BTEC Level 3 90-credit Diploma in Engineering

The Pearson BTEC level 390-credit Diploma (540 GLH) in Engineering is part of a larger suite of BTEC Engineering qualifications, in a range of sizes, which share a common purpose of helping people to become occupationally ready to take up employment in the engineering sector at the appropriate level. This can follow either directly after achieving the qualification, or via the stepping stone of Higher Education (HE) in university or college. By studying a BTEC National, learners develop knowledge, understanding and skills required by the sector, including essential employability skills, and apply them in real work contexts. Learners can operate at a standard that can reasonably be expected of an 18-year-old in full-time education.

Within this suite the Pearson BTEC Level 390-credit Diploma (540GLH) is primarily a Technical Level qualification, equivalent in size to one and a half A levels. It has been designed as a one-year course enabling learners to develop a common core of knowledge including Health and Safety in the Engineering Workplace, Mechanical Principles and Applications or Electrical and Electronic Principles as a choice of specialist mandatory units, and allowing them the opportunity to study in more depth a range of option areas of their choice, such as Engineering Design and Commercial Aspects of Engineering Organisations. This Pearson BTEC Level 390-credit Diploma could be either for those starting in their final year of education, for example after taking a level 2 qualification post 16 and wishing to progress to Level 3, or a learner who wishes to complete their course after one year and move into an apprenticeship or training with an employer. The qualification supports progression to a wide range of roles within the sector, usually when accompanied by other qualifications achieved at level 2 or level 3, such as Mathematics, English, Business, IT or Physics.

As the suite of qualifications was designed in close collaboration with industry, it is fully supported by the SSC for the sector SEMTA. A range of professional organisations/employers in the sector has also confirmed their support for this Pearson BTEC level 390-credit Diploma meaning it is recognised as a highly-respected route for those moving directly into employment in the sector, either directly of following further study.

A significant proportion of recruitment in this sector is at graduate level. The Pearson BTEC Level 390-credit Diploma in Engineering also provides a well-established route into a variety of specialist Higher Education (HE) courses in this sector and beyond when taken alongside other qualifications appropriate for the desired course of study. UCAS has reviewed the qualification to assess its value for access to Higher Education, and has allocated UCAS points.