- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 5
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 16 Weeks (August to January)
Applications are temporarily on hold. Interviews for applicants that meet the requirements will begin from 18 March onwards.
Are you a school leaver interested in becoming an electrical installation engineer? This 16-week course is designed to get you ready to start working in this fast-growing field. You’ll learn the fundamentals of electricity, do a hands-on installation project and gain your ECS card for health and safety, equipping you to start training in the industry. We have links with many electrical contractors in the west of Scotland who interview those who successfully complete this course - with 80% of students from last year's programme gaining employment.
What will I learn?
During the Pre-Apprenticeship Electrical Installation course you'll learn:
- Fundamental electrical principles
- Basic electrical systems and protection
- Introduction to renewables
- Basic electrical installation skills
- Installation project
- Health and safety at work (appraisal gaining an ECS card)
- Inspection and testing
- Mathematics for engineering
- Information technology
Entry requirements (minimum)
- Two National 5s, or equivalent in English and Maths or Physics. Please note that National 5 Applications of Maths or SCQF Level 5 Numeracy are not equivalent to National 5 Maths / English and will not be accepted. An acceptable equivalent for National 5 Maths would be a Level 5 Engineering course containing Maths Craft 1 (F3HV11) as a credit unit.
- This course is aimed towards school leavers aged 16 to 19.
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications (SCQF) Framework can help you to check if you're choosing the right level of study. Take a look at the SCQF Interactive Framework here.
Employer and industry links
This Pre-Apprentice course is linked to the electrical contracting industry via SECTT, (Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust) who oversee the training of every apprentice electrician in Scotland.
The SECTT training officer for Glasgow Clyde College liaises with electrical contractors in Glasgow, the west of Scotland and further afield including H.F. Group, A. Alexander & Son, Arthur MacKay, to name but a few.
Glasgow Clyde College initially piloted this programme and has 20 years of experience delivering the successful Pre-Apprentice Electrical Installation course. We have around 150 electrical contractors who regularly select prospective apprentices specifically from this course.
Statistics from SECTT currently show that 80% of Pre-Apprentice students who complete this course gain employment as apprentice electricians, and go on to become time-served tradespeople through continuous training at Glasgow Clyde College during their apprenticeship.
Jobs and further study
If you're successful you could progress to:
- Modern Apprenticeship in Electrical Installation (SVQ Level 3)
- HNC Electrical Engineering (HNC course designed for electricians who wish to further their understanding and prospects within the industry)
- SECTT statistics show that 80% of participating students gain employment from this course.
Take a look at the course progression map for electronics and electrical engineering courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply:
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview session
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
Interviews will take place from March 2025. You will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date.