Engineering Leadership & Management Degree Apprenticeship

Course overview

This postgraduate apprenticeship offers apprentices an in-depth personal and professional development programme designed to transform them into confident and informed leaders within an engineering organisation.Through study of a Postgraduate Diploma and workplace application, apprentices will gain a broad knowledge of management and leadership topics, covering areas such as strategy, financial management, human resource management and leadership, all viewed from the perspective of strategic leadership of the engineering function or business and explored in the company of fellow engineering professionals.

Testimonial

"I personally felt that a blended approach of working whilst learning was a suitable option for me as I prefer to apply my learning in a practical way. The apprenticeship is a perfect blend of practical working with degree/university studies so I had the best of both worlds. As I progressed through the programme, I felt that this was the perfect option for me rather than full time study."

Aaradhya Amarthaluru

Degree apprentice graduate

Why choose Aston University?

Gold standard teaching

Aston University was awarded Triple Gold - the highest possible rating for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)

Degree with experience

Gain a full honours degree as well as 4 years’ relevant work experience and no tuition fees to pay

Located at the beating heard of the UK engineering sector

Course description

Engineering Leadership & Management Degree Apprenticeship PgDip

This Degree Apprenticeship is for engineering specialists or managers with a desire to further their knowledge and skill base.

What will we provide
We will provide you with mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals and lecturers, sharing theory and practical knowledge.

On successful completion of the Engineering Leadership & Management apprenticeship, you will gain:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Leadership & Management

• An apprenticeship certificate.

• With the option to progress from the Postgraduate Diploma to an MSc in Engineering Leadership & Management

• This programme comes under the Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship standard. It is a two-year programme, including the End Point Assessment and consists of a total 120 credits. Candidates who complete this programme will be eligible to apply to progress onto a full MSc qualification.

What will you provide
As an apprentice, you will be required to balance academic work, full-time employment, and on-the-job training. You will be expected to engage with teaching materials, online lectures, and in-person sessions. You will need to submit coursework and other assessments in a timely manner.

What skills will we teach
The skills that apprentices can gain from this programme include leadership, management, communication, teamwork, mentoring, and mathematical skills.

Career prospects
The apprenticeship programme is for engineering specialists or managers with a desire to further their knowledge and skill base, develop their careers, and progress to senior leadership positions.

How you will learn

The course is delivered through a blend of short learning blocks on campus (typically 18 days per year)and remote learning, led by experienced teachers with a professional background. Face-to-face study sessions give apprentices the opportunity to enrich their learning through discussion of current business issues and to network with fellow engineering leaders.

Remote learning is delivered through our virtual learning environment, Blackboard, where candidates can engage with module content, participate in live seminars and communicate with their peers. There is also an extensive online library of content to support their studies.

What you will learn

Through the study of a Postgraduate Diploma and workplace application, you will gain a broad knowledge of management and leadership topics, covering areas such as strategy, financial management, human resource management and leadership, all viewed from the perspective of strategic leadership of the engineering function or business and explored in the company of fellow engineering professionals.

Facilities

At Aston University, apprentices enjoy full access to all the facilities available to regular students. This inclusive approach ensures that apprentices can take advantage of the university's library, labs, study spaces, cafes and more. By providing equal access to these facilities, Aston University supports apprentices in their educational journey, enabling them to thrive in both academic and practical aspects of their chosen fields.

Course objectives

Enable emerging engineering leaders to build on their previous specialist skills, experiences and training to develop their leadership skills and ability to work both collaboratively and independently to meet organisational objectives.
Enable engineering managers to develop their knowledge of the business environment, key business functions and processes and their ability to apply knowledge, together with their previous experience, to complex organisational issues.
Develop the ability to manage projects, to make financial, strategic and operational decisions under conditions of risk and to contribute to the organisation’s performance at board level.
Develop the intellectual and professional skills (including analytical, critical thinking, problem solving, research and communication skills) required to perform as a senior leader within an engineering function or business.
Develop students’ ability to reflect on their own performance and behaviours to enable proactive identification of professional development opportunities.

