MSc Systems Engineering (Mechanical) and Engineering Management (Degree Apprenticeship Route)
Course Overview
The University of Bolton's MSc Systems Engineering (Mechanical) and Engineering Management (Degree Apprenticeship Route) is designed to support the development of professionals that will perfectly match your organisation's current and future needs. You can offer structured on-the-job training and an internationally recognised qualification in systems engineering and engineering management, helping you attract the best new talent and retain valued staff through career progression. Integrating study into the normal working week will allow your apprentices to put their new skills and understanding into practice immediately, benefitting your organisation without delay.A systems engineer is the all-important link between complex programming and technology, and its users, customers and stakeholders. This postgraduate course will support your apprentices in developing a firm knowledge and understanding of both sides and the ability to take a joined-up approach to ensure systems meet a wide range of needs reliably, efficiently, and in a user-friendly fashion. Our expert staff will guide them as they learn how to collect and organise information to understand the whole problem, explore it from all angles, and find the most appropriate solution. Your apprentices will spend most of their time in the workplace, with a minimum of six hours per week being devoted to off-the-job training and university learning.
Our dedicated team will cover advanced control engineering concepts and design methodologies for mechanical engineering, digital signal processing for control applications, artificial intelligent technology and total quality management. Your apprentices will also explore the commercial aspects of project management and develop essential communication and time management skills. By underpinning our content and assignments with a strong industrial focus, we foster a unique blend of practical engineering and management-oriented skills and knowledge focused on solving complex mechanical engineering challenges. Throughout the course, we'll guide them as they build a portfolio of evidence representing the projects and tasks they have completed while working as part of your team.
The course is designed to meet professional institution standards in the UK and internationally.
If you're looking for postgraduate-level training in this subject area but don't work for an employer that offers apprenticeships, please see our related courses section for details of study opportunities that don't require current employment.
Highlights
- When apprentices successfully complete the end point assessment for this course, they will receive a degree apprenticeship certificate from the relevant awarding body and be awarded an academic degree – the MSc Systems Engineering (Mechanical) and Engineering Management from the University of Bolton.
- Face-to-face sessions and one-to-one support are offered by our dedicated staff team, who possess a wide range of professional experience, industry knowledge, technical expertise and academic credentials.
- We'll support your apprentices in developing sought-after skills such as background research, critical reasoning, problem-solving, professional communication, time management, teamwork, and lifelong learning.
- During the final stage of the course, your apprentice will undertake a substantial work-based research project, the nature of which will be identified and developed through consultation between your organisation and the University. As well as offering your apprentice valuable experience, this live project can provide you with genuine insight into potential opportunities or improvements that can benefit your organisation.
Key Features
- This degree apprenticeship skillfully combines study in our vibrant higher education environment with practical and focused work-based learning and experience in your organisation.
- Course materials are available online, allowing your apprentices to prepare work in advance and make the most of the highly interactive in-class tuition.
- Our approach to teaching and learning is student-centred, so we'll work with your apprentices on an individual basis, providing tailored help and support throughout their studies.
- By studying alongside apprentices from other engineering specialisms or alternative industrial sectors, your apprentices can benefit from a broader range of knowledge and experience that supports cross-disciplinary thinking.
- We offer alternative pathways in Mechatronic or Electronics Systems Engineering, and these apprenticeships are part of a well-established suite of master's programmes offered by the University of Bolton.
- Quarterly and annual reviews, where each apprentice, their workplace mentor and a member of our team meet to assess your apprentice's progress, promote continuing conversation between your workplace and the University. This helps to ensure the success of your apprentices and maximise the value of their studies to your organisation.
Entry Requirements
- Normally, applicants are expected to have successfully completed an honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, and have appropriate work experience.
- An applicant must possess GCSEs in English and Mathematics at grade 4-9 (or grade C or above) or hold an equivalent such as Functional Skills Level 2 in Literacy and Numeracy. If an applicant has yet to achieve these qualifications, then with their employer's support, they can complete suitable equivalents locally or with assistance from the University. Please contact apprentices@bolton.ac.uk for a list of acceptable GCSE equivalents, further information and support.
- Applicants will also be considered if they have alternative equivalent qualifications with extensive relevant work experience.
- Applicants holding overseas degrees are very welcome, and the University will assess the equivalence of their qualifications.
- We'll consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
- Applicants will attend a joint discussion with their employer and the University of Bolton. This combined interview and onboarding discussion fosters trust and sets the tone of the relationship between the applicant, their employer and our tutors.
- Admission to this programme is only available to applicants who meet ESFA eligibility criteria, including the following: 1) They are employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week in a role relevant to the apprenticeship. 2) They have valid residency status and the right to work in England and can provide a valid BRP card (valid beyond the end date of the programme including End-Point Assessment (EPA)), and a ‘Right to Work’ share code for validation. 3) Their employer is willing to sponsor them to spend a minimum of six hours per week of their time in off-the-job training, including attending the University (times and dates to be determined) for the duration of their course. Please note that an apprentice cannot be self-employed. ESFA eligibility criteria may change so please contact apprentices@bolton.ac.uk for up-to-date information.
