Professional Engineering (Control Systems Engineer) Degree Apprenticeship

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Course overview

The apprenticeship is taught at undergraduate level (Levels 4-6), covering the essentials of professional engineering including mathematics and science, while specialising in control/technical support for the manufacturing sector.

Develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to excel your career, with a focus on planning for the future of the sector.

This course will prepare you with advanced professional skills required for the evolving environmental and political landscape in the fast-paced and cost-conscious manufacturing sector.

Testimonial

"The apprenticeship programme is an ideal pathway to develop your career ambitions since it allows you to study while working and apply your previous experiences to your education whilst developing your skills and knowledge.”

Bally Purewal

Degree apprentice graduate

Why choose Aston University?

Become an Incorporated Engineer

Upon completing your Degree Apprenticeship, you can apply for an Incorporated Engineering status, a professional engineering qualification recognised by the Engineering Council in the UK

Work based learning

The programme is taught through work-based learning that relates directly to the apprentice's role

Gold standard teaching

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

A comprehensive support structure

Apprentices are supported by a professional skills coach, an academic, and a professional supervisor

Course description

Professional Engineering (Control Systems Engineer) Degree Apprenticeship BEng

You'll benefit from a close partnership with industry leaders as well as expert teaching staff who have held professional engineering positions.

What will we provide?
You will receive mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals, enhancing their practical knowledge.
By successfully completing this programme, you'll be awarded with:
• BEng Professional Engineering (Control Systems Engineer)
• Apprenticeship certificate

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 Professional Engineering (Control Systems Engineer) BEng Degree Apprenticeship equips you with skills crucial for engineering excellence. Through hands-on training, you'll master digital engineering, project management, control systems, and sustainable practices. This program fosters problem-solving, and technical proficiency in hydraulic pneumatics, instrumentation, and manufacturing processes. You'll develop expertise in maintenance management, bolstered by real-world projects. This apprenticeship empowers you to become a versatile and adept engineer capable of driving innovation, ensuring system integrity, and providing technical support within dynamic industries.

Career prospects
Whether you're aspiring to become an engineer or seeking to enhance your existing skills, this apprenticeship is for you.
With the Control Systems Engineering Degree Apprenticeship, you’ll be prepared for the role ensuring smooth operations, troubleshooting technical issues, and support control systems for efficient engineering processes.

How you will learn

This programme is taught through block based or blended distance learning in the first two stages and through blended distance learning in the final stage. Formal teaching takes place using on campus lectures and our virtual learning environment, Blackboard if the block-based delivery is selected for the first two stages. For blended distance learning, formal teaching takes place using our virtual learning environment, Blackboard where apprentices will work through the learning resources and take part in regular tutorials. This platform allows you to access a comprehensive range of study materials, academic journals, databases and much more. Online learning gives you the flexibility to study from any location without the need to frequently travel to the Aston University campus.

In addition, you will be supported by a professional skills coach, an academic, and professional supervisor. The coaches and supervisors will meet with you regularly, either in person or online, to provide advice and help bridge the gap between theory and practice. The professional supervisors are all Chartered Engineers and they will help you with your application for professional registration after successful completion of their degrees.

What you will learn

As an apprentice in the Professional Engineering (Control Systems Engineer) Degree Apprenticeship, you will acquire expertise in engineering control systems and technical support. You will develop skills in design, maintenance, and troubleshooting, preparing you for roles in engineering and technical support while earning a bachelor's degree.

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

Meet all the vocational skills, academic knowledge, and occupational behaviours, requirements of the Control Systems Engineer Degree Apprenticeship Standard.
Enable graduates from the Programme to apply and register as Incorporated Engineers with the relevant Professional Engineering Institutes such as IMechE and IET. The programme has been designed in line with the Degree Apprenticeship standard.
Widen participation to professional registration for working engineers from a range of backgrounds, experiences, disciplines, and industry sectors by providing a flexible, work-based Programme of study that can be adapted to suit individual needs.
Support the need of the UK engineering sector to further develop the skills of the existing engineer workforce who are involved in running and maintenance of engineering site operations .
Create 21st century engineers with the advanced intellectual and professional skills set required by the Degree Apprenticeship standard to meet the engineering demands arising from the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN.
Utilise advanced information and communications technology to maximise the “valued added” student learning experience through the adoption of a student centred, personalised, employer driven learning pedagogy.

