CertHE Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) HNC Foundation degree at Farnborough College of Technology
CertHE Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) HNC at FCT. It equips you with practical and theoretical knowledge spanning core engineering principles, research methods, applied practice, specialist options, and professional skills, culminating in an independent project.
About this course
Achieve your goals with HNC Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) offered in Surrey. From the provider’s course page.
CertHE Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) HNC is a Foundation degree (CertHE) 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
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
- Engineering DesignCompulsory
- Engineering MathsCompulsory
- Managing a Professional Engineering ProjectCompulsory
- Production Engineering for Manufacture
- Automation, Robotics and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)
- Quality and Process Improvement
- Electrical and Electronic Principles
- Electrical Machines
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This part-time HNC focuses on electrical and electronic engineering fundamentals and applications. A course like this typically begins with core engineering mathematics, mechanics and materials, alongside practical design and CAD skills. In the second stage, you'll usually move into electrical systems and circuits, engineering analysis and computing, and undertake a team design project based on a real specification. Towards completion, you'll encounter specialist options such as energy and sustainability, robotics and mechatronics, or the Chartered (CEng) pathway, alongside professional engineering practice covering safety, ethics and project management. The course concludes with an individual design or research project.
Who it's for
You're likely someone drawn to electrical and electronic systems, how they work, how they're designed, how they connect. You'll thrive if you balance conceptual understanding with hands-on problem-solving, and if you prefer learning alongside work or other commitments, since this is a part-time qualification. The course suits those who want to develop professional-level engineering competence without stepping away from employment or personal responsibilities, and who are ready to invest in a recognised engineering qualification that opens pathways in the field.
Careers & job market
Across Engineering courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Of those working, 80% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries at 15 months range from £29,000 to £35,000; after 5 years, this typically reaches £33,150 to £46,800. Earnings vary by role, employer and region; these are national figures from the Graduate Outcomes and Longitudinal Educational Outcomes datasets, not university-specific guarantees.
University & format
The CertHE HNC is delivered part-time at University Centre Farnborough, part of Farnborough College of Technology, a higher education college based in Surrey. Instruction is in English. The college is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; degrees are nationally recognised. It holds a Bronze award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023. (Note: course duration is not specified in the data provided.)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
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 HH65). 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?
Request information about CertHE Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) HNC
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.