Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship

Course overview

The Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship is for professionals who want to acquire high-level project management knowledge, capabilities and skills (both human and technical) that enable them to work within or lead a project team. Apprentices will be responsible for overseeing projects in their organisation or for clients.

It will prepare its participants to take on and strategically, and financially, manage small- or large-scale projects, lead cross-functional teams and deliver projects that meet their targets. By the end of the degree, participants will be adept at understanding the needs of customers and developing strong stakeholder relationships whilst demonstrating strong, ethical practice.

Testimonial

"Doing an apprenticeship has helped me learn on the job and given me confidence in myself. I now have six years of industry experience and a first-class degree; the opportunities are endless."

Pallavi Boppana

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)

Mastering leadership excellence

Develop coveted leadership skills from the best start of your career

Degree with experience

Gain a full honours degree as well as 3 years’ relevant work experience and no tuition fees to pay

Course description

Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship BSc

This programme is applicable to those early in their career and school leavers applying for Degree Apprenticeship roles.

What will we provide
You will recieve mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals, enhancing their practical knowledge.

By successfully completing this programme, we will award you with:
• BSc in Project Management
• An 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
Learn theory and key skills and apply them straight into practice whilst you are employed as an apprentice. You will develop a diverse range of skills including risk management, time management, commercial and contract management, stakeholder communications, teamworking, project change control management and many more. It also fosters adaptability, stress management, self-awareness, and a strong sense of organisational values and purpose.

Career prospects
Whether you're aiming to grow into a managerial role or aiming to refine your current managerial abilities, this apprenticeship programme is tailored to your needs. Through gaining advanced expertise in project management, encompassing both interpersonal and technical skills, you'll be empowered to operate effectively within a project team, whether as a member or a leader.

The Project Management Degree Apprenticeship opens up numerous prospects across diverse sectors like IT, engineering, healthcare, transport, supply chain, and beyond. This programme equips you to pursue elevated positions including project manager, consultant, business analyst, general manager, and other senior roles.

How you will learn

This programme is taught through blended distance learning. Formal teaching takes place using our virtual learning environment, Blackboard, where apprentices will take part in bi-monthly webinars. This platform allows apprentices to access a comprehensive range of study materials, academic journals, e-journals, databases and much more. Online learning gives apprentices the flexibility to study from any location without the need to frequently travel to the Aston University campus.
In addition to online learning, all apprentices are supported by an academic and professional supervisor. The supervisors will meet with apprentices on a monthly basis either in person or online to provide advice and help bridge the gap between theory and practice.

The course is delivered through blended learning. Most teaching is delivered through our virtual learning environment, Blackboard. This platform allows apprentices access to a comprehensive range of study materials, recorded lectures, online tutorials, e-journals and much more. Online teaching gives apprentices the flexibility to study from any location without the need to frequently travel to the Aston University campus.

Apprentices will also attend a two day session on campus once per term in the middle of each module where they will network with other apprentices, have one-to-one sessions with their apprenticeship coach and learn from their subject specialists.

What you will learn

Throughout the apprenticeship you will learn the general basis of business and management and specialises within the field of project and programme management underpinned by a dedication to quality enhancement and governance.

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 state-of-the-art resources, such as libraries, laboratories, recreational spaces, and technological amenities. 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

Make use of theoretically underpinned management techniques to bring about sound analysis, design, and delivery of management solutions.
Demonstrate understanding and application of core theory and knowledge in project management within the wider business context.
Develop the personal and intercultural awareness needed to work and communicate effectively in business.
Work effectively as independent self-managed learners as well as parts of a team; demonstrate graduate-level transferable skills.
Make appropriate operational and strategic decisions and to apply knowledge based on sound analysis in an international context.

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.

Stage 1 modules

The first stage of the apprenticeship is taught at Level 4 over 12 months and includes:

Module title	Credits
Financial management	30
Marketing	30
Communication for business leaders	30
Principles of project management	30
Total	120

Stage 1 outcomes

Recognise and interpret a range of information from and organisation's financial and management accounts and analyse the financial performance and position of an organisation using financial ratios.
Apply a range of basic management accounting tools to assist with management decision making, budgeting and performance evaluation.
Discuss the limitations of accounting information and explain the implications of these limitations in understanding an organisation's financial performance and position.
Explain how the marketing function can support organisational objectives & including broader marketing issues and discuss the marketing environment using appropriate tools and techniques, including how marketing interacts with the organisational environment.
Understand the regulation of marketing, in its various formats, and how this regulation influences the development of marketing strategy and tactics.
Demonstrate cooperative working in a small group to present findings and apply strategic analytical tools to business issues.
Appreciate the role of an effective manager in different types of organisations and demonstrate knowledge of the nature of strategy and its importance in an organisational context.
Explain notions of competitive advantage and how this can be achieved through the adoption of strategy and analyse & evaluate the external and internal project environments, propose, and assess project options.
Effectively recognise the scale and scope of project management in private and public sectors and determine project lifecycle management approaches that would lead towards successful delivery of project objectives and outputs.

