Access to higher education engineering

Hi,

I'm 31 and a qualified Electrician working as a electrical panel builder. I'm currently in my second year of my HNC in electrical and electronic engineering.

I've been toying with the idea of university but after reaching out to a couple of universities they aren't currently happy with my academic achievements with them being predominantly vocational.

My question is will I have any success applying if I had a HE Diploma in engineering and would my work background be seen as a positive or a negative when applying?

Thanks very much

Reply 1

MindMax2000

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Chris smith6

You're likely be looking at HND + top up degree as opposed to a bachelor's degree (these unis tend to accept your qualifications irrespective of your background).
See the following as examples:
https://www.southwales.ac.uk/courses/bsc-hons-electrical-and-electronic-engineering-top-up/
https://www.tees.ac.uk/undergraduate_courses/engineering_&_construction/beng_tech_(hons)_electrical_and_electronic_engineering_(top-up).cfm
https://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/engineering/beng-honours-electrical-engineering-1-year-topup/full-time
https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/study/engineering/electronic-electrical-engineering-top-up/
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/electronic-engineering-beng-top-up-solihull
https://www.rcl.ac.uk/courses/detail/bsc-hons-electrical-and-electronic-engineering-top-up/
https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/study/course-finder/electrical-and-electronic-engineering-top-up
https://www.loucoll.ac.uk/undergraduate-study/courses/bsc-hons-top-up-in-engineering-electrical-and-electronic-top-up-full-time
https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/beng-hons-electronic-systems-engineering-top-up
I would leave you to google the rest.

If you want to go and do an academic degree, then you're looking at Access or A Levels (A Levels preferred) before enrolling onto a Bachelor's. If you do this, note you might not be eligible for student finance for your first year of your bachelor's degree. This is because a HNC is the equivalent of that, and under the ELQ policy Student Finance is not willing to lend out funds for a second qualification of equal or lesser NVQ than what you have already got.

Typical entry requirements for eletrical/electronic engineering degrees tend to be A Level Physics + A Level Maths + third A Level of your choice all at specific grades.
Should you take an Access course, you would be looking at a course that has at least 15 credits in Physics and 15 in Maths (that's assuming the uni accepts Access for the specific degree that you're looking at). If not, you would need to supplement your Access with whatever subject you lack sufficient credits in with A Levels. Again, these need to be at the right grades.
Note: you can technically use an Advaned Learner's Loan to fund your A Levels/Access at a recognised offline college. Should you do online courses, you're likely looking at self financing.