Digital and Technology Solutions BSc Degree Apprenticeship

For students

Our Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship is the most established degree apprenticeship here at Aston. It was the first degree apprenticeship offered in the UK and has developed capable professionals at companies including Capgemini, Virgin Media and CGI.

You’ll be trained in a wide range of programming tools, methods and techniques,allowing you to add value to your organisation straight away. The course will help you develop the practical skills and theoretical knowledge you need for a career in the IT sector.

The course covers applied competence in the application of IT, promotes business awareness and delivers understanding of the issues central to IT organisations.

This course has been developed as part of Aston University’s contribution to the Institute of Coding (IoC) –a family of businesses and universities, funded by the Office for Students and collaborating organisations, dedicated to developing the digital skills that learners need to take advantage of the opportunities that computing and increased digitalisation are bringing.

In addition to the networks of expertise that the IoC has enabled us to bring to bear on creating the course, the course tutors have been funded through the IoC.

For employees

Our Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship is the most established degree apprenticeship here at Aston. It was the first degree apprenticeship offered in the UK and has developed capable professionals at companies including Capgemini, Virgin Media and CGI.

You’ll be trained in a wide range of programming tools, methods and techniques, allowing you to add value to your organisation straight away. The course will help you develop the practical skills and theoretical knowledge you need for a career in the IT sector.

The course covers applied competence in the application of IT, promotes business awareness and delivers understanding of the issues central to IT organisations.

For employers

Our Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship is the most established degree apprenticeship here at Aston. It was the first degree apprenticeship offered in the UK and has developed capable professionals at companies including Capgemini, Virgin Media and CGI.

Your apprentices will be trained in a wide range of programming tools, methods and techniques, allowing them to add value to your organisation straight away.

The course covers applied competence in the application of IT, promotes business awareness and delivers understanding of the issues central to IT organisations.

Who is this apprenticeship for?

For students

If you are an aspiring IT professional who wants to gain new skills and a formal degree qualification, this degree apprenticeship is for you. The course is designed to develop graduates who are creative, innovative and want to become future technical and business leaders.

For employees

If you are an existing professional who wants to develop their career in the IT profession, gain new skills and a formal degree qualification, this degree apprenticeship is for you. The course is designed to develop employees who are creative, innovative and want to become future technical and business leaders.

For employers

Apprentices can range from new employees with no previous IT experience to existing professionals who have grown into their role, but lack a formal degree qualification. Roles can include anything with a significant consultative or development focus. The course is designed to develop employees who are creative, innovative and want to become future technical and business leaders.

Qualifications

By completing this programme you will be awarded with:

• BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions
• Apprenticeship certificate

Accreditations

Our Computer Science degrees are accredited for Chartered IT Professional (CITP), the British Computer Society's (BCS) Chartered qualification. On graduation, you’ll have the right to join the BCS - the principal organisation for IT professionals in the UK. 

Programme content

The apprenticeship is taught at undergraduate level. this is an intensive 8 week study period. The first stage starts with on-campus technical training in the foundations of technology solutions, known as the ALE-Advanced Learning Environment. Our ALE-Advanced Learning Environment is designed to give students the skills in software engineering needed to work on live projects when they return to the workplace.This is followed by work-based learning tailored to their role in the business and blended learning, providing a foundation for further university study.

The second and third stages are split into two specialisms:

• Software Engineering: this specialism has a technical focus and teaches practical programming skills as well as the theoretical foundations of computer science.
• Business Analyst: this specialism has both technical and business focuses and places particular importance on the understanding and management of data.

The programme is split into three stages with stage one common for both specialisms.

Stage one

The first stage of the apprenticeship is taught at Level 4 over 16 months and includes;

• Foundations of Technology Solutions
• Professional Practice
• Computer Systems and Networks
• Systems Development
• Introduction to Business Organisations
• Internet Computing.

Stages two and three

The final two stages are taught at Level 5 for 18 months and then Level 6 for 18 months. This is where apprentices will specialise their degree.

• Business Analytics
• Introduction to Accounting
• Introduction to Business Economics
• System and Software Analysis.

