Engineering Design

Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship (Level 6)

Level6
DegreeBEng (Hons) Engineering Design 
Duration48 months + 6 months EPA
Entry point(s)Autumn
CampusHigh Wycombe
Contactapprenticeships@bnu.ac.uk

 

The apprenticeship programme is designed to enable learners in developing knowledge, skills and behaviours required to meet engineering industry standards and enhance attributes to achieve career aspirations or entry to higher level qualifications. The curriculum intent will develop learners to be skilled in specialist areas in meeting employer requirements to investigate and solve day-to-day engineering problems through the collaboration of learners and academic, industry professional experts. The programme further develops occupational behaviours to ensure learners demonstrate problem solving orientation, a safety mindset, adaptability, emotional resilience and a logical approach to deepen engineering skills within their specialist areas.  

This programme is designed to develop apprentices in core engineering and competencies that are transferable to empower learners to become highly skilled industry experts with flexibility to specialise in their chosen pathways to provide breadth of experience.

The programme is learner focused, providing the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours to underpin specialisms in manufacturing and product design, it is externally supported, through the input from Industry and our industrial partners to provide the elements that will support fundamental mathematical and scientific principles. 

Programme aims

The programme aims to produce technically competent and highly motivated learners who will have the understanding, awareness and the resilience to work efficiently and effectively in a variety of relevant engineering roles including contemporary and emerging technologies within their workplace.

 

Pathways

Engineering Design
Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, manufacture and install mechanical components and systems. This can range from the components in aircraft wings to heating systems for multi-storey buildings and robotic instruments for use in space. Although mechanical engineers’ work varies greatly, it tends to be driven by complex-problems that need solving. Mechanical engineers will use their knowledge of maths, science and technology to understand the problem, and to research, design and deliver solutions.

Female student engineer looking at paper work and writing with parts in front of her
Production Engineer

Production Engineers work out how the product will be assembled on the production line including the design packaging enabling the right quantity of components/product are delivered to support the speed of the production line. The Production Engineer will review efficiencies and eliminate waste within the manufacturing process and deliver high quality products/components to clearly defined standards. Responsibilities include managing the whole production process whilst ensuring everything runs smoothly and effectively alongside planning and installing the systems that oversee the manufacturing of a product.

Programme details

The programme matches the University’s philosophy and strategy including outward facing, externality and industrial involvement thus providing students with the necessary qualifications to underpin their knowledge and progress in their chosen careers.

Degree apprenticeships combine study and work-based learning to enable apprentices to gain a full degree. They have been co-designed by employers thus ensuring that apprentices are equipped with the skills employers need and look for in their employees.

An apprentice is a paid employee and does not pay any training costs or student fees.

Programme delivery

Buckinghamshire New University’s blended learning model is designed to be flexible around the needs of apprentices and work load. This includes online, face-to-face and self directed learning which learners have fed back providers greatest flexibility around work, caregiving and other life commitments. This also helps reduce the impact of carbon created through commuting.

Manufacturing Engineer apprentices are delivered face to face seminars at BNU’s High Wycombe campus once per week. Alternative weeks apprentices are provided online seminars or allocated self-directed learning time.

Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship Programme Specification

Why choose BNU?

At Buckinghamshire New University, we are dedicated to equipping our graduates with the skills employers demand. We will work with you using our practice-based learning expertise to support your training needs.

Higher and degree apprenticeships are a partnership between industry and higher education institutions set up to help meet the needs of employers. They also provide a flexible way for employees to take advantage of the life-changing opportunities that higher education can offer them.

At BNU, we change lives through employment-focused teaching which enables our students to achieve their ambitions. As a small and personal university, we offer an agile approach to all apprenticeship training needs. You would also gain access to all our support services including Student Hub, Multi Faith Chaplaincy, Disability and Inclusion, Counselling, Library and Alumni Benefits. Our Apprenticeship Hub at BNU strives to deliver a supportive environment for the employer and the apprentice. Tripartite reviews are conduced quarterly to aid apprentice through their apprenticeship journey successfully.

Engineering Design 2
Entry Requirements

Apprenticeship Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration for any apprenticeship, the apprentice must satisfy the following requirements under the UK government and ESFA funding rules:

  • Must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week
  • Must have the right to live and work in the UK.
  • All international applicants must have permission (visa) to stay and work in England for the duration of the apprenticeship programme they are applying for.
  • Must have resided in the UK for a minimum of 3 years on the day of starting their programme.
  • Must be employed in a role related to the subject matter of their training.
  • If you are aged 18 at the start of your programme you must evidence level 2 Maths and English through GCSE grade C/4 or above, or equivalent qualifications such as Functional Skills, Key Skills, or Level 2 Numeracy & Literacy.

 

Programme Entry Requirements

To be eligible for the Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship apprentices must meet the following requirements:

  • Government approved Level 2 Maths and English Qualification (e.g. GCSE or Functional Skills).
  • Candidates without level 2 English and Maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment.
  • Typically 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above, including Mathematics, English and a Science, Technology or Engineering related subject.
  • A Levels at grade C or above in both a Mathematical based subject and a Science, Technology, Engineering or additional Mathematics related subject, or 90+ credits in an Engineering BTEC at level 3.
  • Entrants from the direct entrant route who are not on the apprenticeship programme must have completed to level 3 of their studies and will not be required to do the NVQ L4.

 

Application process

  1. Your employer will need to contact BNU’s Apprenticeship Hub via email: apprenticeships@bnu.ac.uk or call: 01296 744202
  2. Your employer will be sent a link to share with interested applicants for our online information sessions lead by a representative of BNU’s Apprenticeship Hub and the programme lead.
  3. Your employer will then be sent a capture form to complete which will need to be returned to the Apprenticeship Hub.
  4. Candidates will be sent a direct link to an online application which takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.
  5. Candidates will be required to upload supporting documents such as prior certification and evidence of Right to Work in the United Kingdom.
  6. After submitting the application, the Apprenticeship Hub will complete all necessary eligibility checks.
  7. Successful candidates will be invited to an interview with a member of the academic team and will be asked to fill in an Individual Needs Assessment (INA) document identifying their existing experiences, skills and knowledge which will be discussed in the interview.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

Mechanical Engineer Pathway
Production Engineer Pathway
Funding

In many instances apprenticeships are fully funded through the government’s Apprenticeship Levy Fund and for those ineligible up to 95% is funded through the government’s Co-Investment Fund.

Students sat around a table
Funding

Manufacturing Engineer Degree Apprenticeship Cost: £27,000

  • The apprenticeship levy will be paid by employers in any sector with a pay bill of more than £3 million per year. Those employers will be able to use their apprenticeship levy funds to fund this programme.
  • Non-levy paying employers will receive up to 95% funding towards the costs of this apprenticeship through the government’s Co-Investment Fund.
  • For more information on funding and the Apprenticeship Levy visit our Apprenticeship Funding page in the find out more section below.