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Mechanical Engineering HND

(SCQF level 8)

Engineering, Nautical and STEM

Mode of Study

Full-time

Start Date

25th Aug 2025, 2 years

Location

Riverside Campus

  • Applications from International Students Welcome
    •

    Overview

    This two-year course allows you to study mechanical engineering to a professional standard. On completion of this course you'll typically go to university, or move into industry - Mechanical Engineering job profiles.

    This course involves the use of the college’s extensive engineering equipment, which includes our mechanical workshop, pneumatics and hydraulics rigs and computer suites running CAD design software.

    This course is placed on the Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework at Level 8.

    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

    Year one:

    • 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.
    • Graded Unit 1 Exam
    Year two:
    • Practical Engineering Workshop Skills.
    • Applied Industrial Plant Maintenance.
    • Plant Systems.
    • Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics.
    • Strength of Materials Advanced.
    • Design for Manufacture.
    • Project Management.
    • Engineering Maths 3 & 4.
    • Safety Engineering and the Environment.
    • Business Awareness and Continuous Professional Development.
    • Graded Unit 2 Project.

    After the course

    Careers

    You can look for employment at technician level in a mechanical discipline. 

    Continuing Study

    If you successfully complete the HND with a Graded unit result of B or above plus complete Maths 5 for Engineering this will allow you to enter directly into selected 3rd year BEng programs at Glasgow Caledonian University and University of West of Scotland. 

    There may be the opportunity to progress to year 2 at Strathclyde University. 

    Other universities will also accept this qualification as advanced standing however it is recommended that individual institutions are contacted prior to completing a UCAS application.  If universities request Engineering Maths 5 to be completed as part of the entry requirements, this can be completed, however, there may be a charge for that unit.

    Teaching

    How the course is taught

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

    Assessment methods

    To achieve an HND you need to pass 30 credits, you'll complete 15 in the first year and 15 in the second.

    Some of the units are assessed in a single exam upon completion of teaching for that unit (eg. Statics and Strength of Materials, Thermofluids and Dynamics).  Others are split into individual outcome assessments.  Engineering Skills is workshop based.  Pneumatics and Hydraulics involve fault finding on the practical rigs.  CAD drawings are completed within our computer suites.

    Towards the end of the first 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.

    In the second year the Graded Unit 2 is project based.

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

    Additional Information

    Materials

    Presentations and notes are accessible through Canvas, our Virtual Learning platform.  All PPE will be supplied.

    Dress code

    All relevant workshop PPE will be supplied by the college.

    • Mode of Study:
      Full-time
    • Start Date:
      25th Aug 2025, 2 years
    • Location:
      Riverside Campus
    • Applications from International Students Welcome