ENGINEERING (MECHATRONICS) Level 5 Foundation Degree Higher Level Apprenticeship

Level 5
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Portadown Campus
The Open University

Overview

The Higher Level Apprenticeship Engineering (Mechatronics) provides students with a broad education in aspects of mechanisation, automation, and control systems which equips them for a career in industry.

This course recognises the rapid growth and changes occurring within engineering and provides apprentices with the skills and knowledge to apply in an industrial environment and within their job role.

This 3-year Higher Level Apprenticeship is designed to equip apprentices with the ability to understand, utilise and develop the skills needed whilst working in the engineering industry. It builds transferable skills in communication, teamwork, and the ability to self-reflect.

You will study 80 credits per year over 3 years. Students are required to attend SRC Portadown campus during semester time, for one full day per week. The remaining 4 days will be based with an employer. Students are required to engage in independent study.

All staff delivering on this programme are highly experienced with an extensive level of skillset across all engineering disciplines.

SRC HE Attendance Guidelines

SRC OU Admissions Guidelines

SRC OU Assessment Handbook

SRC OU Extenuating Circumstances Procedures

SRC OU RPL Guidelines

SRC Student Protection Plan

SRC Regulations for Validated Awards

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age on or before 1st July in the year of proposed entry to the course.
Applicants should have obtained a minimum of 56 UCAS points achieved through the completion of A-Levels, National Awards, Access or other alternative approved level 3 qualifications. This must include a recognised STEM A-Level subject or Level 3 Engineering.
Applicants should have attained at least 15 points at Level 2 or above (e.g. GCSE) or have alternative approved qualifications. This must include GCSE English Language Grade C or Essential Skills Communication Level 2 and GCSE Mathematics Grade C or approved equivalent.
Applicants will be required to attend an interview.
Applicants who do not meet the criteria outlined above but have evidence of substantial knowledge or relevant industrial experience and skills, which has not been formally assessed, should refer to the College’s Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning (APEL) Policy at https://www.src.ac.uk/about-us...
For entry to Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLA), employers may further enhance the entry criteria at their discretion. All applicants for HLAs will be interviewed by prospective employers to decide their suitability prior to being employed by a company. Each applicant must secure employment with a Northern Ireland based company with a minimum contract of 21 hours. Entrance to HLAs is subject to meeting DfE Operational requirements.

The College’s Admissions policy reflects the expectations of the UK Quality Code Admissions, Recruitment and Widening Access (Nov 2018).

Please note that applicants progressing to higher education courses at Level 4 and above in the College or UK Universities may require a specific GCSE/ A Level profile. In some cases, the Essential Skills in Literacy and Numeracy may not be a suitable alternative to a GCSE. The list of acceptable qualifications for equivalency to English and mathematics for Ulster University is available from the following link: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply....

It is the responsibility of the applicant to check each University’s progression requirements before enrolling on a course at the College.

Please note that for Ulster University qualifications, the general entry requirements for Ulster University must also be met in addition to those listed above.

Application Process for Higher Level Apprenticeships

Stage 1. Complete both the application form and the additional information form. Attend a pre-enrolment advice session where you will receive more information about your chosen course. You will be advised if you can progress to stage 2 if you meet, or have the potential to meet, the entrance criteria.

Stage 2. For applicants who receive a CONDITIONAL Offer from SRC, your additional information will be forwarded to a list of potential employers identified by SRC (alternatively if you have an employer in mind you can contact the College who will assess workplace suitability). You will progress to stage 3 if you meet the employer’s criteria for interview selection.

Stage 3. Interview stage: If following the interview stage you secure a Conditional Offer of Employment under the Higher Level Apprenticeship programme you will progress to stage 4.

Stage 4. Applicants must present evidence to SRC on A-Level results day that relevant A-Levels or equivalent qualifications are achieved. Evidence of a Conditional Offer of Employment must also be in place at this time from the participating employer. The College will then proceed to issue a FIRM offer onto the HLA Programme.

Please note that a FIRM offer is not a guarantee that the course will commence (see below point 2).

Employers are responsible for contacting you (the applicant) directly to invite you for interview. SRC are not involved in the shortlisting or interview process. Employers are responsible for contacting you (the applicant) directly to make you an offer of employment.
The HLA programme will run subject to sufficient enrolments. Although you may be in receipt of a FIRM letter of offer onto the course, the College reserves the right to only run the course if sufficient enrolments are in place.
Attendance is strongly recommended by all Higher Level Apprenticeship applicants at the Southern Regional College’s Careers session. Invitations will be issued to advise date, time and location.

Engineering Mathematics.
CAD Techniques.
Electrical & Electronic Fundamentals.
Pneumatics & Hydraulics.
Professional Studies.
Programming & Embedded Systems.
PLC Automation.
Industrial Robotics.
Mechanical Fundamentals.
BIT & Project Management.
Work-Based Learning.

Some modules are assessed entirely through coursework while others are assessed through a combination of coursework and written examination.

This Higher Level Apprenticeship is FREE and fully funded by the Department for the Economy.

Although students will have access to SRC's high-end resources during class time, students are highly recommended to purchase a new laptop with sufficient specifications to run high-end specialised engineering software.

Students will get access to a range of engineering software which they can run and install on their own personal device for practising outside of class hours. Having your own device available will be a worthwhile investment to your time at SRC.

*** Recommended Minimum Requirements ****

RAM: 8GB.
Core Processor: i5 or equivalent.
Graphics card: Students should look for a computer which has an additional graphics card installed.
Hard-Drive: SSD hard-drives are recommended where possible.
Remember having a smaller Hard-Drive does not necessarily mean a weaker computer. External Drives can always be bought for additional storage (e.g. 250 GB SSD is generally better than a 1TB traditional HD).