Degree Apprenticeships are the fantastic new way for employers to upskill members of staff with degree-level skills and knowledge in the key areas needed to grow their businesses.
As well as providing employers with a great way to train and retain valued members of staff, Degree Apprenticeships can also help organisations fill skills gaps and convince employees that they have a real stake in helping the businesses they work for be successful.
This course provides employees with the opportunity to achieve a degree alongside work, whilst offering employers the chance to train and retain valued members of staff and fill the skills gaps that are holding back their businesses.
The IT industry is fast-moving and ever-evolving, so apprentices on this course receive a grounding in new and emerging technologies so they can respond to threats and opportunities in a considered and competent manner.
It is taught through a blend of day-release attendance at UCW, e-learning and workplace projects.
The course is split into four areas of occupational specialism: business analyst, cyber security analyst, data analyst and software engineer.
The programme includes work-based projects that can be tailored to be relevant to employers in a host of business areas, and the apprentice’s newly-learned skills will be beneficial to their employer as they move through the programme.
It is taught by our highly qualified lecturing team on a one-day-per-week basis at UCW’s Knightstone Campus, typically over four years.
Apprentices on this course can also access all of the support and guidance on offer at UCW at no additional expense.
Please contact our Apprenticeships Team on 01934 411 594 or apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk to find out more.
Students who pass this course will be awarded a degree from UWE Bristol. The agreement between UWE Bristol and UCW is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure academic standards are maintained.
Tuition fees for the BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions are £25,000 plus £1,000 per apprentice, which is typically studied over four years on a part-time basis.
But with Degree Apprenticeships having been identified as a crucial part of the UK’s long-term education and economic growth strategies, there is plenty of financial support available.
Recent funding reforms mean that if a business has an annual payroll in excess of £3 million, they will be able to fund this apprenticeship in its entirety through Apprenticeship Levy contributions.
Even If an organisation does not pay into the Levy, they could still receive government contributions to cover the cost of up to 90% of the tuition fees for this course.
Additionally, all businesses that employ an apprentice aged between 19 and 24 who has been in care or who has an Education and Health Care Plan will receive a government grant of £1,000.
Please click here for more information about apprenticeship funding.
The fee stated above covers all of the teaching and assessment elements that are required for students to complete the course.
It also includes:
- The use of UCW facilities and equipment.
- Attendance at guest lectures at UCW.
- Annual £5 printing and photocopying allowance for part-time students.
- The use of UCW computer equipment at any of our campuses and access to Microsoft Office 365 while you are enrolled with UCW.
- The loans of books from our libraries.
- Access to all of the UCW student support and careers services.
It does not include:
- Participation in optional daytrips or residential visits at an approximate cost of £50 (UK) and £100 (overseas) per day/night.
- Extra printing and photocopying above the £5 limit.
- The cost of books that you may wish to purchase.
- Transport between our campuses, and to/from your partner university and work.
- Accommodation and other living expenses.
UCW publishes its Tuition Fees Policy on the Wider Information Set page of this website.
Apprentices are taught via lectures and seminars in the classroom, e-learning and real-world, on-the-job training. UCW’s Higher Education Library Plus (HE.LP) team also deliver a series of sessions on degree-level research and academic writing to all first-year students.
Apprentices are also expected to learn through independent self-study, which involves working on individual and group projects, and undertaking research in preparation for coursework and exams.
The below information outlines the mandatory modules in each year. Please refer to the course handbook and programme specification for the specialist modules on each pathway.
Year 1:
- Academic and Professional Skills (15 credits)
- Business Organisations (15 credits)
- Business Information Systems (30 credits)
- Fundamentals of Software Development (30 credits)
Year 2:
- Business Security (15 credits)
- Object-orientated Software Design and Development (15 credits)
- Networking and Security (15 credits)
- WebApp Development (15 credits)
- Work-based Experience Project (15 credits)
Year 3:
- Data Management (30 credits)
- Introduction to Project Management (30 credits)
- Professional Project Experience (15 credits)
- Technical Writing and Editing (15 credits)
Year 4:
Please download the documents on this page to find out more.
Apprentices who pass this course will receive a Level 6 BSc Degree validated by UWE Bristol.
They will be able to operate effectively in a range of digital roles and qualified to support an organisation in developing new products and services, while also increasing productivity using digital technologies.
Graduates will also be eligible to apply for postgraduate study, such as a Master’s Degree.
Three A Levels at grade C or above, preferably in related subjects such as Maths, Science and IT, or a BTEC Extended Diploma at MMM, or equivalent, in addition to Level 2 English and Maths at grade C/4 or
above.
Applications from those who do not meet these requirements but who have demonstrable and relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis.
You may also be asked to complete an assessment set by UCW.
Applicants will ideally also have these skills:
- Familiarity with the Windows, OSX and Linux Operating Systems, major web browsers and browser development tools, and mobile devices and applications.
- Awareness of software development tools and web technologies including HTML.
- Experience of using word processors, spreadsheets, databases and graphics software.
Places on Degree Apprenticeships are decided upon by the employer, with each company having its own recruitment, application and selection processes. Please also be aware that there is often significant
competition for these places.
