Every product, building and engineering project begins with an idea. Computer Aided Draughting and Design (CAD) transforms those ideas into detailed technical drawings, accurate 3D models and digital prototypes that bring designs to life.
At Glasgow Kelvin College, you'll develop professional digital design skills using industry-standard CAD software while working on practical projects across engineering, manufacturing and construction. Through hands-on learning, you'll build experience in technical drawing, 3D modelling, visualisation and digital design techniques that prepare you for a wide range of careers in engineering and design.
Our experienced lecturers will support you throughout your studies, helping you build confidence, develop an impressive portfolio and gain recognised qualifications that prepare you for employment or further study.
🎓 Hear from Liam
Liam talks us through what the Computer Aided Design course covers and how it prepares students for a future in design and engineering.
Liam shares what it's like to study Computer Aided Draughting and Design (CAD) at Glasgow Kelvin College, explaining how the course develops practical design skills and prepares students for a future in engineering and design.
Discover some of the practical projects and activities our CAD students take part in throughout the course, from creative design challenges to the annual Kelvin CAD Car Race. These activities help develop technical, problem-solving and teamwork skills while bringing digital designs to life.
* These videos contain visual footage with background music only and do not include spoken commentary or dialogue.
Hi there, I'm Liam. I'm doing the HND CAD course, computer aided design and drafting at Glasgow Kelvin College.
What I've got here is a concept for an RC car. I'm getting given to do that through the year till March, since a wee race at the end of it. What I've got here is like rough sort of ideas. It's just an odd shape. Here's an outline of the image I've got here. An Arthetic Core GTR.
We use the 3D printers, parts like this chassis under here. We'll 3D print them and sort of do trial and errors. Do the CAD on here, then export a file and it'll come off on the 3D printer. Eventually at the end we'll have a working car. We'll use like this sort of marking gauge thing. It gives us precise sizes for when we're 3D printing. It's good for us to sort of get used to going into the world.
The great thing about the course is you can do it in college and also at home. But after the college, I'd either apply for a uni on more design stuff. 3D design for games, or it might just be 2D drawings on AutoCAD, or just go straight into an apprenticeship or get a job. I couldn't go into any sort of engineering space, as it is just design, so it's quite freeing.
Don't let the fact that it is a HND put you off. I've done fifth year and didn't do sixth year and I came here and it's probably the best decision I've made. I didn't really think sixth year at school was for me and I had my mum and dad. They backed me the whole way. I know some people kind of thought not doing sixth year means you're not doing your exams and you don't like to do well but I went out of school with three highers and came in here and done this and ever since, life just got better.
