This course provides studies in fundamental engineering principles alongside work-based learning and offers students the chance to specialise in either Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering or Operations Engineering.
Regardless of the pathway, though, you’ll benefit from the UCW approach of combining academic study in areas including project design and management, mathematics and engineering science with practical learning through site visits and field trips.
The pathways have been designed to develop students as professional, self-reflecting individuals who are able to meet the demands of employers in the engineering sector adapt to challenges in a constant changing world.
HNCs (Higher National Certificates) are BTEC qualifications at Level 4. The HNC BTEC qualifications at UCW are awarded by Pearson, one of the world’s leading learning companies.
The academic elements of these courses are taught in the bespoke laboratories and workshops at the recently-redeveloped South West Skills Campus in Weston. The facility comprises the Weston College Group’s Automotive Technology Centre, Business Enterprise Centre, Construction and Engineering Centre of Excellence, Eco House and Future Technology Centre.
By studying on this course, you’ll also be among the first students to benefit from the state-of-the-art learning and teaching facilities on offer at the brand new University Centre in the iconic Winter Gardens building in the centre of Weston.
Please click on the next tab to find out more about the programme pathways, what you’ll learn and how you’ll be assessed. The information below relates to what is and isn’t covered by UCW’s tuition fees.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with UCW’s HEART team. It would also be great to meet you and show you around at our next Open Day.
Part-time tuition fees: £3,225 per year.
Full-time tuition fees: £6,450 per year.
This covers all of the teaching and assessment elements that are required for students to complete the course.
It also includes:
- The use of all of the facilities at our South West Skills Campus and all of the UCW equipment and required specialist software.
- The use of UCW computer equipment at any of our campuses and access to Microsoft Office 365 while you are enrolled with UCW.
- The loans of books from our libraries.
- Annual £5 printing and photocopying allowance for part-time students.
- Access to all of the UCW student support and careers services.
It does not include:
- The cost of books that you may wish to purchase.
- Students may also be required to pay for attendance at daytrips and residential visits at an approximate cost of £50 per day.
- Extra printing and photocopying above the £5 limit.
- Any transportation costs you may incur to attend UCW, including between our campuses.
- Accommodation and other living expenses.
UCW publishes its Tuition Fees Policy on the Wider Information Set page of this website.
You may also be eligible for additional financial support, depending on your circumstances.
There are three pathways on this course:
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Operations Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
Each pathway contains mandatory and optional 15 credit modules.
Students need to complete 120 credits to achieve the Level 4 HNC.
Regardless of the pathway, all students study the following mandatory modules:
- Engineering design
- Engineering mathematics
- Engineering science
- Managing a professional engineering project
Please click on the ‘Programme Specification’ button to find out more about the pathways and optional modules.
This course is taught via a combination of lectures, tutorials and practical sessions. UCW’s Higher Education Library Plus (HE.LP) team also deliver a series of sessions on degree-level research and academic writing to all first-year students. When not in scheduled classes, students are expected to continue learning through independent self-study. This involves reading relevant literature, working on individual and group projects, and undertaking research in preparation for coursework and exams.
On all of the above pathways, students will receive an average of 6 hours of scheduled teaching per week.
- Those who complete the HNC will be eligible to apply for engineering-related HNDs.
- Subject to further study, the Electrical and Electronic Engineering pathway could lead to jobs in areas such as acoustics, communications, defence, medical instruments, nanotechnology or robotics.
- Subject to further study, the Manufacturing Engineering pathway could lead to job roles in areas such as aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals or plant and machinery manufacturing.
- Subject to further study, the Operations Manufacturing pathway could lead to job roles in areas such as quality and process improvement, industrial power and storage or industrial systems.
Offers are usually made on the basis of a minimum of CC at A Level including at least one relevant subject, or a related BTEC Extended Diploma at MPP, or equivalent. Five GCSEs at grade C (level 4 under the new GCSE grading system) are also required, preferably including English, Mathematics and a science subject.
Mature applicants who do not meet these requirements but who possess a suitable academic and professional engineering background will be considered on an individual basis.
