This Degree Apprenticeship is a full Honours Degree delivered in partnership by UCW and UWE Bristol which leads to the awarding of a BSc (Hons) qualification in Digital and Technology Solutions.
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.
Apprentices can continue to work full-time while studying for their degree on a part-time basis without having to cover the cost of tuition themselves. Please see the dropdown below for more information on fees and funding.
The BSc Honours Degree in Digital and Technology Solutions at UCW has been designed with input from employers in the software sector to provide apprentices with the core, technical and specialist IT skills they’ll need to become confident and capable digital and technology professionals.
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 utilise all of the support and guidance at UCW at no additional expense, and they’ll also be among the first learners to take advantage of the state-of-the-art technology, higher education library and extended opening hours in the redeveloped Winter Gardens, also in the centre of Weston.
Building upon the Weston College Group’s outstanding track record in organising apprenticeship schemes, we can help a business every step of the way through recruitment, applications and interviews for new employees, to implementation of the programme, assessment and both organisational and apprentice support on an ongoing basis.
The Group even has its very own dedicated Apprenticeship Team and hosts a gala event every year to celebrate the many successes of apprentices and employers. Please contact them on 01934 411 594 or apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk to find out more.
Students who pass this course will be awarded a BSc Honours Degree from the University of the West of England, Bristol. The agreement between UWE Bristol and UCW is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure academic standards are maintained. Students on this course are able to access facilities and resources at the two institutions, and are also required to adhere to the Terms and Conditions downloadable from this page.
Tuition fees for the BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions are £27,000 in total for the programme, 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.
The BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship combines studies of IT and other digital technologies with practical business principles.
The software industry is fast-moving and ever-evolving, so apprentices receive a grounding in new and emerging technologies and also cover core topics such as cybersecurity, systems development and project management, so they can respond to threats and opportunities that affect businesses in a considered and competent manner.
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.
Course content:
- Business information systems
- Data modelling and databases
- Digital technologies
- Information security
- IT law and ethics
- IT project management
- Organisations and management
- Systems development
Specialist options
- Business analysis
- Cyber security analyst
- Data analysis
- Software engineering
Please click on the Employer Guide button to find out more about the course content and role specification.
Apprentices who pass this course will receive a Level 6 Bachelor of Science Degree validated by UWE Bristol.
They’ll 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.
Apprentices will ideally already have three A Levels at grade C or above, preferably in related subjects such as mathematics, science and IT, or a BTEC Extended Diploma at MMM, or other qualifications equivalent to 96 UCAS tariff points, in addition to Level 2 English and mathematics.
Applications from those who do not meet these requirements but who have demonstrable and relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis, subject to completing a programming assessment set by UCW.
We are also looking for these skills and experiences:
- 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.
