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Course Overview

The course will give you a superb grounding in the essential principles and techniques needed to meet the increasingly challenging and exciting nature of the Engineering industry. It has been designed to be relevant to the needs of employment in the fields of Mechanical Design and Electronic Systems within Marine Engineering.

As a student on this course, you will have the benefits of using the College’s excellent facilities including 3D printing, marine workshop, CAD/CAM suites and material testing laboratory.  Completion of the course enables partial Incorporated Engineer registration. Validated by Bournemouth University, the Programme has high industrial relevance and close ties with the requirements of local industry. Students will work on ‘live’ projects and assignments related to and based on real experiences within their organisation. Accreditation will be sought from the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) to meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) in 2025.

During the first year you will design and test analogue, digital and software based marine electronic systems. Typical circuit systems will be simulated and constructed and a range of test equipment utilised. A range of electrical & electronic theories techniques will be studied to reflect those taking place in the marine industry. There will be an introduction to business processes and theory within engineering companies and different project management techniques. This is tied together with the underpinning of mathematical theory, engineering science and materials science, including metal and polymer experiments.

During the second year you will extend those skills developed in year one and you will undertake a group design project and an individual, company relevant, project that will also demonstrate your ability to project manage. You will also study statistics to enable you to control and measure production output, product tolerances and quality. You will also be introduced to the management of production resources, incorporating the latest techniques of organisation of the work area. The business processes and theories from the first year will be applied through the production of a business plan. Your understanding of engineering science will continue to be developed throughout the second year. If successful, you graduate at this point with an HNC and if you achieve the necessary grades you have the option to progress to the Foundation Degree.

In this third year of study, you will develop your understanding of marine auxiliary systems further with the work directly linked to fault finding and systems design within leisure craft. Further and more detailed techniques for the management of quality within manufacturing are also introduced. A more detailed company relevant major project is undertaken to demonstrate you can apply what you have learned over the last three years. You will also undertake writing your first academic paper for possible publication. To link in with the requirements for the IED and IMechE you will also undertake Continual Professional Development and a work based log throughout the year.

Students who achieve a merit grade or above in their Foundation Degree may progress onto the final two years at Bournemouth University, culminating in the attainment of a full Degree in BEng in Engineering (Mechanical Design).

HNC Years 1 & 2 – Level 4 (Part time over 2 academic years or full time over 1 academic year)

  • Analytical Methods for Manufacturing
  • Business & Project Management
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Electrical & Electronic Principles for Marine Applications   
  • Mechanical Design Principles
  • Project

FdEng Year 3 - Level 5 (1 calendar year)

  • Marine Auxiliary Systems
  • Major Project
  • Quality Management
  • The Engineering Professional
  • Work Based Unit



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

These courses have been specifically designed, in consultation with Industry and Professional Institutions, to enable those predominately working in engineering to study alongside their work. Our HNCs and Foundation Degrees in engineering are ideally suited to those who are looking to gain the essential skills to advance their career in a variety of engineering roles.

This course is also offered as a Degree Apprenticeship. Please (link currently under construction) for more information.

 

There are various entry points.

To begin at Level 4/HNC, candidates will typically have 32 UCAS points, one A Level at Grade C in a relevant subject or equivalent AVCE or national diploma/certificate.

Relevant subjects: Physics, Maths, CDT, Engineering, Electronics

To begin at Level 5/FdEng, candidates will typically have 120 Level 4 credits from an HNC in an appropriate discipline with a minimum grade of Merit.

Assessment is by a variety of methods depending on the nature of the unit, these include but are not inclusive:

  • Assessments

  • Projects

  • Presentations

  • Tests

  • Practical work

  • Groups work

  • Laboratory work

  • Literature review

  • Research

The HNC and FdEng Engineering Programmes follow Bournemouth University assessment regulations.

A Work Based learning unit is incorporated within the FdEng Programmes. Reflective logs are used to facilitate students’ learning and encourage the transferability of knowledge between study and the workplace. The unit is designed to encourage the students to review what they do at work in light of the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC), fulfilling the competence and commitment requirements for registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng).

Project units, at both level 4 and 5 are, wherever possible, company-based and employer-supported ‘live’ projects. As a result, the project reinforces the aspirations of the students’ chosen areas of academic study and offers an element of work-based learning.

It is also a requirement for any students not employed in engineering to undertake a work placement within local industry during the programme’s calendar year. This is to further their understanding of industrial practice and appreciation of a real engineering working environment. This period will enable the students to complete a reflective logbook for use in the Work Based learning unit.

Site visits, presentations by and discussions with industry representatives will also ensure that a “real world” understanding of project management is achieved.

For learners undertaking a Degree Apprenticeship supporting evidence for the end point assessment requirements can be taken from the Work Based Unit report and the work based learning elements of the programme.

 

 

Progression to the BEng/MEng (Hons) Engineering is an option for appropriate students.

 

Roles in Engineering Design and R & D

HNC - £3,250 per academic year

FdEng - £4,000

Students who are eligible, can apply for a student loan with Student Finance.

Attendance: Part time over 3 years (2 academic years for the HNC plus 1 calendar year for the FdEng) or full time over 2 years (1 academic year for the HNC plus 1 calendar year for the FdEng)

Applications: Please note that students taking the part-time HNC/FdEng should apply directly to The Bournemouth & Poole College and not via the UCAS process.

If you meet the entry requirements and would like to apply, simply click on the Apply Now button above.

If you have any questions regarding the course, please use the ‘Enquire Now’ button, contact the Higher Education Team +44 (0)1202 205180
email: highereducation@bpc.ac.uk

 

Venue: The course is delivered at The College's North Road campus, Poole

The college reserves the right to make changes to the information given, including the addition, withdrawal, re-location or restructuring of courses.

Course Options

Start Date

Wed 3rd September 2025

Attendance

Part-time

Duration

3 Years

Location

Poole Campus

Adult Fee

4000.00

Adult Fee with Concession

4000.00

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