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Mechanical Engineering - NTU in Mansfield Higher National Certificate

Start date

  • Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
  • Typical Offer: 64 UCAS tariff points
  • Start Date(s): September 2024
  • Duration: 18 months part-time
  • Study Mode(s): Part-time (day)
  • Campus: NTU at Mansfield
Information for 2024

Introduction:

Taught at NTU in Mansfield, we are providing access to alternative routes in higher education. We've built qualifications with the local job market in mind. Each of our higher education courses is relevant, hands-on and work focused.

This course is ideal if you are already working in engineering and want to progress in your career as well as those who want to work in the engineering sector. You'll get a broad knowledge through studying a wide range of engineering subjects to develop technical, communication and management skills needed by today's technical engineers.

As the level of automation in the Mansfield and Ashfield region grows, this course will align and work with the local industry to fulfil local demands and future-proof the workforce.

  • You'll study at our NTU in Mansfield campus, where you'll have access to fantastic buildings, and all of the tools and technology you need for studying on this course.
  • The course is delivered part-time for one day per week - enabling you to fit learning around your work and other commitments.
  • This course prepares you to progress to a range of roles in the engineering industry and the opportunity to continue your studies on a university degree course.

What you’ll study

The course is studied over 18 months part-time (one day per week).

You'll study the underpinning engineering theory and get to apply it through practical sessions in our engineering facilities. To develop your engineering skills you'll be applying your skills to real-world situations and problems, making you think and work like a professional engineer.

The modules will focus on relating theory to current engineering topics and issues. You'll explore developing and future technologies so you'll be at the forefront of what's happening in industry.

Engineering Design

You’ll learn how to prepare an engineering design specification that satisfies your stakeholders’ requirements, implement best practice when analysing and evaluating possible design solutions, prepare a written technical design report, and present your finalised design to a customer or audience.

Topics included in this module: Gantt charts and critical path analysis, stakeholder requirements, market analysis, design process management, modelling and prototyping, manufacturability, reliability life cycle, safety and risk, management, calculations, drawings and concepts and ergonomics.

Engineering Maths

Develop your skills in the mathematical principles and theories that underpin the engineering. You’ll be introduced to mathematical methods and statistical techniques in order to analyse and solve problems within an engineering context.

Managing a Professional Engineering Project

Learn the techniques and best practices required to successfully create and manage an engineering project designed to identify a solution to an engineering need. While carrying out a project you’ll consider the role and function of engineering in our society, the professional duties and responsibilities expected of engineers together with the behaviours that accompany their actions. Fundamentals of Thermodynamics and Heat Engines.

Mechanical Principles

Discover the essential mechanical principles associated with engineering applications. You’ll cover behavioural characteristics of static, dynamic and oscillating engineering systems, bending moments, torsion, linear and angular acceleration, conservation of energy and vibrating systems; and the movement and transfer of energy by considering parameters of mechanical power transmission systems.

Fundamentals of Thermodynamics and Heat Engines

Investigate fundamental thermodynamic systems and their properties in this module. You’ll get experience of applying the steady flow energy equation to plant equipment, examining the principles of heat transfer to industrial applications, and determining the performance of internal combustion engines.

Quality and Process Improvement

Discover the importance of quality assurance processes in a manufacturing or service environment and the principles and theories that underpin them. You’ll cover tools and techniques used to support quality control, testing processes, international standards for management (ISO 9000, 14000, 18000), European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), principles, tools and techniques of Total Quality Management (TQM) and implementation of Six Sigma.

Production Engineering for Manufacture

Develop your knowledge and understanding of the production technologies available and their advantages and disadvantages. You’ll study the requirements of the production system operation and the interaction between components of the production system.

Fluid Mechanics

Fluid mechanics is an important to engineers of many disciplines, not just those working directly with fluid systems. During this module you’ll measure viscosity in fluids, understand the characteristics of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids and examine fluid flow phenomena, including energy conservation, estimation of head loss in pipes and viscous drag.

How you’re taught

The course is delivered one day per week part-time, enabling you to fit learning around your work and other commitments. The course is predominantly coursework-based with some practical assessments and class tests.

Outside of timetabled sessions, you'll need to undertake self-directed independent study. This will include preparing for seminars, researching, completing coursework, and directed reading to expand your knowledge.

Seminars and lab sessions

You'll have seminars and lab sessions, where you'll apply theory learned to real-world situations. These sessions involve active learning and are driven by collaboration with your tutors and classmates. Due to the smaller class sizes, this approach enables individualised support to ensure you reach your learning potential.

Careers and employability

This course focuses on specialist technical skills and knowledge and provides you with a clear set of skills and goals for entering employment. Following this course, you can enter a wide range of engineering roles, including CAD / CAM Designer, Engineering Technician (Design of Rail Rolling Stock), Technical Engineer (Metal Packaging Production) and Design Engineer (Aerospace Connectors).

As this is a vocational course part-time students would typically already be working in industry. This course is suitable for applicants planning to progress to the first level of supervisory responsibility in their career.

Further study

Students who successfully complete the HNC Mechanical Engineering course will have the opportunity to progress onto HND Mechanical Engineering.

Employability team

Our expert Employability team will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice. You can benefit from this service at any time during your studies and for up to three years after completing your course.

NTU Enterprise

You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.

Campus and facilities

We are continually investing in our facilities and transforming our learning and teaching environment to create an inspiring and innovative atmosphere. Teaching will take place at the University Hub's £6.5 million University Centre, which opened in 2016 and which is equipped with the latest facilities and state-of-the-art technology. Facilities include:

  • On-site Café
  • Teaching and Learning Centre
  • Library
  • Social spaces
  • Student support services
  • Dedicated study zones including PC suites

As an Engineering student at Nottingham Trent University in Mansfield, you will have access to a high-performance CAD suite, industry-standard robotics, hydraulics and pneumatics test equipment and electronics equipment.

Entry requirements

  • 64 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent including Maths grade C
  • GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.

Other qualifications and experience

The following qualifications will also be considered:

  • Other related Level 3 qualifications
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma from an approved further education institution
  • Relevant work experience, or an international equivalent to the above qualifications.

We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.

Meeting our entry requirements

Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to three different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form

This course is not suitable for student who require a student visa. 

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.

We have undergraduate Engineering courses which are suitable for Student Visa applicants.  Here is a list of all the undergraduate courses we offer.

Fees and funding

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.

For guidance, 2023 entry fees are:

Mode of study

Part-time (18 months)

Home (UK) tuition fee

  • £4,935 (Year One)
  • £2,465 (Year Two)

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service. Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494

This course is not suitable for student who require a student visa. 

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.

We have undergraduate Engineering courses which are suitable for Student Visa applicants.  Here is a list of all the undergraduate courses we offer.

How to apply

You can apply for this course directly with NTU through our  Application Portal.

Keeping up to date

After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page.

This course is not suitable for Student Visa applicants.

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.

We have undergraduate Engineering courses which are suitable for Student Visa applicants. Here is a list of all the undergraduate courses we offer.

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