7	62	General	8
8	62	Biomedical	5
9	62	Environmental	6
10	60	Computer	5
11	59	Civil	5
12	56	Biological	6
13	52	Industrial & Manufacturing	12
14	45	Engineering Technology	11

We hope answering these questions can help you gain clarity and confidence in your decision to find your way around the hardest engineering subject. Before you apply to the engineering toughest branch, always go through the eligibility criteria and admission process & requirements, and take your SAT test preparation seriously. So, study hard and triumph over the hardest engineering degrees!