Engineering Postgraduate Diploma Degree Apprenticeship

Course overview

You’ll develop your knowledge in your chosen specialism and learn to overcome engineering problems using technology, innovation and creativity. This apprenticeship is tailored to your role and all learning is specifically focused on the work that you do for your employer. It will give you the practical skills and the knowledge needed to progress your engineering career, if you want to progress your career in engineering, this Degree Apprenticeship is for you.

Testimonial

"One of the greatest benefits is how you can apply the teachings directly within your workplace. The course is structured in a way that means you have to learn academic knowledge, apply them to the workplace, then reflect on what the impact was and how you have and will develop as a result. I feel that this leads to a deeper learning and therefore greater impact within your role and organisation."

Jack Miller

Degree Apprentice

Why choose Aston University?

Gold standard teaching

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

Practical learning impact

Benefit from a hands-on, project orientated learning that directly relates to your organisation

Gain a Postgraduate Diploma

With the option to top up to a full MSc in Professional Engineering

Course description

Engineer Postgraduate Diploma Degree Apprenticeship PgDip

We’ll teach you the theory and skills and you’ll put them straight into practice whilst you are employed as an apprentice.

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 Engineer Postgraduate Diploma Degree Apprenticeship, you will gain:

•   Postgraduate Diploma
•   An apprenticeship certificates
•   with the option to top up to a full MSc in Professional Engineering.

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
Throughout the apprenticeship, you’ll likely to develop a diverse range of skills such as risk analysis, technical skills, innovation, problem-solving, decision-making, leadership, and financial management.

Career placements
This course is suitable for engineers who want to accelerate and develop their knowledge and competences while maintaining a full-time job. It is intended for both new and existing employees at organisations of all sizes and sectors. The apprenticeship will give individuals the skills and theory needed to progress in the organisation as well as a formal postgraduate qualification.

How you will learn

Apprenticeships are structured differently to a traditional degree. You'll spend the majority of your time in the workplace doing a real full-time job as well as studying for your qualification part-time. Study time is structured to fit around your job. Your apprenticeship is designed in partnership with your employer, so you don't need to worry about your work and study commitments clashing. They work hand in hand.

This apprenticeship is delivered entirely through blended learning. You will take part in online seminars and implement your knowledge and skills through work integrated learning projects. You'll be supported with your projects by regular visits from your Aston University supervisor who will help you to tailor your projects to your organisation without the need to travel to campus.

What you will learn

In the Postgraduate Engineer Postgraduate Diploma Degree Apprenticeship at Aston University, you will gain a range of knowledge and skills that are tailored to your role and the requirements of your employer.

You will learn about the current and emerging technologies relevant to your field of engineering. You will develop an understanding of the different engineering applications and how technology is shaping the industry. This knowledge will help you stay up to date with the latest advancements and apply them in practical scenarios.

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

To provide routes to professional recognition for working engineers, including those working in smaller organisations, but who are unwilling or unable to attend university-based higher education for various reasons, such as the prospect of time away from work and additional debt.
To meet the educational requirements of the Post Graduate Engineer Apprenticeship Standard.
Where required by an employer to enable the development and demonstration of the professional and occupational elements of the Post Graduate Engineer Apprenticeship Standard.
To provide flexible learning experiences to meet a wide range of engineering specialisms and participant needs.
To provide an accelerated route to becoming an expert engineer.

Modules and learning outcomes

Course content is taught at postgraduate level and is split into two phases. The first phase is designed to provide a foundation of knowledge required to progress into the second phase. The development phase is tailored to your personal skills and knowledge gaps and the needs of the organisation.

Stage 1
Stage 2

Stage 1 modules

The foundation phase is delivered online through fortnightly webinars and individual study and covers four main areas:

Module title	Credits
Professional development audit	15
Current technologies and applications	15
Emerging technologies	15
Sustainability	15

The development phase provides an opportunity to choose between two routes:

Employer-led route: The content is developed based on your employer's requirements specified in an occupational brief and must include a set of work-integrated learning modules.
Standard route : This covers a range of professional engineering modules that have been developed by Aston University.

