This is a nationally recognised qualification for higher technician engineers in industry, and has been designed to be relevant to the needs of employment in the fields of Production, Manufacturing Engineering and Management. Students are typically employed in or aspire to employment in areas such as planning, estimating, quality or workshop supervision.

This qualification builds on the principles covered in the BTEC National Diploma course but is equally suitable for A Level students or mature students with relevant industrial experience wishing to develop their career in Manufacturing.

As a student on this course you will have the benefits of using ’s excellent facilities including modern rapid prototyping facilities. There are also a number of state-of-the-art CAD/CAM suites available and a refurbished Materials Laboratory. Please contact for details about their open days.

During the first year, you will use CAD software to produce both two-dimensional drawings and three-dimensional models, undertake design simulations and run stress analysis. You will also be introduced to the capabilities of rapid manufacture to produce physical models of your designs and use a CAM package to develop and simulate a milled product. In your first year, you will study manufacturing process technology and the management of the production resources incorporating the latest techniques of the organisation of the work area. You will also study the types of system available and their capabilities in terms of the rapid introduction of products to a competitive marketplace.

During your second year, automated manufacture is developed further with the study of robotics and techniques for the management of quality are also studied.For suitable candidates there is opportunity to undertake NVQ Level 4 in Engineering Leadership in conjunction with this course as part of a Higher Apprenticeship programme with their employer.

A company-relevant major project is undertaken which is directly linked to your CPD as required by the IED. Students are also registered with the IED as student members and completion of the course enables partial Incorporated Engineers registration. For suitable candidates there is opportunity to undertake NVQ Level 4 in Engineering Leadership in conjunction with this course as part of a Higher Apprenticeship programme with their employer.

See Course details for more information.

Key information

Next start date:

HNC: September 2024; FdEng: July 2024

Location:

Bournemouth and Poole College

Duration:

HNC One year full-time, 2 years part-time; FdEng One calendar year full-time or part-time

Accreditations:

Accredited by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) to meet the requirements for EngTech and partially meets the academic requirements for IEng subject to further appropriate learning to degree level for 2024 intake.

Required subjects:

Physics, Maths, CDT

Entry requirements:

HNC: One A-level at grade C in a required subject or equivalent AVCE or National Diploma/Certificate (or equivalent UK or overseas qualifications)

FdEng: 120 Level C credits from an HNC in a required subject. Normally at least 40 credits should be at Merit level or above and 20 of these credits should be from a mathematical analytical unit.

International entry requirements:

IELTS (Academic) 6.0Ìýwith 5.5 in each componentÌýor equivalent. For more information check our international entry requirements.

Accredited for 2024. Re-accreditation for the reviewed course starting in 2025, will take place in February 2025.