Pre-Entry Guidance
Pre-entry guidance is required prior to booking a place on this course. Please contact our Distance Learning Co-ordinators by email or call 01346 506014.
Why take this course?
This Unit was developed for the HNC/HND Electronics Group Awards or may be taken as a stand alone HN Unit. It has been designed to allow you to develop knowledge, understanding and skills in basic electrical and magnetic concepts and theorems, that underpin so much of more advanced studies in electronic and electrical engineering.
A strong emphasis is placed on putting your theoretical knowledge – within a practical electronics and electrical context – into practice, as you will be provided with the opportunity to conduct practical experiments and computer simulations on electronic and electrical circuits. If you have studied these subjects before, the early parts of this unit will provide you with an opportunity to revise the electrical concepts and theorems you have learnt in previous courses.
Credit points and level: 1 HN credit at SCQF level 7: (8 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 7)
What you will experience
You will get the opportunity to study the ways in which resistance-inductance and resistance — capacitance series electrical circuits respond to the sudden application or removal of a DC voltage, for example when a switch is closed or opened in such circuits. This in turn will introduce you to the ideas of transient responses that are so important in so many branches of engineering. You will develop the necessary knowledge and skills to solve single-phase ac circuit problems using complex notation – a powerful tool for solving a range of ac circuit problems. A good grasp of this tool will allow you to solve complex problems involving combinations of series and parallel impedance. You will also examine first order transient responses as found in r-l and r-c series circuits.
By the end of the Unit you will be expected to solve simple electrical and electronic problems using basic electrical concepts and theorems. You will also be expected to sketch the graphs associated with resistance-inductance and resistance-capacitance series circuits when a dc voltage is suddenly applied or removed from these circuits. You will also be expected to use complex notation to solve a range of single-phase ac circuit problems.
The formal assessment will consist of a single assessment paper lasting one hour and thirty minutes. The assessment will be conducted under closed-book conditions in which you will not be allowed to take notes, textbooks etc. into the assessment. However, you will be allowed to use a scientific calculator. You will sit this assessment paper at the end of the unit.
Key Facts
Everything you need to know before applying for this course.
Entry requirements
It would be an advantage for candidates to have a basic knowledge and understanding of electrical, electrostatic and magnetic concepts and theorems, although this is not absolutely essential. Basic knowledge and understanding of these concepts and theorems may be evidenced by possession of a Higher in Electrical Engineering or the following National Qualification units:
- (D136 12) AC Circuit Theory and Applications
- (E9RR 12) Circuit Elements
- (E9RS 12) DC and AC Circuit Responses
- (E9RV 12) Electromagnetics
- (E9RW 12) Electrostatics
- (E9RX 12) Network Analysis
- (E9S0 12) Single Phase AC
It may also be an advantage for candidates to take the Mathematics for Engineering 1: Electronics and Electrical before this unit, as it contains an outcome on complex numbers which would underpin much of the work involved in the second outcome of this unit.
Additional costs
This course involves an additional SQA fee. Further information is available here.
Funding
Fee waiver may apply. Find out more about distance learning funding.
Student Stories
Darren Ritchie
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“I am more of a hands on sort of guy so the apprenticeship route worked for me.”
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Donna Mitchell
Engineering
Electrical Maintenance Engineering, SCQF Level 6
“The best thing for your career is to have the qualifications to reflect the knowledge you have.”
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Meghan McKay
Engineering
HND Mechanical Engineering
“From juggling working full time, being at College and still having quality time with my daughter, it was challenging at times. Despite how hectic it was it made the experience even more worthwhile for me and the whole process was highly rewarding. “
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Ryan Taylor
Engineering
HND Mechanical Engineering, SCQF Level 8
“My family were really supportive as it was quite challenging going back to College after a 12 year gap and I was also working shifts. It required a lot of dedication and commitment, but I got there!”
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Graemie Watt
Engineering
Shell Engineering Scheme
“Teaching was always something I was interested in but it was important to me to get industry experience first. I was delighted when the lecturing opportunity came up at NESCol and I am now really enjoying my time back at College but on the other side of the fence!”
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Svetlana Mateeva
Engineering
NC Electrical Engineering SCQF Level 5
“College has improved my confidence –the lecturers guide you allowing you to work independently so that you feel a sense of achievement when something works! The atmosphere is very positive, no matter what country you come from and what language you speak.”
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Kevin Simpson
Engineering
HNC Engineering Design
“My experience in the power generation and LNG industries show how transferrable a qualification an HNC in Engineering can be.”
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Oskars Rancans
Engineering
HND Electrical Engineering
“I’m really enjoying my new role and I’m glad I have my qualifications behind me. They have set me up for an engineering career which will allow me to work and live in different places.”
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David Ewing
Engineering
HNC Mechanical Engineering
“I could never have imagined when I was studying back in Aberdeen that I would one day be working in the motorsport industry for Formula 1.”
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Emma Craig
Engineering
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“I think more women should consider studying engineering, it’s a career that can take you anywhere you want to go and is not limited to oil and gas.”
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Applications
Please Note: Distance learning courses have flexible start dates and applications will be considered at all points of the year.
For non-Scottish residents – the College will confirm fees payable for your chosen course on booking and these may differ from the advertised fee
If you take up a place on a College course, at the start of the course you will be asked to sign an enrolment form. In signing the form and/or taking up a place on a College course, you will enter into a contract with the College and be bound by the North East Scotland College Standard Terms and Conditions of Study. Copies of the Terms and Conditions are available for inspection on notice boards and at various locations throughout the College, at the College Reception, on the College website: nescol.ac.uk, or can be obtained on request from the Student Funding and Admissions Manager, North East Scotland College, Aberdeen City Campus, Gallowgate, Aberdeen AB25 1BN. Please note that courses are offered subject to (a) there being sufficient numbers of enrolments and (b) the availability of resources. The College reserves its right (i) not to run courses where the number of students is considered insufficient or where resources are unavailable and (ii) in certain circumstances, to refuse admission to an individual applicant.
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