Stage 1 outcomes

Have a comprehensive understanding of what is required of a professionally registered engineer with specific reference to their engineering discipline.
Have evaluated their own engineering abilities and as a result will have developed a comprehensive learning and development programme that will, after successful completion, enable them to develop and demonstrates their professional competences and underpinning engineering knowledge and understanding sufficiently to achieve registration as a Chartered Engineer.
Have developed, and be able to able to use critical and reflective thinking skills in application to their own professional practice and will be able to produce documentation, papers, and reports which comply with best professional and academic practice.
Utilise their general and specialist engineering understanding and engineering knowledge to critically evaluate, select, apply and optimise the application of existing technologies within their current engineering practice.
Show an in-depth understanding of the appropriate theoretical and practical methods used with their current engineering practice and how this is applied to a selected engineering problem and demonstrate how their work is applicable to their commercial and professional environment at the same time as recognising their obligation to society.
Acquired new learning and understanding in relation to an area of technology that could 'add value' to their sector and can use engineering principles to discuss and, where appropriate quantify, how this novel technology could serve to enhance existing practices.
Can analyse any potential challenges integrating this emerging technology within an existing system, such that an output (demonstrable or theoretical) is/could be achieved
Have a clear understanding of the commercial environment of the proposed new technology and describe and discuss the theoretical basis of sustainability as applicable to a business environment.
Review and develop a CSR (Corporate and Social Responsibility) strategy and undertake a limited Life Cycle Analysis to assess embedded carbon in systems, products, and processes and assess the energy performance of an organisation and/or its products.

Stage 2 modules

Choose 60 credits from the following options:

Module title	Credits
Design methodologies	15
Further topics in engineering management	15
Scientific foundations	15
Engineering analysis	15
Project management	15
Product delivery	15
Professional literature study	30
Extended integrative option	15
Strategic financial management	15
Business landscape	15
Supply chain management	15
Human resources management	15

Entry requirements

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.

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.

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

Employers typically require a professionally recognised bachelors degree or equivalent in a STEM subject

At least Grade 4 or C GCSE Maths and English

*Please note:
Employers may specify their own entry criteria that can exceed this.

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.

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.

Course fees

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 £27,000. 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.

Assessment

By successfully completing this programme, you will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma with the option to top up to a full MSc in Professional Engineering.

You will also achieve a Level 7 apprenticeship certificate that is graded at pass, merit or distinction. You will be assessed throughout the apprenticeship via project reports and a portfolio directly related to your industry and organisation. The apprenticeship also includes an End Point Assessment interview with representatives from Aston University, your employer, and an independent assessor.

Apprentices are assessed throughout the apprenticeship via project reports and a portfolio, all of which can be tailored to your organisation’s needs. The apprenticeship also includes an end point assessment interview with representatives from Aston University, the employer, and an independent assessor.

Career prospects

Incorporate companies’ graduates have gone on to work for and job titles. Try to use recognisable brands where possible.
This course is suitable for engineers who want to accelerate and develop their knowledge and competences while maintaining a full-time job. It is intended for both new and existing employees at organisations of all sizes and sectors. The apprenticeship will give individuals the skills and theory needed to progress in the organisation as well as a formal postgraduate qualification.

Frequently asked questions

Why study a Postgraduate Engineer Degree Apprenticeship at Aston University??

Aston University great links with industry and experienced teaching staff will help you to develop your career pathway on this course and equip you for a role as a leader within the engineering sector.
You can tailor your course through a choice of elective modules to best suit your preferences and career direction and the whole Degree Apprenticeship is tailored to your skills and the needs of your employer.
You’ll graduate with a postgraduate level qualification and a breadth of experience and knowledge to help support your future career path.

Why Aston University for an apprenticeship?

Aston University has been ranked 13th in a Top 50 list of the UK’s best apprenticeship training providers (RateMyApprenticeship Awards, 2022). We also have a history of providing our students with skills that help them to excel in their chosen careers, as well as really value our network of employer links which inform and shape our courses and teaching.

Why partner with 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 15th in a top 50 list of the UK’s best apprenticeship training providers (RateMyApprenticeship Awards, 2019). 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.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please email apprenticeships@aston.ac.uk. Be sure to include your name, your employer, and the programme you are inquiring about.