Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering for England

The full and part time programmes will assist those looking to develop a career as an electrical or electronic design/test engineer.

The Higher National Certificate is a university-level qualification (Level 4) with a strong vocational emphasis. It is a nationally recognised qualification that equips you with the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to succeed in employment or the opportunity to progress to study at university.

For people currently employed in a related field, an HNC provides the opportunity to upgrade knowledge and skills, combining work and study and may be a more cost-effective alternative to university study. This course is equivalent to the first year of a full time university-level programme.

The awarding body is Pearson Edexcel.

This course is a Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ). HTQs are technical qualifications that have been developed by employers and awarding bodies so students can develop the skills that employers want.

The Level 4 units lay the foundation of learning by providing a broad introduction to the engineering sector as well as a focused introduction to manufacturing engineering. This develops and strengthens core skills while preparing students for more specialist subjects at Level 5 or to enter employment with the qualities necessary for job roles that require some personal responsibility. Students will gain a wide range of scientific and engineering knowledge linked to practical skills obtained through research, independent study, directed study and workplace scenarios. Students are involved in vocational activities that help them to develop behaviours (the attitudes and approaches required for a competence) and transferable skills.

The full time course from Sept 2024 will cover all the topics listed below in one year, and there is also a part time option to do the course over two years:

Core Units:

Unit 4001: Engineering Design [1st Year study]

• Create a design specification for a given design brief that meets stakeholder’s requirements, along with a proposed design solution.  
• Analyse possible technical solutions to implement the proposed design specification.  
• Produce a design report considering all key aspects including manufacturability (or design for manufacturing and assembly) and environmental impact.  
• Present the design solution to an audience, including evaluation of feedback and future improvements. 

Unit 4002: Engineering Maths [1st Year study]

• Apply a variety of mathematical methods to a range of engineering and manufacturing sector problems.  
• Investigate applications of statistical and probability techniques to interpret, organise, and present data.  
• Use analytical and computational methods for solving engineering and manufacturing sector problems by relating sinusoidal wave and vector functions to their respective applications.  
• Examine how differential and integral calculus can be used to solve engineering and manufacturing sector problems. 

Unit 4004: Managing a Professional Engineering Project [1st Year study] (Note: This is a Pearson-set unit.) 

• Select a project that will provide a solution to an identified engineering/manufacturing problem.  
• Conduct planned project activities to generate outcomes which provide a solution to the identified engineering/manufacturing problem.  
• Produce a project report analysing the outcomes of each of the project processes and stages. 
• Present the project report drawing conclusions on the outcomes of the project. 

Unit 4014: Production Engineering for Manufacture [1st Year study]

• Illustrate the role and purpose of production engineering and its relationship with the other elements of a manufacturing system.  
• Describe the most appropriate production processes and associated facility arrangements for manufacturing products of different material types.  
• Analyse how a production system can incorporate a number of different production processes for a given product or assembly.  
•  Explore the effectiveness of a production system in terms of its operation within the wider manufacturing system. 

Unit 4017: Quality and Process Improvement [2nd Year study]

• Examine the applications of statistical process control when applied in an industrial environment to improve efficiency.  
• Analyse cost effective quality control tools  
• Determine the role of standards in improving efficiency, meeting customer requirements, and opening up new opportunities for trade.  
• Analyse the importance of Total Quality Management and continuous improvement in manufacturing and service environments. 

Specialist Units:

Unit 4015: Automation, Robotics and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) [2nd Year study]

• Describe the design and operational characteristics of a PLC system.  
• Design a PLC program by considering function requirements, PLC information, programming, and communication techniques.  
• Program industrial robots using commands to perform a given task with the knowledge of the key elements and their functions.  
• Investigate the design and safe operation of a robot within an industrial application. 

Unit 4019: Electrical and Electronic Principles [2nd Year study]

• Apply an understanding of fundamental electrical quantities to analyse circuits with constant voltages and currents.  
• Analyse circuits with sinusoidal voltages and currents  
• Describe the basis of semiconductor action, and its application to simple electronic devices.  
•  Explain the difference between digital and analogue electronics, describing simple applications of each. 

Unit 4021: Electrical Machines [2nd Year study]

• Investigate the different types and operation of electrical machines.  
• Explore the operation and the various starting methods of induction machines.  
• Explore the operation and the various starting methods of synchronous machines.  
• Analyse the operating characteristics, construction and applications of electromagnetic transducers and actuators. 

Assessment

You will be assessed through examination as well as written and practical assignments that cover the learning outcomes assigned to each unit and are completed with direction from, and with formative assessment by, tutors.

Click here to view the latest Student Handbook for this course: HNC HND Engineering Handbook
View the full qualification specification here.

You will need 64 UCAS tariff points (minimum) from AS, A Level or AVCE programmes which includes Mathematics and Physics, BTEC National Diploma/Certificate/Extended Diploma including at least merits in Mathematics and EEP, GNVQ Advanced, an Access qualification or other qualifications deemed equivalent to the above. Apprentices on the 120 credit Diploma in addition should have gained at least a pass in Level 3 Unit 28 Further Mathematics. Consideration will be given to mature applicants who have substantial relevant industrial experience. An interview will be required. GCSE Maths and English is required at grade C (or 4) or above (or equivalent O Level).

You will be studying at the Technology and Future Skills Centres, which provide aerospace, engineering and automotive students with up-to-date equipment and learning spaces. Our CAD design suite includes computers running the latest industry software, and the CAM workshop contains CNC machining equipment to give you an understanding of modern automated manufacture. A £3million extension has created an Advanced Engineering Centre to be a UK centre of excellence for robotics, and an advanced manufacturing workspace and an electrical/electronic workspace.

Teaching staff:

• Gary Herrington
• David Symes
• Mike Jory
• George Granton
• Kevin Pavey
• Mike Daniels
• Ryan May
• Phil Tucker

You are required to purchase some of the recommended books to aid self-study. All students need to have drawing equipment and a scientific calculator.