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S

sheepo

hello,
I have an NC in electronics and been a time served spark for just under 2 years. Due to being unemployed for a while im looking to broaden my horizons. Im looking to start a HNC open learning course in electrical engineering and looking for advice and information. I'd like to find out if there is any real connection between being a spark and having a HNC in electrical engineering? Also what job prospects there could be and what the course contents really teach you?
Id like to find out some real benefits before spending a lot of time and money.

The course would be with COLU and consist of 5 core modules and 5 optional.

Core:
analytic methods for engineers, business management techniques, electrical and electronic principles, engineering science, project.
my optional choices:
electrical power, electrical supply and distribution systems, electricity and lighting, utalisation of electrical energy and electrical systems protection or engineering design.

these modules are mostly electrical based but various other electronic modules are available
really will aprreciate any help please.
 
Depends what you want to do afterwards.

A HNC in Elec Engineering will be of very little use to you as an Electrician
That might sound strange but i did it in college but gained about 75% of my skills,knowledge and experience from actually doing the job on site.

However if you want to go into design/management/Engineering and avoid getting your hands dirty then its obviously useful.

It might look good on a cv but take it from me you will have many moments when you sit there and think "what the hell do i need to know this for"

Perhaps if you let us know what exactly you are looking to do in the future then we can point you down the right path...
 
A lot of, what we call complete and utter idiots that have there HNC and worked hard to get it , " no problemwith that" but they have never had hands on experience which we find very frustrating sometimes in our field, as technically they know what the want, although sometimes its nearly impossable or im practrical, and thats because they have never had the hands on experience.
So good luck in your endevours and hope you gain all the quals you want, but please get more hands on, and then you will know both sides of the industry thats been the best.
 
I agree that the HNC wouldnt help me as an electrician, but wasnt sure if it would help having the practical skills as an electrical engineer?
The thing i dont really know is what an electrical engineer really does?
Also what level of electrical engineering and what kind of salaries would a HNC level engineer get. Or would i really need to study further for it to be woth my while?
 
Hnc levels a great achievement mate, get what you can, its to late for the likes of me now, but a lot of big multi- national worldwide players will only ask for hnc Qualified Engineers to work abroad if you have ambitions of that i don,t know, but i wish i was 20yrs younger i would do it, head down get those Quals and i,ll tell yer mate you,ll never look back, it opens so many doors its untrue. + the moneys fantastic especially in dubai as i actually know an engineer HNC out there and last yr he got an £8000 bonus at crimbo, and thats just ontop of his wage, so you can see the potential.
 
youve almost convinced me johhny!
Working abroad would definately be an option and the thought of how good christmas(or any time of the year) would be with an £8000 bonus is decent inspiration.
Also it will take 2-3 years to complete so that will be almost a decade of hands on experiance as an apprentice then electrician.
 
From experience

you will NOT get any relevant Electrical experience from a HNC
It will be highly technical and theory based.

How much will the course cost?

Id reccommend spending your money on other courses if you havent done them already

Testing and Inspection, PLC programming, and maybe some specialist courses in Alarms, Security, Fire etc..

PLC and BMS are the future and id reccommend going down that route as the courses are a good mix of theory and practical skills.
 
From experience

you will NOT get any relevant Electrical experience from a HNC
It will be highly technical and theory based.

How much will the course cost?

Id reccommend spending your money on other courses if you havent done them already

Testing and Inspection, PLC programming, and maybe some specialist courses in Alarms, Security, Fire etc..

PLC and BMS are the future and id reccommend going down that route as the courses are a good mix of theory and practical skills.
HNC i think is a recognised degree as is HND obviousley and when you go job hunting in far away places, as in dubai, thats what they ask for, as my mate says, in dubai the actual hands on lads installing the stuff are mainle philiphinos or indians the thinkers are the lads with HNC or HND,S and the moneys a dream mate.
 
Neither HNC or HND are a degree.

There are undoutably very good opportunities out there but id look at the amount of good jobs versus the amount of HNC qualified Elec Engineers.

It does sound like im being quite negative here, but i dont want to discourage you.

Several of my mates have gone on to do a degree after HNC and have £30 - 35k jobs as Engineers with companies such as Shell, Lever Bros, Ineos.

Id also point out that there is quite a salary gap between HNC and degree qualified engineers.
My mates had to do the degree to increase their salaries becasue the colleges do churn out alot of HNC students.
 
Neither HNC or HND are a degree.

