Krystian Pezik
Engineering
HNC Mechanical Engineering
“College offers an active lifestyle, the opportunity to meet interesting people, and the chance to develop new skills that will be useful in everyday life.”
Adult returner Krystian has completed a range of courses at NESCol to prepare for a career in engineering.
Krystian Pezik (33) is from Poland, where he completed technical secondary school in 2012 with a diploma in landscape architecture. He started studying at the Częstochowa University of Technology, majoring in civil engineering, but was unhappy with the course and decided to drop out.
Krystian continued his academic journey at a post-secondary school, balancing his studies with work. He graduated with a massage therapy technician degree just before coming to Scotland in October 2017.
He said, “I wanted to move to Scotland to become independent and work abroad. My main motivations were financial, as well as improving my communication skills in English.
“I was curious about Scotland because it’s a very beautiful country with a diverse range of landscapes, including mountains, lakes, rivers, the North Sea, and more. There’s something for everyone.”
Krystian started a job just eight days after he moved over! Since then, he’s worked in various roles in fish factories in Fraserburgh, including Whitelink Seafoods and International Fish Canners (IFC).
In 2022, Krystian joined NESCol as he was interested in transitioning to an engineering career.
He said, “I wanted to expand my knowledge of engineering and acquire the appropriate professional qualifications needed in the job market.”
Studying engineering
Over the past three and a half years, Krystian has completed a range of engineering courses at Fraserburgh Campus, including SVQ Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) Levels 1 and 2.
He then went on to achieve both his NC and HNC in Mechanical Engineering, and is currently in his final year at College, studying for his HND.
Krystian has had a positive experience so far and particularly enjoyed meeting different people throughout his studies.
He said, “At College, I’ve encountered diverse ethnic and religious cultures.
“It’s a good stage in a person’s life, regardless of age, status, religion, or experience. I met a variety of students with different backgrounds, which was a great honour, and I learned a lot from them.
“The College is well-equipped and has all the tools and teaching resources a student needs to succeed.”
Support at NESCol
Krystian was grateful for the support offered by his lecturers.
He said, “I greatly appreciated how the lecturers are open to helping each student achieve their goals. Despite the setbacks that can happen to any student, they strive to deliver lessons in a positive way to help them achieve good results.
“The lecturers imparted theoretical and practical knowledge in various ways, depending on the complexity of the topic. In the event of any issues, they provided supplementary materials to focus on learning where I made mistakes.”
Krystian worked part-time and received financial support through College bursaries and the SAAS programme.
He said, “Until August 2024, I combined College with part-time work at IFC, along with occasional weekend work when needed. This was a difficult challenge, as I had to balance my free time with studying.
“When I began the HNC, I left my job and dedicated myself 100% to my studies.”
Future career
One of the events that Krystian found most beneficial was the Careers Fairs.
He said, “Employers and universities visited the College, and give students the chance to exchange a few words and experiences.
“This was a good opportunity for students to decide what to do after graduation.”
Krystian graduated at Fraserburgh Campus on 20 September 2025, where he also received the HNC Mechanical Engineering Award, sponsored by Score Group. He was nominated for his excellent results and commitment to his course.
However, his NESCol journey isn’t quite over, and he is still working towards his HND in Mechanical Engineering. After this, Krystian is considering either continuing his education with an engineering degree at university or going straight into a mechanical engineering job.
He said, “I see my future as a multi-functional worker in mechanical and electrical engineering. I don’t have a specific sector in mind yet, but I’m thinking about working on wind turbines or solar panels.”
Advice for students
Krystian said, “My advice is not to be afraid of the challenges that await you in College. The teachers are supportive and provide the highest level of support so you can achieve success. College offers an active lifestyle, the opportunity to meet interesting people, and the chance to develop new skills that will be useful in everyday life.
“NESCol allowed me to acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary for everyday work as an engineer. Thanks to the knowledge I gained, I am well prepared for potential employers or as a self-employed worker.”
“I would like to thank my academics and lecturers from the very beginning of my College studies to the present for their hard work and time in teaching me their knowledge, experience, and problem-solving. Without them, I wouldn’t have achieved the success of obtaining an HNC in Mechanical Engineering, along with my high academic results.”
Study engineering at NESCol
Our engineering courses help you build on your problem-solving and technical skills, so you’re equipped to tackle practical challenges in the real world.