Topics for the Software Engineer specialism:

• Mathematics for Computing Professionals
• Software Engineering
• Programming Language Concepts
• Business Analyst
• Data Structures and Algorithms with Java

You will also have the opportunity to select some optional modules. Topics may include:

Optional for both:

• Enterprise Computing Strategies
• Advanced Database Systems and Geographic Information Systems
• Managing People and Team Leading
• Machine Learning

For Business Analysts only:

• Effective Management Consultancy
• International Operations

For Software Engineers only:

• Computational Intelligence
• Mobile Development
• Advanced Web Development

Real-world learning

Students spend most of their time doing a full-time job as well as studying for their degree part-time through a combination of online seminars outside of office hours and occasional sessions on campus. Everything is structured to fit around the job and is designed in partnership with employers.

You will need to apply for a degree apprenticeship role or already be employed in a job in England with responsibilities aligned with the degree content. Please see the how to apply section below for more information.

Entry requirements are set by the hiring business and not Aston University so they vary between organisations. Apprentices are selected based on their applications, an interview and an assessment process which is tailored to your apprenticeship position.

You will need:

• Three A Levels at CCC or above including a Mathematics based subject and a STEM subject, or equivalent BTECs.*
• Have a minimum of five GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above including Mathematics, English and a science, technology or engineering related subject.

*Please note:

• Employers may specify their own entry criteria that can exceed this.
• Candidates who do not have three A Levels at CCC may be considered on a case by case basis with aptitude and experience taken into consideration.

You will also need to meet the government's eligibility criteria:

• Have been a UK/EU/EAA resident for the past three years or more prior to starting the course.
• Have left full time education when the apprenticeship you are applying for is due to start.
• Be aged at least 16 years old to meet government funding criteria

How to apply

If you are already employed in this industry, you should discuss with your manager if your organisation is working in partnership with Aston University. If they are, you will make an application through your employer.

If your employer is not yet an Aston partner, they can get in touch with our Apprenticeships Team to find out more information about working with us.

Learning, teaching and assessment

For students

This apprenticeship is delivered through blended work-based learning, you will begin your apprenticeship with a seven-week technical training block on campus, known as the ALE-Advanced Learning Environment, where you will develop the core computing and business skills needed to become an effective team member in the workplace.

Then you'll spend the majority of your time in the workplace doing a real full-time job as well as studying part-time. Your learning will be made up of a combination of online seminars that take place outside of office hours as well as four days on campus every six months where you can meet face-to-face with your peers and our academics.You can get an idea of what online learning sessions are like by watching our taster webinars:

• Requirements Prioritisation, Validation and Change
• Sets and Predicate Logic Study time is structured to fit around your job, as are exams.

Your apprenticeship is designed in partnership with your employer, so you don't need to worry about your work and study commitments clashing.

For employers

The degree apprenticeship begins with a seven week technical training block held on campus,delivering core computing and business skills to enable apprentices to become an effective team member in the workplace straight away.

You will not have to pay tuition fees as a degree apprentice as the costs are met by the UK government and your employer*. In addition to your fees being paid, you will also earn a salary while you study, so there is no need to apply for Student Finance.

The funding band for this degree apprenticeship is £25,000. This is the full cost of your apprenticeship which will be paid for using your employer's apprenticeship levy.

*Employers may require students to pay the fees for resits.

Why study a Digital and Technology Solutions – Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship at Aston?

Aston’s great links with industry and experienced teaching staff will help you to develop the specialist professional skills alongside your practical work experience in order for you to excel your career.Our longest-standing degree apprenticeship is a Tech Industry Gold accredited programme and has been developed as part of Aston University’s contribution to the Institute of Coding (IoC) too, which is dedicated to developing digital skills.

You’ll be immersed in a wide range of programming tools, methods and techniques and covers applied competence in the application of IT, promotes business awareness and delivers understanding of the issues IT organisations face.

Graduate with experience, a formal degree qualification and no-debt, whilst propelling your future career within the IT sector.

Why Aston University for a degree apprenticeship?

At Aston we work really closely with our employer network, not only to ensure courses fit around the roles that apprentices have, but also to ensure the skills and knowledge they develop fit the needs of their organisation and add value to their business.

Aston University has been ranked 13th in a Top 50 list of the UK’s best apprenticeship training providers (RateMyApprenticeship Awards, 2022-2023.) We also have a history of providing our students with skills that help them to excel in their chosen careers, as well as maintain good working relationships with employers.