Applied Engineering Higher National Certificate - HNC

OVERVIEW\
Do you see your future in engineering? The industry urgently needs you. Around a fifth of the UK’s engineering workforce is expected to retire by 2026, meaning hundreds of thousands of new workers will be needed within the next few years to plug the gap. Our Higher National Certificate in Applied Engineering will give you the training you need to develop your career and make a real difference in the sector at this crucial time.

Full-time over two days per week or part-time with only one day per week, this engineering course is ideal for anyone looking to fit higher education study around work commitments. Supported by our outstanding engineering facilities on campus, you will study core subjects that are required for engineers across the sector, including engineering design, maths and material science, electrical and electronic principles, as well as learning valuable transferable skills and essential management skills for the industry.

By completing our Applied Engineering HNC course, you will achieve a Level 4 qualification widely recognised by employers within the engineering industry, boosting your prospects of progressing into a range of careers. It will also open the doors for you to progress onto further study, including Electromechanical Engineering BEng, Mechanical Engineering BEng and Automated Manufacturing BEng at University College Birmingham.

This course is not open to international students.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

* Strong Foundations – The course now provides an even stronger foundation in core engineering principles, ensuring you have the technical mastery required for advanced study


* Streamlined Progression – We have enhanced the progression pathways into Level 5 to ensure a seamless transition

* Accelerated Part-Time Route – For those studying part-time, there is now the possibility of completing the programme in 18 months instead of the standard two years


* Collaborative Learning – You will have the opportunity to study alongside students on our BEng degree, fostering a broader professional network and collaborative environment

* Capstone Project – We have introduced a Capstone Project, allowing you to apply your learning to a significant, real-world engineering challenge

* ENRICHMENT – Take on practical research activities in our labs and hear from leading guest speakers from the sector

* TOP FOR STUDENT SATISFACTION - We came third in the UK for overall student satisfaction among universities in the National Student Survey 2026 (when taking the average score for student satisfaction for each of the 26 questions in the NSS)

FACILITIES\
Students on our construction and engineering courses will learn in brand new real-world training environments under development at University College Birmingham. Our brand new Engineering and Sustainable Construction Centre at the iconic James Cond Building will offer state-of-the-art facilities specifically designed to develop skills that support employers and their supply chains, along with further new facilities at Camden House.

CAREERS AND PROGRESSION\
Examples of careers you could pursue following this course:

* Engineering technician

* Maintenance technician

* CAD technician

* Junior Design Engineer

* Manufacturing engineer

* Electrical/electronics engineer

Upon completion of the HNC, you can also progress onto our Engineering HND course.

* Please refer to our website www.ucb.ac.uk for the latest updates to this course