Stage 2 modules

The second stage is taught at Level 5 over 12 months and includes:

Module title	Credits
Operations management	30
Leadership and change management	30
Excellence in business project management	30
Total	90

Stage 2 outcomes

Apply key operations management concepts and tools to solve operational problems and apply the principles of quality management to current business challenges.
Discuss the importance of operations management and international operations within the wider context of the business and its strategy.
Discuss the social and environmental issues relating to organisations choices in globalising their operations.
To interpret appropriate theoretical concepts, tools and skills that are used to manage organisational change effectively and critically evaluate the validity and usefulness of leadership approaches.
To employ the knowledge and practical skills which work most effectively in organisations when leading, influencing, delegating, coaching, and resolving conflict.
Evaluate strategic choices in the context of change management; demonstrate an awareness of the leadership principles that inform organisational values.
Experiment and work effectively as part of a team to apply problem-solving tools and techniques to simulated business problems.
Make a case in which you identify a business situation and distinguish why the operations were/ were not excellent and analyse a problem situation, select and apply the appropriate course topics to the given problem situation.
Plan how the application of the selected course topics will deliver improved performance to the given problem situation
Consider the challenges proposed by project implementation and recognise the value of continuous improvement in project design, implementation, and evaluation.

Stage 3 modules

The final stage of the Degree Apprenticeship is taught at Level 6 over 12 months and includes:

Module title	Credits
Advanced project management	30
Governance and quality assurance	30
Project proposal	20
Final project including end point assessment	40
Total	120

Stage 3 Outcomes

Navigate the leadership of complex projects and apply project selection techniques in accordance to an appropriate identification of corporate needs, socio-economic and environmental pressures.
Demonstrate a robust awareness of the breadth of academic research that relates to project management and how this research can be translated into practice.
Hone advanced project management soft skills including negotiation, presentation, and report-writing skills.
Evaluate the relationship of all broad organisational factors that are outside of boundaries of a project, programme or portfolio that have significant impact upon the way a project is delivered.
Demonstrate a robust awareness of set of policies, regulations, functions, processes, procedures and responsibilities that define organisation, management and control of projects, programmes and portfolios.
Evaluate a disciplined life cycle governance which allow for project viability to be reviewed and approved.
Adopt quality management activities for ensuring outputs, benefits and processes by which these are delivered, meet stakeholders’ requirements and are fit for purpose.
Identify organisational challenges which require a multi-level strategic response.
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of project management processes and set out sound project management milestones.

Entry requirements

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.

To be considered for this programme, Aston University expects that applicants will have/are predicted to achieve three A Levels at CCC or above, or equivalent BTECs.* Other qualifications may be considered on a case by case basis.

Have a minimum of five GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above including Mathematics and English.

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.

Course fees

You will not have to pay tuition fees as a Degree Apprenticeships, 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 £22,000. 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

Overview of how students are assessed, more detailed explanations of assessment with hyperlink if required
Apprentices will be assessed through two applied assignments per module that relate directly to their role in the organisation, adding immediate value for both the apprentice and their employer. While there are no traditional examinations, assessments will give apprentices the opportunity to demonstrate how they have implemented their learning and had a positive impact in their organisation.
In the final year, apprentices will complete a large work-based project requiring them to apply all of the theory and skills gained throughout the apprenticeship.

The portfolio

Throughout the programme, you will complete a learning journal that will create a portfolio showcasing the application of skills, knowledge and behaviours learned through the programme in your day to day role. You will be supported by a dedicated Degree Apprenticeship skills coach to support their learning and skills development. They will help you translate their theoretical learning into practical application in the workplace.

The 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. The apprentice will present their work-based project to an interview panel explaining what was delivered, how they have implemented the skills, knowledge and behaviours gained through the apprenticeship and the impact their work has had for the organisation.

The apprentice will then take part in a professional discussion to demonstrate their competencies and how they have applied their learning in the workplace. After the EPA, the assessors consider what grade should be awarded for the apprenticeship.

Career prospects

Whether you're aiming to grow into a managerial role or aiming to refine your current managerial abilities, this apprenticeship programme is tailored to your needs. Through gaining advanced expertise in project management, encompassing both interpersonal and technical skills, you'll be empowered to operate effectively within a project team, whether as a member or a leader.

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.