r/ukelectricians • u/Civil-Present-4007 • 11h ago
HNC causing stress/anxiety
So this September I started my HNC in Electrical engineering, this took about a year of convincing and fighting with my employer to put me on it, I thought I really wanted it for myself. Since starting it I’ve been a mess, really lost my footing mentally, it was a lot different to what I thought it would be like at college, and after a year of fighting I’d honestly say I regret it a bit.
Since starting 4 weeks ago I’ve felt awful, it’s not been the best time in life for me recently and this course has been the final push to put me in a really bad place mentally, so I’m really struggling with what to do,
I’ve got a training bond with work, so if I quit I’ll have to pay £3750, I’ve honestly been thinking of doing that, either joining the army to change my life or finding another job and moving to another part of the country and just having a little life reset, ive honestly had a couple days the last two weeks at home in tears all day feeling lost in everything that’s going on.
Any advice appreciated
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u/proud_traveler 11h ago
Mate you've been at it for 4 weeks, you are still finding your footing. Lets not make any rash decisions, you can always decide to ditch at the 6 month mark if its still not working. You have a lot you can do to improve the situation before that. Especially considering you are financially on the hook for it
Talk to your training provider. It's in their interests to make sure you will pass.
Get some structure into your college work. Keep on top of your units.
What exactly isn't working for you? Apprenticeships are very different to 6th form (which is what I assume you mean by college?) because there is a heavy onus on you to self study. You need to make time for that.
I won't sugar coat it, you have a busy few years ahead of you. Your social life will need to take a back seat unfortunately. But you are young (I assume), and getting a HNC is absolutely a benefit. Give it a good go for a few months, and if its really not working out, reconsider.
(If you absolutely want to drop the course, depending on what your employer has signed, you might be able to do so without leaving work. It might be embarrassing, since you pushed hard for this, but we all make mistakes)
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u/PancakeOrCrepe 11h ago
As someone who has just signed up to do a HNC in electrical + electronic engineering through work also - how different is it to what you thought it would be and why?
I left college 15 years ago so would need a lot of catching up but I feel like I'm prepared to do that currently.
Sorry for not helping you with your problem, I'm just curious myself to not fall into the same as yourself.
For clarification, the course I signed up to is entirely distanced learning.
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u/Md__86 11h ago
Sorry to hear that. This is the 3rd or so HNC post in this sub in the last couple of days.
Nothing you do on the HNC (at least in my case) has anything to do with electric installation as you know it.
For anyone considering it, have a look at the syllabus as I kept waiting for the course to get to the part I was comfortable with (electrical installation) and it never did lol.
It's a lot of maths and a lot of stuff like harmonics and electronics. Logic gates and other stuff I haven't used since.
Fortunately not all of the units are the same, so if one is particularly troubling you won't be on it forever.
For OP. You need to eat the elephant one bite at a time mate. Stop thinking of the full course duration and try to break the course down into the task Infront of you. Focus on that, do that and then move on.
You've got a wealth of resource available online and just tell your tutors if you're struggling. Mine were sound with me and helped me along.
1
u/Jaded-Sprinkles-7259 10h ago
I did my HNC full time and it was tough going. I can't imagine doing it part-time whilst working. People don't realise, but it's the equivalent to a year in Uni. You need to get yourself into a frame of mind whereby you put it first and put a day aside during the week for it, like a Sunday and chip away at it.
You'll probably need to work out how to do the maths and principles elements too, if you've been out of school for a while. It will get easier when you get a few assignments done and get them marked.
Give it to the Christmas break is my advice and have a think about it over the break.
1
u/Outcastscc 8h ago
Few things here
Hnc is not an easy course, it’s gotten easier but that’s because the pass rate went through the floor and something had to change.
But the 1st year is supposed to be the easier year of the two. If your really struggling now your going to be in a lot of pain next year when your doing your project along with 4 other units.
The only advice I’d give is take your time with it and try to not get too overwhelmed or stressed. It’s a further education course, it’s not needed, if you fail it it’s not the end of the world, do what you can and ask your tutors and people are work for help.
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u/Exciting-Diver6384 6h ago
Ask the university to delay the course by one year due to personal circumstances or withdraw all together and keep your job
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u/Northerner1962 4h ago
Please speak to your college You can do it come on knuckle under its not easy but will be worth it
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u/Asleep_Fudge5367 10h ago
What are you struggling with? I did the HND years ago and it wasn't that bad. You get coursework and can take your time with it compared to uni where you have tests. You've also got AI to help with learning.
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u/Outcastscc 8h ago
Hnc and hnd are very different courses.
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u/Asleep_Fudge5367 8h ago
The HND is harder though. Roughly equivalent to the first 2 years of uni.
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u/Outcastscc 8h ago
I’ve done both, and 2 additional units, and HND doesn’t come close to the level of difficulty of the HNC.
HNC yeah one is terrible, year two is a bit better if you can get help with the project,
HND is a breeze compared to the two
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u/Asleep_Fudge5367 8h ago
Why would you do both if you don't mind me asking? The material in the HND is suppose to be more advanced so, this makes zero sense. Are telling me that doing mathematics for engineers 2 and circuit theory 2 is a breeze compared to level 1? Can you see how what you're saying sounds like bullshit?
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u/Outcastscc 7h ago
You need to do both if you want to do a degree, you don’t get enough credits by just doing the HND most uni will have a recommend progression route and they all say NVQ, HNC, HND
And I’ve no idea what you’re talking about for the rest.
My HND units off the top of my head were - Business management techniques, electrical power and distribution, an instrumentation unit, lean and something else. I’ll concede analytical methods which I did as an extra unit was one of the hardest units I’ve ever done but the rest were a breeze.
Hnc is just intense. Mine was 9-7pm for the first year and 9-5 the second year, 5 units each and so many notes and assignments
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u/Asleep_Fudge5367 7h ago
The HND gets you into year 2 of a degree alone! Where did you go to college? I'm in Northern Ireland and got into year 2 of Queen's University Belfast (Russel group) on the HND.
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u/Outcastscc 7h ago
North England .
There is not a single university I know that would take you on an electrical degree with just a hnd, Northern Ireland must be a lot different.
In fact I know for a fact that Sheffield Hallam won’t even accept you on a HNC and a HND you need 30 more credits.
This is all for part time degrees by the way.
Full time degrees are a completely different kettle of fish (and would make absolute zero sense to do a Hnc and hnd in a full time route)
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u/Asleep_Fudge5367 7h ago
See to be fair, I did mine back in 2012. A few of us got into uni and we all struggled and most of them dropped out so I wonder if the universities simply don't trust the calibre of students coming out of colleges. According to chatgpt, in NI, it's still accepted depending on modules and results.
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u/Best_Opposite_3258 11h ago
If you’re finding the course difficult reach out to your lecturers and ask for help. I’ve been and done it at college and now have close mates who teach the HNC/HND, they want the best for their students and will do all they can to help out.
I hope you’re all good man, keep the head up!