Modules and learning outcomes

This course is taught at undergraduate level through a set of core modules that will give you the theory you need in your day-to-day role.

The three year route is recommended for more experienced managers who are ready for a faster-paced learning experience.

Modules

Modules

Programme content is taught at postgraduate level and includes eight core modules covering essential business and management topics, explored within the context of the engineering business:

Module title	Credits
The business landscape	15
Strategic financial management	15
Engineering programme management	15
Human resources management	15
Mastering strategy	15
Developing leadership capability	20
Customer engagement and operational effectiveness	15
Research methods	10
Total	120

Stage 1 outcomes

Demonstrate systematic understanding of relevant knowledge about organisations, their external context, how they are managed and the relationship between leadership and management and the performance of an engineering business.
Demonstrate competence in critical reasoning, reflection, creative thinking and development of ideas.
Use and analyse complex financial and non-financial information to support decision making within an engineering function or business.
Build upon their knowledge and understanding of the principles, concepts and theories they have engaged with to formulate business strategy and to make strategic decisions within the context of an engineering function or business.
Apply knowledge of organisational behaviour, people management and leadership theory to effectively lead and manage teams within their own organisation for long term sustainable results, including the ability to contribute at board level.
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of approaches to decision making under conditions of uncertainty and to be able to independently identify, analyse and address risk in the workplace.
Practically apply project management tools, techniques and methodologies to demonstrate a competent, original and independent approach to project management within an engineering function or business.

Entry requirements

Indicative entry requirements are given below, but please note that each employer may set their own criteria.

To be considered for this programme, Aston University expects that applications will have at least five years in a management position plus one of the following:

A UK honours degree,
or An equivalent overseas degree recognised by Aston University,
or A degree-level professional qualification

Candidates without one of the above but with extensive management experience and clear evidence of career progression will be considered on a case by case basis.

You must have a minimum of Grade C/4 in GCSE Mathematics and English (or Level 2 equivalent) by the end of the programme

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.

Course fees

The cost of the apprenticeship is £14,000 and is covered by the apprenticeship levy.
The progression to an MBA or MSc will cost £4,000 and is not covered by the apprenticeship levy. This can be self-funded, funded by the employer, or co-funded. This is a special rate which applies to candidates who enrol on the apprenticeship programme in the first year and will be subject to review for following years.

Assessment

Overview of how students are assessed, more detailed explanations of assessment with hyperlink if required
Learners will be assessed through applied assignments. While there are no traditional examinations, candidates will be assessed through work-based projects that give them the opportunity to implement their learning and make a positive impact in their organisation.
In the final year, apprentices will complete a Strategic Business Proposal, requiring them to apply all the theory and skills gained throughout the apprenticeship.
Throughout the programme apprentices will curate a personal and professional development portfolio. The purpose of the portfolio is to showcase the skills, knowledge and behaviours develop through the programme and how the apprentice has applied them to their role in the organisation.
Every apprentice is allocated a skills coach who will support their learning and skills development and provide advice and guidance on the development of the portfolio.

The end point assessment

The final stage of the apprenticeship is the end point assessment. The apprentice will meet with an independent assessor from the CMI to discuss their Strategic Business Proposal and the impact it had on their organisation. They will also review their development journey and how their portfolio has documented it. Finally, there will be a short interview allowing the candidate time to share how the programme has helped them to grow and develop. After the interview, based both on the apprentice’s performance and portfolio, the assessors will award the apprentice either a fail, pass, merit or distinction for the apprenticeship.This programme enables candidates who have completed the apprenticeship to progress to an MSc in Engineering Leadership & Management. Apprentices can apply to progress to this pathway during the apprenticeship and will automatically be accepted as long as they complete the apprenticeship stage. MSc students will be allocated a research supervisor to support their learning.
The MSc programme features an in-depth project, typically completed over a 12 month period, which focuses on a current business challenge or opportunity within the field of engineering.

Career prospects

The apprenticeship programme is for engineering specialists or managers with a desire to further their knowledge and skill base, develop their careers, and progress to senior leadership positions.