- If English isn’t the applicant's first language, they will also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- To be eligible for tuition fee funding through the Apprenticeship Levy, candidates should not normally have already completed a qualification at the same level as the proposed apprenticeship, unless that qualification was gained in a completely unrelated discipline.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
The MSc Systems Engineering (Mechanical) and Engineering Management (Degree Apprenticeship Route) programme is designed to meet the Systems Engineer (Degree) Level 7 apprenticeship standard (ST0107). Developed by employers, this apprenticeship standard underpins a highly relevant qualification and professional development pathway that supports apprentices in achieving the requisite postgraduate knowledge and skills.
What can I do with this qualification?
Postgraduate apprentices will likely seek to achieve Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, and this master's degree is designed to meet the academic requirements leading to this professional registration. Apprentices may also choose to work towards achieving the standard of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) systems engineering practitioner. Alternatively, they may decide to undertake further study to develop expertise in a specialist area, extend their business management knowledge, or pursue a PhD.
Professional Recognition
This course is designed to support apprentices to achieve the standard of International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) systems engineering practitioner. INCOSE is the international professional body for systems engineering.
In addition, this apprenticeship uses UK-SPEC learning outcomes designed to meet the academic requirements leading to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. Please see the Engineering Council UK website for further details of UK-SPEC.
Fees & Funding
Apprentices will not be expected to pay tuition fees towards this programme. If your organisation has a wage bill of more than £3 million per annum, then it may be able to fund this apprenticeship through its Apprenticeship Levy contributions. If your organisation does not pay the levy, it will be eligible for government support to fund apprenticeships. This support, called co-investment, covers 95% of the apprenticeship's tuition fees, with your organisation funding the remaining 5% of the fees.
Home/EU Fees
Apprentices will need to be employed by your organisation for a minimum of 30 hours per week. Your organisation will also need to commit to sponsoring apprentices to complete this qualification.
For further information on how your organisation can access funds to support apprentices, please e-mail apprentices@bolton.ac.uk.
Whether you’re an employer, employee or school leaver, please visit our Apprenticeship web page for support and advice regarding apprenticeships.
International Fees
International applications are not possible for this course
As an international student you are not allowed to study this course because of the restrictions on your visa.
We offer a wide range of full-time courses in lots of different subjects, many of our courses start in September and January. If you would like to see what courses are available please visit our Course Search.
Bursaries
There are no bursaries associated with this programme.
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2024-25 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
International Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Partner Organisation Applicants
Course application details are unavailable at present
Teaching & Assessment
Engineering is a multi-faceted discipline, so we use a wide range of teaching and learning methods. These aim to fully engage apprentices, helping them develop the skills, knowledge, self-awareness, and behaviours essential for success in this field. Learning focuses on your workplace environment – your apprentices will spend the majority of their time gaining on-the-job knowledge and experience. They will also complete at least six hours per week of off-the-job learning, including studying at the University.
As well as attending timetabled lectures, discussions, tutorials, demonstrations and computer-aided learning sessions, apprentices will need to allocate significant time to independent and self-directed studies. For example, building a portfolio of evidence, doing background reading, revisiting practical work, preparing for seminars, working on assignments and revising for exams will support their timetabled learning and develop good habits for lifelong learning. Our friendly and supportive tutors will be here to guide them and will gladly help them devise an independent study regime focused on their individual development needs. The University's virtual learning environment, Moodle, will also support learning through online discussions and activities.
Your organisation will need to provide each apprentice with a workplace mentor to support their development. They will also benefit from regular visits from a University tutor. The workplace mentor, University tutor and apprentice will work together to create an individual learning plan.
For the degree element of this programme, we assess each apprentice's performance through a strategic blend of assignments such as project or design reports, examinations, portfolios, and presentations (including demonstrations, oral and poster presentations and viva voce). Some assessments contribute to their final module marks. Other assessments focus on helping them identify their strengths and weaknesses, and where they need to seek extra support from course tutors.
In addition to the assessments associated with the degree programme, apprentices will undertake the end point assessment (EPA) at the end of the apprenticeship period. Apprentices must also develop learning logs/professional development plans and build a skills portfolio in preparation for the EPA.
This programme uses a blended learning and teaching style, including online delivery and engagement where appropriate.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Work-based Portfolio and PDP 1
- Work-based Portfolio and PDP 2
- Work-based Portfolio and PDP 3
- Masters Project
- Intelligent Systems
- Business in Engineering
- Technical Publications and Presentations
- Advanced Control Technology
- Project Management
- Monitoring of Mechanical Systems
- Advanced Production Engineering
- Integrated Management Systems
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 68% Practical exams 18% Written exams 14% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 73% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 27% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
