Access to Engineering Level 4 NQ

What is special about this course?

If you think engineering might be for you why not give this 17 week course a go? you'll discover a broad range of different types of engineering and get a flavour of the variety of this subject. 

You'll gain greater confidence in your abilities and learn more about what's needed for a career in engineering. You'll learn how to weld, how to bend metal using hand and power tools; find out about electrical wiring and understanding CAD drawings. All of this will be underpinned by health and safety knowledge and workshop skills.

This is an introductory course an no previous experience is required.

Entry requirements

There are no academic entry requirements for this course.

The units you'll study include:

Fabrication (Hot works and introduction to Welding) - You'll learn to work on sheet metal using the likes of the folder, guillotine and rolling machines. You'll use some hand tools to cut and form materials. You will be introduced to welding, using both MIG and ARC and you will be introduced to Cold forming as well as hot forming using oxy/propane. 

Workshop Skills - You will manufacture an artefact using thicker flat bar material. you'll use hand and powered tools to make it, creating threads and using welding and hot forming techniques.

Electrical (wiring systems) - In this unit you'll select materials and components to wire a circuit, then use pre-testing techniques to check the circuit for safety before plugging it in. It is also possible to undertake some electronics within this section and learn some soldering techniques.

Engineering (incorporating a Project) - Each student will choose a project, depending on the complexity of the projects some students might choose to work in a small team. You'll research, outline a plan, choose materials based on a budget, order parts, and then implement the project. 

Health & Safety: Engineering - Health and safety is embedded into all of the workshop activities, and in this unit you will collate information, understand safe working practice, and which statutory bodies oversee this. You will learn how to act in the event of a fire or injury and understand where relevant H&S information can be found within the workplace. You'll also gain an understanding of the employer/employee responsibilities. 

CAD/Engineering communication - The engineering sector uses drawing (either by hand or via CAD) to give information. You will learn to read an engineering drawing, understand where sketches can be used and produce a small CAD drawing. You'll learn about other methods of engineering communication and will be expected to collate some information on working with others both in and outside the workshop.

You'll also develop skills in communication, numeracy, working with others and problem solving.
 

Fees

Scottish resident full-time students will automatically have their course fees paid for this course.   

If you have recently moved to, or do not normally live in Scotland, you may need to pay £5,970 in course fees, these can be paid in instalments. Families of Armed Services personnel are subject to different fees regulations and may also have to pay course fees. If you think this may apply to you, please contact us and we can advise you. 

This course is not available to students who require a Tier 4 Home Office visa to study in Scotland (international or EU). 

Part-time FE students who are on low incomes or in receipt of certain benefits may also have their course fees paid for them. Please refer to page 2 of our Fees and Funding Guide to see if you are eligible.  

Funding

Bursary for Living Costs 

If you are 18 years of age or over on the start date of your course, and will be studying full-time you may be eligible for bursary funding, depending on your household income. Our bursary fund is finite and is allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis so it’s important to make your application for bursary as soon as the application process opens in July. You will need to have accepted our offer before you apply. 

If you are under 18 you may be eligible for EMA. EMA is paid at a rate of £30 per week dependent on your total household income.  

Please see page 2 of our Fees and Funding Guide for full details of Bursary and EMA.  

You may also be eligible for assistance with travel and childcare, and we have discretionary funds for those students in need. You can find all the information you need in our funding pages.