This qualification is highly regarded by local employers; it will offer students a broad understanding of the typical tasks and requirements of engineering professionals.
Our industry recognised qualification enables you to build skills currently in high demand by employers, alongside opportunities to further enhance your knowledge through site visits and and attending talks by guest speakers.
For those who have appropriate experience of working within this sector the programme is offered as part-time study over four years. The part-time Mechanical Engineering programme will allow you to fit other commitments around your study time.
This programme is an industry recognised qualification that builds skills currently in high demand by employers. It provides access to exciting opportunities within a challenging and rewarding sector with fantastic career paths and many job prospects both locally, nationally and even internationally.
This programme enables you to extend your expereince in mechanical engineering and problem solving techniques and gain the industry recognised higher technician qualification. The programme is suitable for those who have an interest in advanced engineering or manufacturing.
The course, comprising eight modules (HNC) and a further eight (HND), covers the fundamental engineering concepts and skills required of a higher technician as well as providing a sound basis for further study at degree level. As with all engineering day release programmes, individual modules may be studied separately to update knowledge. The course is delivered through a mixture of classroom activity, guided assignment work and examinations. Emphasis is placed on problem solving skills and students should expect the delivery to reflect this combined with associated mathematical concepts.
For those who have appropriate experience of working within this sector the programme is also offered as part-time study over four years. The part-time Mechanical Engineering programme will allow you to fit other commitments around your study time but will include the same modules as the full-time course.
Undergraduate courses operate on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. Each module is worth a specified number of credits, with most modules counting for 30/40 or 15/20 academic credits (depending on the programme), with each credit taken equating to a total amount of study time which includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity.
Most full-time students will take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester. A total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits are needed for an honours degree as a whole. Overall grades for the course and degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6.
Our teaching is informed by research, professional practice and industry engagement and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline.
Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma or 2 A Levels in relevant subjects, or level 3 qualifications in maths and science or equivalent. Industrial experience may also be considered.
*UCAS Tariff points where shown, are for entry on to higher education programmes starting from September 2021.
International applicants
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0, with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking), or an equivalent English Language qualification.
Additional requirements for International Students:
Our graduates either begin an exciting career in the workplace within this high-tech industry or/and continue to the HND Diploma in Mechanical Engineering or other professional development degree level programmes, either full or part-time. Graduates of the part-time HNC/D programme typically use this qualification to increase promotional career opportunities within their sector. This course should enable a technician to carry out responsible duties consistent with higher technician status.
Timetables: Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Please note that while we make every effort to ensure that timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week. Part-time classes are normally scheduled on one or two days per week.
Teaching and Learning: You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and practicals. Seminars enable smaller group discussions to develop understanding of topics covered in lectures.
When not attending lectures, seminars and practicals or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-directed study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, learning zone or technical learning resources, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations
Assessment: The course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or ‘formative’ assessment for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark.
There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. Assessment methods include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations and your final year major project. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.
Feedback: You will receive feedback on all practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor.
All Fees and prices shown on the website are for courses starting in the 2018-19 or 2019-20 academic year and are correct at the time of entering/printing information, however these may be subject to change. The College cannot accept legal or financial liability as a result of any such changes.
The course information describes programmes offered by University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute. The College takes all reasonable steps to provide courses as described, but cannot guarantee provision. The information is for guidance and does not form any part of a contract.
The College reserves the right to update and amend information as and when necessary. University Centre Colchester at Colchester Institute will do its best to provide the courses shown, but may have to modify or withdraw a course depending on customer demand and other factors.