There are undoutably very good opportunities out there but id look at the amount of good jobs versus the amount of HNC qualified Elec Engineers.

It does sound like im being quite negative here, but i dont want to discourage you.

Several of my mates have gone on to do a degree after HNC and have £30 - 35k jobs as Engineers with companies such as Shell, Lever Bros, Ineos.

Id also point out that there is quite a salary gap between HNC and degree qualified engineers.
My mates had to do the degree to increase their salaries becasue the colleges do churn out alot of HNC students.
THe firm in Question is called AL FUTTAIM CARRILION look at there sites in dubai, then decide, they are fantastic money mate.
Stand corrected then my mate, when i have read the ads for jobs abroad it may have said HNC/HND or degree, but never the less the pay out there mate is unbelievable as i know some one who is drawing very very good money, as in my previous post
 
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I totally agree mate,
Potentially the money is amazing

Im just concerned that there will be classrooms full of students with £££££ in their eyes but only a handful of top jobs
The competition for jobs in places like Dubai is pretty fierce
Its no accident that they are building such amazing stuff over there when they can choose the best engineers in the world.

But to the OP aim high and good luck with it, i wish you success.
 
From experience

you will NOT get any relevant Electrical experience from a HNC
It will be highly technical and theory based.

How much will the course cost?

Id reccommend spending your money on other courses if you havent done them already

Testing and Inspection, PLC programming, and maybe some specialist courses in Alarms, Security, Fire etc..

PLC and BMS are the future and id reccommend going down that route as the courses are a good mix of theory and practical skills.

cheers for the info. Certainly doesnt seem like your negative, just realistic/honest. Being purely theory based isnt really ideal for me.

the course would be £180 per module once id passed the maths bridging module also £180, but would be funded with a career development loan, which i would start paying back after 2 years.(getting a loan may still be tricky). Or pay per module if i get a job.
although testing or alarms course are more relevent/interesting to me I currently dont have the funds to pay £500-£600 for them. Recenlty payed for 17th edition.............everything seems to evolve round £, which is a nightmare being on the dole!

Anyway, this HNC doesnt seem to be for me. Might have to reavaluate next summer when actual college attending HNC classes are starting. There is various HNC's designed round being a sparky which invole design and management e.t.c, much more suited to me. Or what is PLC and BMS?
thanks again.
 
Programmable logistic controls - computers which operate machinery/building systems etc..

very interesting (if you are as boring as me)

and Building Management systems

both good options for the future and a growing area
 
if you wish to become employed as an industrial maintenance electrician you are of little use without an HNC in elec&electronic eng, level 3 qualifications may cut it on a building site but youll be out of depth in a high speed manufacturing enviroment, as most our NVQ 3 electricians soon find out.
the fact you want to better yourself speaks volumes in itself, go for it.:)
 
cheers for the info. Certainly doesnt seem like your negative, just realistic/honest. Being purely theory based isnt really ideal for me.

the course would be £180 per module once id passed the maths bridging module also £180, but would be funded with a career development loan, which i would start paying back after 2 years.(getting a loan may still be tricky). Or pay per module if i get a job.
although testing or alarms course are more relevent/interesting to me I currently dont have the funds to pay £500-£600 for them. Recenlty payed for 17th edition.............everything seems to evolve round £, which is a nightmare being on the dole!

Anyway, this HNC doesnt seem to be for me. Might have to reavaluate next summer when actual college attending HNC classes are starting. There is various HNC's designed round being a sparky which invole design and management e.t.c, much more suited to me. Or what is PLC and BMS?
thanks again.

hi there

i have just started te mathematic bridiging course to get on to the hnc course and have both mechanical and electrical tech certs . You could get exemption against a degree later on so you would not have to start from scratch if you want to on thhe tech oute

cheers
:)
 
100% Do a HNC. People never think of working in the offshore industry which is where the big money is at. A HNC will open the doors to the industry whether it's onshore in gas planets etc or offshore on the rigs or FPSOs. You can join rigs as a normal maintenance technician which will get you the experience of being on a rig etc and that is vital. Then you can progress up the electrical ladder etc, and even join offshore support vessels which can offer £400 day rate, but the vital bit is getting on the rig itself after getting your HNC, that can be hard initially. It's best you apply for the lower down electrical jobs onboard to get the sea/rig time, then once you've a good amount of time under your belt you can climb the ladder, and earn money tax free and you get your food and accommodation paid for... You might only be getting paid under 30k a year to start but it's tax free lol
 

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