The HND Programme

Computer systems represent the worlds largest and fastest growing industry. Today's engineering technicians are involved in the application of proven techniques and procedures to the solution of practical problems. To optimise the use of our planet's resources, there is a need for things to be more efficient, reliable and safer. Tomorrow's technicians must continue to exercise technical responsibility in a creative way and communicate their knowledge with clarity and understanding. Society has high expectations and our HND courses will help you on your way to meeting these expectations.

At School or College you may have built small control circuits as part of project work, or perhaps "tinkered" with radios as a hobby. You will almost certainly have "hacked" away at the computer. In choosing you degree course you will find a vast, almost bewildering range of titles, some of which will mean more to you than others. The parallel disciplines of Communication, Computer, Electrical and Electronic and Engineering all share a common core of fundamental knowledge on which the more specialist topics are based. Therefore we have made the first and much of the second years of our HND courses common.

Today, Engineering involves close collaboration and communication with Engineers and Technicians from other disciplines, indeed almost all major projects depend for their success on effective teamwork. Studying with students from parallel pathways will benefit you by broadening your horizons, helping your understanding and increasing your communication skills. In addition to developing existing interests you may acquire new ones and decide that you would like to change pathway. The flexible structure means that you can do this.

Students who obtain an appropriate performance profile on the HND route will be offered the opportunity to transfer to a BSc or BEng course.

Pathway Descriptor

Computer Systems Engineering

This is a new course and has been designed to meet the increasing demand for engineering technicians with both software and hardware skills. The PC, as we know it, was only introduced about fifteen years ago and now there is hardly anywhere in the world that is not affected by the advance of computers. Many complex engineering systems now have computers "embedded" in them and the demand for technicians to maintain these and understand the advanced software is growing daily. Communication networks and distributed telemetry systems themselves are controlled by powerful computers running complex realtime software. There is almost a technological revolution happening as the internet provides visual interaction for home shopping, banking, video conferencing, telecommuting etc.. See our entry under studentprofiles.

Course Details

HND courses are two years full time and transfer to the second year of a BEng course or third year of a BSc course is possible for students who perform well at HND level.

Small group tutorials support all lectures providing opportunity for interactive feedback between students and tutors. Laboratory work provides "learning by doing" opportunities and there is a "hands on" emphasis throughout the course. Project work, often linked to real industrial problems is a recurring feature of the course. Students are encouraged to acquire communication skills required for effective team work by doing small group projects. Independent learning and creative design skills are developed by individual project work.

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Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE).

Outstanding Educational Oppurtunities

• Industrial bursaries are available for suitable students.
• Industrial placements available across Europe and in Japan.
• Final year sponsorship from placement company often available.
• Modern management and business practice integrated into the course.
• Modern, well equipped laboratories.
• State of the art equipment and software.