Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Mechanical Engineering
If you don’t have the right qualifications to enrol directly on to the Mechanical Engineering degree, the HNC could be for you. The HNC provides a flexible route to degree study and is a recognised qualification in its own right. Once you complete the HNC you have the option to progress on to the HND Mechanical Engineering and then to the degree.
USW is the only provider of part time engineering courses in Wales. This means part time students can continue to work full time, while attending university one day a week for their lessons.
Accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the HNC Mechanical Engineering will help build a firm foundation for employment as a senior technician in a range of engineering sectors including aviation, defence, medical engineering, engineering management, manufacturing, and the automotive industry.
You will gain transferable skills in communication, problem-solving and team work, which will make you attractive to employers in other sectors. Successful completion will give you the academic qualifications required to gain EngTech status.
Campus Information
Pontypridd Campus
USW Pontypridd is surrounded by green open spaces. Our students say they love the community atmosphere, as well as the convenience of living and studying in the same place. USW Pontypridd is our largest campus and is made up of two sites; Treforest and Glyntaff.
Intakes
- Sep
Application Processing Time in Days: 25
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
Completion of this HNC mechanical engineering course can lead directly to a career or further study, such as our mechanical engineering HND or mechanical engineering degree. There are also a range of engineering sectors you could work in such as, design, manufacturing, research and development, production management and quality.
Our Careers and Employability Service
As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.
This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.
Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.
PSW Opportunity
- 2 Years PSW is applicable after completing a minimum duration of 9 months course (like- Undergraduate, Postgraduate Level)
- 3 Years PSW is applicable after completing PhD level courses.
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
Three GCSEs at grade C/Grade 4 or above, including Mathematics and English language. Applications are considered on an individual basis.
India
Academic Qualifications
- An overall average of 60 - 65% or above in the 12th Standard depending on which Board you have studied
- Advanced entry to certain undergraduate degree programmes may be possible for students who hold a UK HND or India Diploma in a relevant subject.
Sri Lanka
Academic Qualifications
- Holders of the International Baccalaureate Diploma with higher grades of between 655-445 (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points) will be considered for direct admission to first-year degree programmes.
- Holders of the Cambridge GCE A-Levels will be considered against the standard UCAS tariff for each individual course for direct admission to first-year degree programmes.
- Advanced entry to certain undergraduate degree programmes may be possible for students who hold an HND in a relevant subject.
Nepal
Academic Qualifications
- Students who have passed the Higher Secondary Certificate in year 12 from CBSE (Central Board of School Education), HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate), NEB (National Education Board) or HSEB (Higher Secondary Education Board of Nepal) with a grade of 65% or above will be considered for direct entry onto an Undergraduate Degree.
- Schooling certificate must be from Kathmandu - except for applications to study at the Dubai Campus where qualifications from outside of Kathmandu are also considered
- Applicants who study the Edexcel or Cambridge A-Level curriculum will follow the normal UCAS tariff.
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Under Graduate Diploma or Certificate
- Duration: 01 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
13500 GBP
Average Cost of Living: 13632 GBP /year
Application Fee: N/A

