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Engineering and Technology with Foundation Year

Entry requirements


A level

D,D,E-D,E,E

56-64 points to include 1 A level.

58-64 Tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma.

Cambridge Pre-U score of 34-36.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE English, Mathematics and Combined Science/Physics at grade C, or equivalent/GCSE English, Mathematics and Combined Science/Physics at grade 4, or equivalent.

56-64 UCAS Tariff points to include 1 Higher Level subject.

56-64 tariff points to include a Higher Level subject.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

MM

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

MPP

56-64 Tariff points.

Acceptable when combined with other qualifications.

T Level

Pass (D or E)

UCAS Tariff

56-64

56-64 points to include 1 A level, or equivalent.

56-64 points from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate including 1 A level, plus the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate.

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

5 years | Sandwich | 2024

Subject

General or integrated engineering

**This is a Connected Degree**

Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

**Overview**

This foundation year course sets you up for success if you don’t yet meet the entry requirements for one of our Bachelor's degrees in computing, engineering, surveying, maths or physics.

There’s more than one route to a degree, and missing out on the right grades first time round or beginning your studies as a mature student shouldn’t stop you realising your potential. On this BEng (Hons) Engineering and Technology degree with foundation year, you’ll develop the maths, science and technology skills vital for studying at degree level.

You’ll then move onto the first year of one of our Bachelor’s degrees.

**Course highlights**

* Develop the knowledge to go onto your Bachelor's degree course with confidence

* Study alongside other students working towards achieving a full degree, just like you

* Experience hands-on practical work in our technology laboratories such as the * Microcontroller and Digital lab, Energy Lab and the Future Technology Centre Computing Lab

* Benefit from remote access to our simulation software, including Google App Scripting and LTSpice – supporting your studies even when you're off campus

* Discover how to learn engineering concepts using everyday materials at home

* Get student membership of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), paid for by the University

**Quick guide to foundation year courses**

A foundation year course allows you to:

* Explore your options before choosing your Bachelor's degree course

* Experience university life and get a taste for the way you'll be taught

* Develop the study skills and knowledge you'll need to succeed in your chosen Bachelor's degree

**Careers and opportunities**

Studying engineering, technology, maths or physics gives you in-depth knowledge of the parts that make the modern world work.

This foundation year, and the Bachelor's degree you move onto, will give you the skills employers need to implement innovative technologies and designs that could influence our healthcare system, aviation, transport, communication and so much more.

Depending on the degree you move onto after your foundation year, it's likely there will be a high demand for your profession in the industry sector you graduate into. And you'll get ongoing careers support from our Careers and Employability Service for up to 5 years after you graduate from your full Bachelor's degree.

**Placement year opportunities**

Between your third and fourth year, you can do an optional work placement year to get valuable longer-term work experience in the industry. Taking an optional placement year will give you the experience you need to increase your chances of landing your perfect role after graduation.

We'll give you all the support you need to find a placement that prepares you for your career, and we'll continue to mentor you throughout your placement.

Modules

Modules currently being studied:

- Computing for Engineers
- Electronic Engineering
- Engineering Materials and Design
- Engineering Mathematics
- Engineering Principles
- Sustainability and Energy Studies

The modules you study in years 2, 3 and 4 will depend on which degree you choose at the end of year 1.

We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.

Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment methods

You’ll be assessed through:

- written examinations
- coursework
- practical tests
- project work
- presentations

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£9,250
per year
International
£19,200
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Portsmouth

Department:

Faculty of Technology

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

80%
General or integrated engineering

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Engineering (non-specific)

Teaching and learning

60%
Staff make the subject interesting
90%
Staff are good at explaining things
80%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
70%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

90%
Library resources
90%
IT resources
80%
Course specific equipment and facilities
70%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

89%
UK students
11%
International students
89%
Male students
11%
Female students
84%
2:1 or above
23%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
E
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Engineering (non-specific)

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£25,000
med
Average annual salary
98%
high
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

52%
Engineering professionals
8%
Information technology and telecommunications professionals
5%
Information technology technicians

As a mixed subject within engineering where students get a chance to learn from a range of disciplines, this course isn't taken by as many people as some of the more specialist disciplines. Demand for engineering skills is high, though, and so unemployment rates are low and the average starting salary was a very healthy £26,400 for 2015 graduates. Graduates are able to specialise enough to be working in jobs in engineering — especially in design and development - as well as engineering project management. IT and management consultancy were some of the more common jobs outside engineering. Bear in mind that a lot of courses are four years long, and lead to a MEng qualification — this is necessary if you want to become a Chartered Engineer.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Engineering (non-specific)

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£27k

£27k

£31k

£31k

£38k

£38k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here