Delivered at our Reading College and University Centre campus, this new Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) which has been developed in collaboration with employers, professional bodies, and higher education providers to develop students as professional, self-reflecting individuals able to meet the demands of employers in the engineering sector.
Course Details
Study Mode
Full Time
Start
14/09/26
End
09/06/28
Day of week
Monday
Duration
2 Years
Guided Learning Hours
480 hours per year
Self Study Hours
360 hours per year
Fees
£3,450 per year
Home/EU students.
International students not accepted.
The qualification aims to widen access to higher education and enhance the career prospects of those that undertake it.
The programme is designed to be studied part-time (one day per week) for two academic years to support students who may have other commitments such as work and/or family responsibilities. The academic year is 32 weeks, starting in September, and delivery is planned over 2 semesters of 16 weeks.
During your first year, you will study the following topics:
- Engineering Design
- Engineering Maths
- Managing a Professional Engineering Project
- Electrical and Electronic Principles
During your second year, you will learn about:
- Production Engineering for Manufacture
- Automation, Robotics and PLC’s
- Quality and Process Improvement
- Electronical Machines
Support
You will have a range of support made available to you, including academic and pastoral support, learning support and access to additional support funds (if eligible). Please see our Support Pages for further information.
You will be provided with a suitably equipped place to work when attending college, which will include access to specialist staff, IT facilities and other learning resources which will be appropriate for the nature of work you will be required to undertake.
Additionally, the college offers a wide range of other resources and facilities including additional learning support, which will be available to you, further details of which can found in the Higher Education Student Handbook.
Additional study support
Whether you have a recognised disability, specific learning difficulty, or not, you will be eligible to access additional learning support in all the following areas:
- assistive software training
- IT upskilling
- essay planning and structure
- proofreading and editing written work
- bibliographies and referencing
- time management and personal organisation
- revision and exam tips
- presentation techniques
A typical offer would be a BTEC Level 3 Diploma at Merit or Distinction with GCSE Maths and English C grade or above/ Functional Skills at Level 2. A-levels in Maths, Science, or IT.
We will consider alternative qualifications or equivalent work experience. Please contact us to discuss your circumstances.
Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate that their level of English is acceptable, by achieving a score in a recognised test such as British Council IELTS -normally minimum level 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in the reading and writing components
Activate Learning welcomes applications from mature students without formal qualifications, who wish to place their experience and knowledge within a formal educational framework. We are happy to support them through the application process via interview.
Normally, the requirement for mature students would be:
- a minimum of the equivalent of two years of relevant work experience and a – current role in an appropriate workplace setting
- evidence of ability to study at academic Level 4
- evidence of support/recommendation from their employer.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
We welcome applications from people with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds.
If you do not meet the formal entry requirements above but have relevant work experience, training, or alternative qualifications, you may still be eligible to apply through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
This process allows us to recognise the learning you have gained through professional practice, previous study, or other experiences when we assess your RPL application.
If you need any further advice or guidance, please see our How to Apply for a Higher Education Course, or send an enquiry through our Contact Us page.
Admissions Information
Our Admissions Policy outlines our commitment and responsibilities to applicants, while the Admissions Procedure for Higher Education explains the application and enrolment process.
All applicants are also encouraged to read our Higher Education Terms and Conditions, which provide important information and reference the relevant policies and procedures that apply to applicants and enrolled students. These can be found at the bottom of our Higher Education Policies page.
Upon successful completion of the HNC, students will be able to progress to an HND (Higher National Diploma) at Activate Learning or at another institution (dependent upon meeting their entry requirements)
On successful completion, you will be awarded a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering for England from Pearson Education Ltd
Please note:
Tuition fees are published for the first year of entry only and may increase in subsequent years for new students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Office for Students.
There are a variety of funding options available to help finance your studies. If you are a UK (Home) student, you don’t have to pay your tuition fees up front. The government provides loans to cover your full tuition fee. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan to help cover living costs. Alternatively, your fees may be paid by your employer, or we could arrange a payment schedule if you are paying your own fees.
Additional costs
Students are advised that they will need access to a laptop or PC. We recommend that you budget £100 a year additional costs such as for stationary to undertake your studies. You can borrow textbooks and access journals from the recommended reading lists are available from the Learning Resource Centre. If you choose to purchase textbooks, they may cost up to £60 each.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please read these important documents before applying for this course.