Modules and learning outcomes

Stage 1 modules

Module title	Credits
Professional engineering practice	15
Digital engineering	15
Engineering mathematics	30
Introducing to control/technical support engineering	30
Work based project: engineering improvement	30
Total	120

Stage 1 outcomes

Explain the roles and responsibilities of a Professional Engineer within their specific employment context and be able to justify their choices of action arising from engineering ethical dilemmas, in accordance with those roles and responsibilities.
Explain the roles and responsibilities of a Professional Engineer within their specific employment context and be able to justify their choices of action arising from engineering ethical dilemmas, in accordance with those roles and responsibilities.
Explain and ensure compliance with the essential elements of health and safety management relevant to their employment role and its associated responsibilities.
Design simple logic circuits relevant to their specific employment context and use Arduino boards to monitor and control a simple system.
Use a graphical programming language to monitor and control and analyse a simple system and demonstrate appreciation of foundation of maths and science required for engineers.
Apply theoretical underpinning knowledge and understanding to plan for and perform control/technical support engineering task using appropriate techniques, procedures and methods.
Undertake an employment related technical task demonstrating full compliance with the relevant safety and sustainability requirements.
Review and differentiate advantages and disadvantages of different continuous improvement techniques (e.g. lean manufacturing, six sigma, or theory of constraints. etc.), procedures and methods.
Apply continuous improvement techniques to existing under-performing engineering processes to drive efficiency and describe the planning and evaluation of continuous improvement plans in a context of an industrial project.

Stage 2 modules

Module title	Credits
Mathematical methods in engineering	15
Computer aided design	15
Hydraulic and pneumatics	15
Engineering management	15
Control/technical support engineering	30
Work-based project: technical problem solving	30
Total	120

Stage 2 outcomes

Analyse first and second order systems using appropriate mathematical methods and apply mathematical techniques, including Laplace Transforms and Newton Raphson to resolve engineering problems.
Use statistical methods to analyse experimental datasets and evaluate, apply, and communicate findings from mathematical and statistical analysis to specialist audiences.
Successfully use the basic features offered by a commercial 2D and 3D CAD software package and be familiar with the user interface of a typical 3D software suite.
Be able to use reference geometry and editing features to modify drawing shapes, features, dimensions etc. and be able to use the techniques provided by the software to enhance the productivity of the design process. Lofts, splits, shells linear and circular patterns, mirroring, fillets and chamfers.
Select and apply business and management methods to resolve organisational challenges associated with their specific employment context and in accordance with their professional responsibilities.
Evaluate and apply the tools and techniques associated with quality management and analyse the various aspects of the business environment in which their organisation operates and communicate financial planning decisions and justifications for business cases to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Explain the concept of design Intent in the early stages of a design to maximise productivity and minimise costs. This can be shown by the use of tables and equations with dimensions. Also, by the creation of assemblies of component.
Develop safe pneumatic and hydraulic systems and undertake operational system evaluation and fault-finding analysis of either a pneumatic or hydraulic system.
To describe their approach to development and evaluation of pneumatic or hydraulic system and work autonomously to analyse, interpret and evaluate engineering data, presenting the results and problem-solving approach clearly and concisely in written and oral form, using technology where appropriate to assist with and evaluate activities.
Apply theoretical underpinning knowledge and understanding to plan for and perform a control/technical support engineering task using appropriate techniques, procedures and methods.
Provide the technical and commercial management required to complete an industrial control/technical support engineering task, using a combination of general and specialist knowledge, and understanding demonstrating full compliance with the relevant safety and sustainability requirements.

