This challenging, academic and work-related diploma course prepares you for entry to employment or university level education. On completion of the Extended Certificate or Foundation
Diploma you could progress on to the Diploma or Extended Diploma or an Apprenticeship.

On this course you will:

• Develop your specialist skills, knowledge and understanding of engineering principles, problems and solutions
• Study the core progression units in Engineering Principles, Delivery of Engineering Processes Safely as a Team, Engineering Product Design and Manufacture, and Secondary
  Machining
• Carry out controlled practical work in our fully equipped workshops and laboratories
• Develop skills valued by employers
• Within the Foundation Diploma pathway you will also cover: Calculus to Solve Engineering Problems, Applied Commercial and Quality Principles, Electronic Devices and Circuits, and Computer Aided Design

Assessment is by internally or externally set coursework or examinations.

This course is ideal if you have a passion for engineering with a progression plan to university or an Apprenticeship.

Future Steps: You could progress to the Level 3 Diploma/Extended Diploma in Engineering or on to an Apprenticeship in Engineering.

You will need a grade 4 in English Language and grade 4 in Maths for the Extended Certificate (if you don’t achieve a grade 4 in English Language/Maths you will be required to study for this alongside your course). You will need a grade 4 in English Language and grade 5 in Maths for the Foundation Diploma. You will also need GCSE grade 4 or above in Science, Double Science or Physics, plus three other GCSEs at grade 4 or above, or equivalent.

Note: The Extended Certificate is equivalent to one A Level and the Foundation Diploma is equivalent to one and a half A Levels.

A £8.3 million Technology Centre at Monkerton opened in September 2012, followed by a further £3.million investment in Advanced Manufacturing, Robotics and Virtual Welding. The centre combines the training and teaching of aerospace, engineering and automotive students with access to state of the art equipment within world class facilities. There are two CAD/CAM Suites which include 20 computers running the latest versions of AutoCAD, Inventor, Solid Works and EdgeCAM. The software will allow engineering students to experience ‘industry standard’ software and CNC machining equipment that give an understanding of CAD for manufacture. The faculty also has two purpose built machine workshops, with a combined total of 14 industrial lathes and 10 industrial milling machines. You will also have access to a learning resource centre.

All students need to provide overalls and safety boots. You will also have to pay £75 which includes faculty materials, access to field trips and enhanced study materials.