Foundation Degree (FdSc) Power Engineering // Undergraduate
Do you want to be part of an industry that is being transformed by renewable technologies and by the increased demand for electrical power? This two-year Foundation degree links directly with the skills needed by employers such as Northern Powergrid and Siemens.
The course combines broad-based engineering modules with specialist modules related to the power industry. The broad-based modules include ‘Engineering Principles’, ‘Electrical and Electronic Principles’, ‘Measurement and Control’ and ‘Electronics Systems’.
The specialist modules include ‘Power Plant Systems’ and ‘Power Distribution’. There is also a group project and an individual project that are specifically targeted at the power sector. Both of them are hands-on opportunities to put your new learning into practice. Like all foundation degrees, there is an emphasis on employability and skills that you can immediately use in the workplace.
Course content
Modules on this course include:
Year 1 (national level 4)
- Mathematics for Engineers
- Electrical and Electronic Principles
- Engineering Principles
- Power Distribution
- Power Industry – Business and Practice
- Integrative Group Case Project
Year 2 (national level 5)
- Electrical Machines and Power Systems
- Measurement and Control
- Electronics Systems
- Power Plant Systems
- Individual Project
Entry requirements
- BTEC Certificate/Diploma
- Modern Apprenticeship (NVQ level 3 plus Key Skills)
- NVQ Level 3
- 3 passes at GCSE grade C or above, which must include Mathematics and English Language, or a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you have studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above.
Applicants without formal qualifications may qualify for entry through relevant work-based experience. We may ask you to attend an interview and present a portfolio of evidence.
If English is not your first language, please refer to the University of Sunderland English Language requirements:
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is concentrated into 12 blocks a year with each block lasting for two weeks. Hands-on projects are an important element in both years of the course, focusing on group work (Year 1) and individual work (Year 2).
Assessment is through a combination of coursework and written examinations.
Progression and careers
This course is specifically designed to meet the needs of employers who are looking for well-qualified engineering staff to fill the skills shortage within the power engineering sector.
Employers in the sector include engineering giants like Siemens, high-tech renewable energy providers, and power generation and supply companies.
At the end of the course you could immediately apply for a job. Alternatively you could ‘top up’ your qualification to a BEng honours degree at the University of Sunderland with just one more year of study.
Awarding body
This programme is offered by Tyne Coast College working in partnership with the University of Sunderland. The award that you will receive will be from the University of Sunderland.
Student numbers
In order to help ensure that the student experience is maintained at a high level across the life of partnership programmes, there is a minimum of 12 students required to enrol in year 1 of each programme offered by TyneMet College in partnership with the University of Sunderland in order for it to run. In the event that this minimum is not reached, the University reserves the right to either close this programme and withdraw offers made on it or, if appropriate to the programme, apply conditions to the programme in order to allow it to run with reduced student numbers. If the programme is closed, the University will use reasonable endeavours to help affected students switch to a suitable alternative programme or alternative HE provider if they wish to do so. If a decision is taken to apply conditions to the programme in order to allow it to run with reduced student numbers, consultation will take place with affected students. Conditions may include things like studying some of the programme at a different venue or merging study with other similar programmes where there is overlap. If these conditions are not acceptable to all students, the programme will close.
Further Information
Over the lockdown period we have endeavoured to provide
remote blended learning wherever suitable.
When planning our delivery of 2020/21 Higher Education
programmes we have, and will continue to take government advice and work within
their guidelines. At present these guidelines are trending towards a relaxing
of restrictions, however we are aware that any change in circumstances will
impact our planning and we will react accordingly.
Ultimately it is our wish to provide as much face to face
contact as is possible, but with safety as a priority. To achieve this it may
be a requirement to limit class sizes to facilitate social distancing limit the
size of a learner ‘bubble’. Another strategy would be stagger start and finish
times or use a ‘base room’ strategy to minimise movement of learners.
Where workshop provision is required we will require all PPE
to be supplied by the learner except where it is practical for us to disinfect suitably.
Where these measures are not possible, some theoretical
lectures will be delivered online using conference technology such as Microsoft
Teams. This form of remote learning should also include mentored support using
the ‘chat’ facility in addition to the sharing of learning materials and
scheduled sessions.
Higher Education Loans
Further information about funding your Higher Education can be found here.
FutureMe in the North East
The North East Collaborative Outreach Programme (NECOP) has launched its FutureMe programme of activity and support to increase the number of young people from the North East progressing to higher education.
| Classification | Foundation Degree |
| Course Mode | Part-time |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Duration | Two years |
| Location | Coast Road Campus |
| Annual fee | £5500.00 |
| Start | September |
