HND Engineering HNC - Mechanical Foundation degree at Havant and South Downs College
HND Engineering HNC - Mechanical at HSDC. You'll undertake an independent project and develop professional skills relevant to the field.
About this course
Discover our Mechanical Engineering HNC/HND course at South Downs Campus and explore engineering design, maths, fluid mechanics, and more. From the provider’s course page.
HND Engineering HNC - Mechanical is a Foundation degree (HND) at HSDC, based in South Downs Campus. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Engineering graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £42,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Engineering, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 30% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
HNC 8 modules
- Engineering DesignCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Engineering MathsCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Managing a Professional Engineering ProjectCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Mechanical PrinciplesCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Fluid MechanicsCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Fundamentals of Thermodynamics and Heat EnginesCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Production Engineering for ManufactureCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Quality and Process ImprovementCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
HND 8 modules
- Professional Engineering ManagementCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Advanced Mechanical PrinciplesCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Virtual EngineeringCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Further ThermodynamicsCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Further MathematicsCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Manufacturing Systems EngineeringCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- Lean ManufacturingCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
- ThermofluidsCore
Module details
Assessment: Assignment-based activities, reports, coursework, practical work, independent study and research
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
You'll study engineering design, mathematics, fluid mechanics and more, building from foundational concepts to specialist topics. A course like this typically progresses from Year 1 fundamentals, engineering mathematics, mechanics and materials, and design with CAD, through Year 2 core work in thermodynamics and fluids, circuits and systems depending on your stream, plus engineering analysis and a group design project. Year 3 normally introduces specialist options, such as mechanical, electrical and electronic, civil and structural, robotics and mechatronics, energy and sustainability, or a chartered (CEng) pathway, alongside professional engineering practice and a substantial individual project.
Who it's for
This course is for people with a strong interest in mechanical systems and engineering problem-solving who prefer to study part-time. You'll likely already hold another higher-education qualification, most entrants do. You're drawn to hands-on, applied learning rather than pure theory, and you want to develop both technical competence and professional capabilities. If you're someone who learns well by doing, who enjoys understanding how things work, and who values the flexibility of part-time study, this course will suit you. Expect a rigorous pace that balances mathematics and design principles with practical application.
Careers & job market
Across Engineering courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating, with 80% of working graduates in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. Graduate earnings data (from the UK's national survey) show starting salaries range from £29,000 to £35,000 at 15 months post-graduation, rising to £26,775–£37,800 after three years and £33,150–£46,800 after five years. These figures vary by individual circumstance and career path. First-year retention across the course stands at 88%.
University & format
This HNC/HND Foundation degree in Mechanical Engineering is studied part-time at Havant and South Downs College's South Downs Campus. The course is taught in English and is recognised by a UK degree-awarding body, meaning your qualification is nationally recognised.
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
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
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| another higher-education qualification | 75% |
| Other | 15% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 10% |
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. 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 HSDC →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.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £42,000 | £35,000 – £50,000 | 600 |
| 3 years after | £36,500 | £29,500 – £44,000 | 110 |
| 5 years after | £41,000 | £34,500 – £52,500 | 115 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 600. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 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.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 600. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Engineering courses at the same study level.
Compared with 2,256 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
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 LtdIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £42,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 3.0 out of 10: continued 30%.
Who 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 South Downs Campus
397 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 HSDC from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by HSDC; 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
This course lists IELTS 5.5 (minimum 5.0 in each section). 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 HSDC’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 HSDC and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at HSDC
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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