Skip to content

Engineers develop practical and professional skills at work in ways that aren’t always formally recognised. If you are currently in engineering-related employment then this course allows you to gain academic credit for learning at work by completing real work-based activities, designed to help improve your work performance and professional development. You will need someone in your workplace, typically your line manager, to authenticate, though not assess, some of your coursework. It is a compulsory module of the Foundation Degree/Diploma of Higher Education in Materials Fabrication and Engineering (G18/ E56) that is open to students who have completed a TWI (Welding Institute) Diploma at Technologist level.

Register for the course

This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.


Start End Fee Register
01 Nov 2012 Apr 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/04/12

Register your interest
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2017.
Start End Fee Register
01 Nov 2012 Apr 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/04/12

Register your interest
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2017.
Start End Fee Register
01 Nov 2012 Apr 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/04/12

Register your interest
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2017.
Start End Fee Register
01 Nov 2012 Apr 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/04/12

Register your interest
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2017.
Start End Fee Register
01 Nov 2012 Apr 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/04/12

Register your interest
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2017.
Start End Fee Register
01 Nov 2012 Apr 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/04/12

Register your interest
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2017.
Start End Fee Register
01 Nov 2012 Apr 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/04/12

Register your interest
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2017.
Start End Fee Register
01 Nov 2012 Apr 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/04/12

Register your interest
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2017.
Start End Fee Register
01 Nov 2012 Apr 2013 Not yet available

Registration opens on 01/04/12

Register your interest
This course is expected to start for the last time in October 2017.

*Fees may vary by country.

Top

What you will study

This course gives you the opportunity to integrate learning experiences from your engineering workplace into a university course. It forms an essential part of your engineering foundation degree studies, which must include accredited learning at work.

Studying this course will enable you to:

  • develop your ability to learn from your work
  • apply your understanding and knowledge of engineering theory and practice within your workplace
  • develop your skills in understanding how your organisation functions
  • evaluate and develop your personal and professional skills
  • develop your personal and career development plans
  • enhance your employability.

Over the duration of the course you will become a reflective practitioner, allowing you to deepen your understanding of your engineering workplace practice. You’ll learn how to evaluate your own work and prepare and present evidence of your professional competence.

You will achieve this by working through a series of activities and assignments with support from your course tutor and work colleagues. Guidance comes from course books and worksheets, which we will send you along with other study materials. Additional support is provided by a website and online forums.

Vocational relevance

You will develop, practise and enhance skills that are directly relevant to your work, including:

  • identifying and understanding the application of engineering codes of practice and industry standards in your workplace
  • relating your own skills and abilities in engineering to your role at work
  • developing a personal development plan in relation to future employment goals
  • understanding the concepts and relevance of continuing professional development.

Top

Entry

You are responsible for obtaining permission to use your workplace as a basis for your studies prior to registering for this course.

To successfully complete this course you must:

  • be in an engineering-related occupation
  • have permission to carry out work-based learning tasks in your workplace
  • have a suitable person within your workplace who will confirm that the coursework you submit is based on your practice within that workplace.

We will send you further detailed information when you have registered.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Top

If you have a disability or additional requirement

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Top

Study materials

What's included

The course comprises the printed course texts and a website. The website provides links to online forums, electronic versions of the study materials and other relevant resources.

Computing requirements

This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.

You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.

Top

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Your tutor is particularly concerned with helping you with your study methods and providing feedback on your assignments. You will also be able to gain support from other students through moderated computer forums, including your own tutor group forum. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course.

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.

Three of the TMAs are for assessment purposes and one, which must be submitted electronically, is used to return a short form relating to your workplace confirmer.

Top

Top

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in November 2012. From 2013 we expect it to be available once a year, in October.

Top

Fees 2012

See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.

Course facts

About this course:
Course code T198
Credits 30
OU Level 1
SCQF level 7
FHEQ level 4
Course work includes:
4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment
No residential school

Study explained

Financial support
- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
Study explained
- all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.

Your questions

We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.

Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35

Employers' questions

Contact Corporate Enquiries
Visit our website for employers or Email us



Get a prospectus

Download or
order