BEng (Hons) Engineering (Mechanical) Top-Up Degree Bachelor's degree at Farnborough College of Technology
BEng (Hons) Engineering (Mechanical) Top-Up Degree at FCT. Delivered part-time, it allows you to balance further study with work or other commitments.
About this course
Boost your future with BEng (Hons) Engineering (Mechanical) Top-Up training available in Farnborough. From the provider’s course page.
BEng (Hons) Engineering (Mechanical) Top-Up Degree is a Bachelor's degree (BEng (Hons)) at FCT, based in University Centre Farnborough. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Engineering, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
A typical UK Engineering degree builds from foundations to specialist options and a final project. An indicative structure:
| Stage | Module |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Engineering Mathematics Calculus, linear algebra and numerical methods for engineers. |
| Year 1 | Mechanics & Materials Statics, dynamics and how materials behave under load. |
| Year 1 | Design & Practical Skills CAD, workshop practice and the engineering design process. |
| Year 2 | Thermodynamics & Fluids / Circuits & Systems The discipline core, mechanical or electrical stream. |
| Year 2 | Engineering Analysis & Computing Simulation, programming and data analysis for engineering problems. |
| Year 2 | Group Design Project A team build against a real specification, reviewed like industry. |
| Year 3 | Specialist options Typically energy, robotics, structures, communications or manufacturing. |
| Year 3 | Professional Engineering Practice Safety, ethics, sustainability and project management. |
| Year 3 | Individual project A substantial supervised design/research project, the degree's centrepiece. |
Typical structure for this subject (indicative). Modules vary by university. Check the provider's course page for the exact curriculum.
Specialisations & pathways
Tip: click a specialisation → current jobs in that area.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This top-up degree builds on prior engineering qualifications to develop advanced mechanical engineering competence. A course like this normally moves from foundational engineering mathematics, mechanics and materials through to specialist study and a substantial final project. You'll typically progress from core modules in thermodynamics and fluids, engineering analysis and computing, and group design work in the earlier stage, before moving into specialist options such as energy and sustainability, robotics and mechatronics, electrical and electronic engineering, or civil and structural engineering. You'll also study professional engineering practice, covering safety, ethics, sustainability and project management, culminating in an individual design or research project.
Who it's for
This course suits people with a solid grounding in mechanical engineering who want to progress to honours degree level whilst studying flexibly. You'll thrive if you're curious about how mechanical systems work in the real world, comfortable applying theory to practical problems, and keen to develop your professional judgment through hands-on project work. It's ideal if you're already employed in engineering or a related field and want to formalise your qualifications without leaving your role.
Careers & job market
Across engineering nationally, 90% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with 80% of those working in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. Starting salaries ranged from £29,000 to £35,000 at this point; after five years, the range extended to £33,150 to £46,800. These figures reflect the broader engineering graduate labour market. The exact outcome depends on your specialism, employer and career choices. University Centre Farnborough, part of Farnborough College of Technology, holds Bronze recognition in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (2023).
University & format
This course is delivered part-time at Farnborough College of Technology, a higher education college located at University Centre Farnborough. Instruction is in English. Farnborough College of Technology is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your degree is nationally recognised. The institution achieved Bronze for teaching quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code 1ENG). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at FCT →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Engineering graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in engineering · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Engineering nationally
National figures for Engineering graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Engineering graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Engineering graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Engineering & manufacturing firms
- Automotive & aerospace
- Energy & utilities
- Defence & consultancies
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Engineering graduates.
Engineering Surveyor (Machine Control)BAM UK & IrelandEngineering Operations Project ManagerFdo Consulting LimitedEngineering ManagerVerto PeopleEngineering ManagerRobert WaltersEngineering ManagerPremier Technical RecruitmentEngineering ManagerRedline Group LtdWho studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Engineering and technology across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around University Centre Farnborough
559 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Engineering right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to FCT from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by FCT; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check FCT’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with FCT and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at FCT
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
What will it cost me?
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