CAD: Level 1 (Funded)

This course is for fundable Inventor beginners. You will be looking for an introduction to Autodesk’s core 3D CAD/CAM program: Inventor.

You will be interested in using Inventor’s ability to produce 2D technical drawings directly from the 3D models you create with Inventor.

During this course, you will learn how to produce 2D CAD drawings from the 3D models you will create in Inventor.

You will cover a range of course and programme features such as:

• creating and constraining sketches
• commands used to make 3D features
• editing 3D features
• creating Assemblies
• how to produce 2D technical drawings from your 3D models.

We will invite you to a course information meeting event where you will receive information, advice and guidance about the course you have applied for. This will be an opportunity for you to gain valuable information about the course and give you the opportunity to tour our excellent facilities and ask any questions you may have.

You will be asked to provide a copy of your last school report and/or a reference from an employer or relevant professional other. This is to ensure we can support you to be able to achieve well on the course.

You need 3 GCSEs at Grade 1 to Grade 3, including Maths and English, or a previous vocational qualification.

Some Level 1 qualifications in trade-based subjects may require a slightly higher entry requirement based on the specific content of the course.

Don’t have any formal qualifications? Don’t worry, let us know and we can assess you to ensure you will be able to achieve well on the course.

We are firmly committed to finding the right course for you to ensure you can flourish! Talk to us today if you have any concerns about the application process; we are here to help take you to the next level.

To join this course, you will need to have an enthusiasm for learning Inventor and must fit the ‘fundable’ profile.

You don’t need to have any previous CAD experience; however, knowledge of another CAD program can be useful but is not essential.

You should have an interest in 3D industrial/product design, mechanical engineering, engineering production, CAE / CAM, etc.

Entry interview

You need to attend an interview – in person or by phone. Phone interviews can be arranged, as necessary; call 0117 3122703 or email CAD@cityofbristol.ac.uk.

If you want a college-based, in-person interview, sessions are on Wednesdays at the College Green Centre, during term time, in room 6E22H, at 16:00.

You do not need to book, just sign in at reception and allow upwards of an hour, in case you visit us at a busy time. Other times can be arranged call or email, the CAD Room as above.

This course is a flexi-course which allows you to attend college as and when you can. Once enrolled, you can tailor your course timing to suit your needs. The course takes around 60 hours to complete, which must be done within a year of starting – how quickly is up to you.

At the end of the course you will be assessed through tests, as set out by City & Guilds. If successful, you’ll receive a nationally recognised CAD qualification, from City & Guilds, along with an Autodesk ATC Certificate of Completion confirming your achievement.

After successfully completing this course, you will be equipped with the essential skills and knowledge to use Inventor’s fundamental features. This can help you start, or progress, your career requiring the ability to produce 3D models of new products/mechanical designs and their associated 2D drawings for production.

After this course you can progress onto other CAD courses on offer, typically CAD: Computer Aided Design Level 2 (Funded), though you could also look at Solidworks, Fusion 360, or 3ds Max.

There are no required additional costs for this course beyond the funded course fee – call / email to find out if you could be eligible for funding through a low wage or, receipt of benefits route.

Enrolment on the course entitles you to download a free copy of Inventor, for educational purposes, from Autodesk. It is assumed you already have a suitable computer to use this on – if you can’t / don’t want to use the college’s CAD Windows computers, Mac computers can be used, simply call / email for further information.