Stage 3 modules

The final stage of the Degree Apprenticeship is taught at Level 6 and includes:

Module title	Credits
Project management	15
Control systems and instrumentation	15
Engineering materials and manufacturing processes	15
Maintenance management systems	15
Sustainable engineering	15
Work-based project.	45
Total	120

Stage 3 outcomes

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 able to produce documentation, papers, and reports which comply with best professional and academic practice.
Have understanding of engineering project management theory, methods and techniques, as applicable to the selected engineering domain and can select and apply appropriate management and business practices, including evaluation of risk, within a project management role.
Showcase an in-depth knowledge of control processes and be able to apply them in the workplace and demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of techniques used in instrumentation to validate control system actions.
Discuss, contrast, and apply the essentials of control systems as applied in a range of industrial processes and analyse and use dynamic simulation software to design active real-time control systems.
Compare and contrast the properties, usage, limitations and failure mechanisms of a wide range of engineering materials in general use and apply theories of engineering materials topics relevant to the topic area selected for the project.
To analyse and incorporate complex materials data during the process of either materials selection or failure analysis during manufacture or use, synthesise and evaluate complex information, relating to engineering materials problems, and be able to synthesis and evaluate various problem solution options.
Differentiate reasons for maintenance, H&S requirements, and types of maintenance associated with engineering plant, equipment and systems including frequency, cost and effects on production.
Demonstrate knowledge of key conceptual and theoretical values and principles of sustainability and SD to engineering practice and evaluate and apply the principles and metrics used to measure and monitor environmental aspects and impacts of an engineering business operation.
Apply the concepts and practices of sustainable engineering and SD, including the ethical and societal impacts to real-life case studies and present holistic solutions to mitigate the SD issues.
Conduct independent research using a range of theoretical skills, knowledge and understanding acquired during their BEng Programme to synthesise a high quality technical final project report.

Entry requirements

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.*.

*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.

Have a minimum of five GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above including Mathematics, English and a science, technology or engineering related subject.

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

University eligibility: Apprentices are selected based on their applications, an interview and an assessment process which is tailored to your apprenticeship position.

Apprentice eligibility: The eligibility for the apprenticeship is set by ESFA funding rules each year (please click here to read more).

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.

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.

Assessment

By successfully completing this programme, you'll be awarded a BEng in Professional Engineering (Control Systems Engineer). You will also achieve an apprenticeship certificate that is graded at pass, merit or distinction.

The programme will be assessed through a combination of written and oral examinations, class tests, individual and group coursework, projects, presentations and practical assessments. All projects and assignments are work-based, relating directly to the apprentice’s role in their organisation adding immediate value for both the learner and the employer.

End point assessment

The apprenticeship concludes with the end point assessment (EPA). The EPA gives the apprentices the opportunity to showcase their academic, personal and professional development achievements throughout the apprenticeship. Apprentices will take part in a professional discussion to demonstrate their competencies and how they have applied their learning in the workplace. They will also be required to give a presentation showing the impact of their final work based project on their organisation. After the EPA, the assessors will consider what grade should be awarded for the apprenticeship – fail, pass, merit, or distinction.

Career prospects

Whether you're aspiring to become an engineer or seeking to enhance your existing skills, this apprenticeship is for you.
With the Control Systems Engineering Degree Apprenticeship, you’ll be prepared for the role ensuring smooth operations, troubleshooting technical issues, and support control systems for efficient engineering processes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why study a Control/Technical Support Engineer – Level 6 Apprenticeship at Aston?

Aston University has 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.

This apprenticeship has a focus on planning for the future of the sector and will prepare you with advanced professional skills much needed for the evolving environmental and political landscape.

You’ll graduate with four years of experience, earn a salary throughout your apprenticeship and you won’t have any student debt as your employer covers your study costs.

Why partner with Aston University for a Degree Apprenticeship?

At Aston University 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.

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.