FdSc Engineering (Mechanical Design) HNC/FdSc (Full-time, Part-time)

Course overview

We will be recruiting for full-time entry for this course from September 2013.

Delivered at Bournemouth & Poole College, this course will give you a superb grounding in the essential principles and techniques you need to meet the increasingly challenging and exciting nature of this industry. It is a nationally recognised qualification for higher technician engineers in industry, and has been designed to be relevant to the needs of employment in the fields of Design, within Mechanical Engineering. Students are typically employed in or aspire to employment in areas such as engineering design or R & D. This qualification builds on the principles covered in the BTEC National Diploma course but is equally suitable for A Level students or mature students with relevant industrial experience wishing to develop their career in Design.

As a student on this course you will have the benefits of using the College’s excellent facilities including modern rapid prototyping facilities. There are also a number of state-of-the-art CAD/CAM suites available and a refurbished Materials Laboratory.

During the first year, you will use CAD software to produce both two-dimensional drawings and three-dimensional models, undertake design simulations and run stress analysis. You will also be introduced to the capabilities of rapid manufacture to produce physical models of your designs and use a CAM package to develop and simulate a milled product. The importance of consideration of manufacturing methods is emphasised as part of the design process as is consideration of the behaviour of engineering materials and fitness for purpose. You will also undertake a group design project.

During your second year, design techniques and analysis are further developed with the work directly linked to a marketing and business plan. A company-relevant major project is undertaken which is directly linked to your CPD as required by the IED. Students are also registered with the IED as student members and completion of the course enables partial Incorporated Engineers registration. For suitable candidates there is opportunity to undertake NVQ Level 4 in Engineering Leadership in conjunction with this course as part of a Higher Apprenticeship programme with their employer.