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Engineering: Mechanical HNC

(SCQF level 7)

Engineering, Nautical and STEM

Mode of Study

Full-time

Start Date

25th Aug 2025, 1 year

Location

Riverside Campus

  • Applications from International Students Welcome
    •

    Overview

    This one year course gives you the skills, knowledge and understanding that you'll need for a career in mechanical engineering.  On completion of this course you can continue to the 2nd year of the HND programme, apply to study at degree level or move into a technical-level job within industry.

    You’ll be able to use state-of-the-art facilities at the college – such as our fully equipped mechanical lab, pneumatic and hydraulic rigs and computer suites running CAD software.

    You'll be taught by staff with significant engineering experience and a proven track record of bringing out the best in their students.

    This course is placed on the Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework at Level 7. 

    Entry requirements

    Minimum entry requirements

    • ​Two Highers at Grade C or above including Mathematics and preferably Physics or Engineering Science; OR
    • National Qualification at SCQF level 6 in a relevant Mechanical Engineering subject; OR
    • Other equivalent qualifications or experience.

    Additional selection requirements

    You'll be invited for a group and/or individual interview where you can find out more about the course and tell us why you're interested in this subject area or we'll make an offer based on your application form.

    ESOL entry requirements

    Applicants whose first language is not English should have minimum SQA ESOL National 5 or equivalent for NC/NQ courses and ESOL Higher or equivalent for HNC/D courses.

    What you study

    You'll study:

    • Statics and Strength of Materials.
    • Thermofluids.
    • Dynamics.
    • Materials Selection.
    • Engineering Maths 1 & 2.
    • Pneumatics and Hydraulics.
    • Engineering Principles.
    • Computer-Aided Draughting for Engineers.
    • Engineering Drawing.
    • Communications.
    • Introduction to Quality Management.
    • IT Applications.
    • Personal Development Planning.

    There will be a Graded Unit exam in May to assess all of the core subjects.

    After the course

    Careers

    You can also apply for technician or apprentice roles within the industry.

    Continuing Study

    We have articulation agreements with Glasgow Caledonian University and Napier to gain advanced entry to their degree programmes.

    You can articulate into the 2nd year of our HND Mechanical Engineering.

    Teaching

    How the course is taught

    The course is taught on a full-time basis - 3 days per week at our Riverside campus.  Part-time routes are also available for apprentices.

    Assessment methods

    This is predominantly a theory-based HNC with 15 credits.  Some of the units are assessed in a single exam upon completion of teaching for that unit (e.g. Statics and Strength of Materials, Thermofluids and Dynamics).  Other units involve practical skills such as fault finding on the pneumatic and hydraulics rigs.  CAD drawings are completed within our computer suites.

    Towards the end of the year students undertake their Graded Unit 1 exam.  This is a 3 hour, closed book exam containing questions from the following topics: Statics and Strength of Materials, Thermofluids, Dynamics, Materials, Quality, Pneumatics and Hydraulics and Engineering Principles.

    All units are graded as Pass/Fail other than the Graded Unit which is graded A, B, C or Fail.

    Additional Information

    Materials

    All notes are available as handouts or accessible through Canvas, our VLE.

    • Mode of Study:
      Full-time
    • Start Date:
      25th Aug 2025, 1 year
    • Location:
      Riverside Campus
    • Applications from International Students Welcome