Engineering Systems HNC
Course code 356H
What is special about this course?
The HNC Engineering Systems will give you the required technical training to be a technician in design, research, development and service support activities in engineering, manufacturing and consultancy.
You may also be able to use the HNC as a spring-board into the second year of our engineering degrees, including: BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering; BEng (Hons) Electrical and Mechanical Engineering; BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering; or BEng (Hons) Energy Engineering.
Special features
- You will study both mechanical and electrical engineering
- The course is designed to meet the needs of employers
- You can study full-time or part-time to suit your personal and professional circumstances: please see study mode tab for modes and locations of study offered
Accommodation
We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.
Entry requirements
- 1 Scottish Higher at grade C or above in Maths or Physics OR
- 1 A level at grade D or above in Maths or Physics
- Alternatively, NC Engineering at SCQF level 6, including Technician Maths 2 and Thermofluids units OR completion of a Foundation Apprenticeship Engineering
- Please note that Higher Application of Maths is not valid for entry into this course
- Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply, appropriate industry related experience will be taken into consideration
- You may be required to attend an interview
Access routes
- SVQ 3 Electrotechnical Services
- NC Engineering Systems
- NC Engineering
Year 1 - HNC
Mandatory units are:
- Communication: practical skills
- Engineering communication
- Engineering measurement and system monitoring
- Engineering systems: graded unit 1
- Mathematics for engineering 1: mechanical and manufacturing
- Principles of engineering systems
Option units may include:
- Engineering: practical skills
- Computer aided draughting for engineers
- Materials selection
- Mathematics for engineering 2
- Thermofluids
- Digital electronics
- Electronic construction skills
- Engineering principles
- Analogue electronic principles
- Applications of programmable logic controllers
- Combinational logic
- Renewable energy systems: overview of energy use
- Dynamics
- Electrical engineering principles 1
- Pneumatics and hydraulics
- Statics and strengths of materials
- High level software
- DC and AC principles
Option units available may vary depending on study location and mode of study: for more information contact your chosen campus.
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time (structured)
- Part-time (unstructured)
- Evening (UHI North, West and Hebrides only)
- You will study by way of face-to-face lectures and tutorials in the classroom, and practical sessions
- For those studying at UHI Orkney, there are twilight video lectures and up to two-day visits to UHI North, West and Hebrides in Thurso for practical work
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 1 year
- Part-time: 2 years
Where can I study my course?
- Argyll - September and January part-time evening only
- Inverness - September part-time day-release only
- Moray - September starts only
- North, West and Hebrides - September and January starts (Stornoway; Thurso)
- Orkney - September and January part-time only
- Perth - September start only
- If you are based in Inverness and want to study full-time, please apply to our HNC Engineering (Systems pathway)
Start date
- September
- January (only available in certain locations and for part-time study only)
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £1,285 | £1,285 |
| Part-time (per HN credit) | £86 | £86 |
Rest of UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £7,110 | £7,440 |
| Part-time (per HN credit) | £474 | £496 |
Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.
There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £8,775 | £8,925 |
| Part-time (per HN credit) | £585 | £595 |
Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.
Funding
UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.
Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.
Additional costs
- For those studying at UHI Orkney, there are twilight video lectures and up to two-day visits to UHI North, West and Hebrides in Thurso for practical work
What can I do on completion of my course?
This course prepares you for a variety of jobs in engineering, including:
- engineering design
- manufacturing
- offshore engineering
- the developing renewables sector
Can I progress into further study?
You can progress to year two of the HND Engineering Systems. You may also be eligible to progress to the second year of:
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
This course was right for me because I wanted to do a degree, and also wanted to gain work experience, with the flexibility and variety of courses that UHI offer.
I like how laid-back it is but also that lecturers are always willing to take time to explain things in more detail, and always give good feedback. I like that I am able to do a mixture of practical, lab based classes alongside theory.
My favourite thing about UHI is that everyone is very welcoming and it is a nice, friendly environment.
Neve studied the HNC Engineering Systems at UHI Inverness.
Apply for Engineering Systems HNC
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.