Students have celebrated receiving top marks after completing their engineering degrees at the University Centre Wigan & Leigh College.

This included the first cohort of nuclear engineering graduate degree apprentices with Sellafield, after they completed their fifth year of study.

An impressive 68% of students on the BEng (Hons) Electrical & Electronic course achieved a first class honours degree.

60% of students who completed the BEng (Hons) Mechanical & Manufacturing degree also gained the highest grade (first class) to make for an exceptional set of results considering what has been an unprecedented year with the pandemic and the onset of online learning thrown into the mix.

Both of these courses are accredited as partial CEng (chartered engineer) by the IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) which means they are delivered to the highest standard.

Overall, an outstanding 88% of all students who completed either the Electrical & Electronic or Mechanical & Manufacturing Top Up degree achieved a first or upper second class (2:1).

Sellafield Degree Apprentice, Alex Rawlinson gained a first class honours in his BEng (Hons) Mechanical & Manufacturing degree and plans to continue his progressions as a mechanical engineer at Sellafield Ltd. He is also considering doing a masters at the University of Central Lancashire and is looking to become a chartered engineer in the future.

“I chose the degree apprenticeship because I liked that I could earn money, gain lots more work experience and still come out with a degree at the end of it. The modules on the course directly related to what we do in work each day such as CAD design.

“We also learnt about design and manufacture and how it can be done cheaper and more efficiently which is of course always a benefit to the employer,” said Alex.

Abbey Berry has now completed her Degree Apprenticeship with MBDA after achieving a first class in her BEng (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering degree and is looking forward to an exciting career within the industry.

The Senior Test Engineer said: “I’m ecstatic to have achieved a first class honours degree from University Centre Wigan & Leigh College. The course has applied well to my work life and I have enjoyed it from start to finish.

“I’m looking forward to continuing my journey to my chartership status and I’m interested in pursuing a PhD in the future.”

Ursula Hoyles, Head of Higher Education Engineering added: “All of our students’ hard work has paid off. There are lots of opportunities in front of them and we are very proud of their achievements.

“The high volume of high grades is something we are particularly proud of and we feel this is testament to the expert teaching received as well as each student’s resilience to complete their final year in such challenging times.”