BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Degree Apprenticeship)

• 96 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
• An applicant’s Level 3 subjects must include a mathematical-based subject and a science, technology, engineering or additional mathematics-related subject; for instance, A-level Mathematics and Physics or BTEC 90-credit Diploma in Engineering.
• Applicants should have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English, Mathematics and a science, technology or engineering-related subject. If an applicant has yet to achieve appropriate Level 2 English and Mathematics qualifications, then with their employer's support, they can complete suitable equivalents locally or with assistance from the University before commencing the apprenticeship. Please contact apprentices@bolton.ac.uk for a list of acceptable GCSE equivalents, further information and support.
• An applicant that has completed a Level 3 Apprenticeship in a relevant area (for instance, as a Product Design and Development Technician) may be eligible for admission.
• An applicant that has completed a Foundation Certificate or Access to HE Diploma in a relevant subject may be eligible for admission.
• An applicant with an HND/C in Engineering will be considered for direct entry to Level HE5 if they have good results in Level HE4 Mathematics and Science.
• 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. As part of the interview, applicants may be asked to undertake additional assessment(s) or provide a portfolio of appropriate work to determine their suitability for the course.
• 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 the right to live and work in the UK. 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.
• 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.
• 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.

The BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (Product Design and Development Engineer Degree Apprenticeship) programme is designed to meet the Product Design and Development Engineer Degree Apprenticeship Standard (ST0047). Developed by employers, consultants and contractors, the apprenticeship standard underpins a highly relevant qualification and professional development pathway. It prepares apprentices to support product design and development activities ranging from early concept feasibility, computer-aided design and other modelling activities and stages through to final preparation for launch and customers.

In addition to technical knowledge, this programme offers your degree apprentices the opportunity to develop a range of key employability skills. These include the ability to use specialist knowledge creatively and innovatively to solve problems, the ability to produce and interpret technical solutions, the ability to explain design ideas, effective communication (spoken and written), good team working skills, project and time management, and strong decision-making skills.

What can I do with this qualification?

This degree apprenticeship aims to support the development of the next generation of mechanical engineers with strong skills in and knowledge of product design and development. On successful completion of the end point assessment, apprentices will be well prepared to take on demanding roles that require the ability to use engineering techniques to bring new products to life or improve existing products.

Graduate apprentices may choose to continue their mechanical engineering training to achieve the professional standards to become a Chartered Engineer (CEng). For instance, the University of Bolton’s MSc Mechanical Engineering, MSc in Systems Engineering (Mechanical) and Engineering Management or MRes Engineering Management programmes are designed to fully meet the academic requirements set by IMechE and the Engineering Council to achieve Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. These master’s-level courses are also available as Level 7 Degree Apprenticeships.

Graduate apprentices might also choose to pursue further study in a specialist field or research.

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 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.

Useful information

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.

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2023-2024 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.

Mechanical engineering, product design and product development are diverse and multi-faceted disciplines, so we use a wide range of teaching and learning methods. These are designed to fully engage apprentices, helping them develop the skills, knowledge, self-awareness, and behaviours essential to becoming an Incorporated Engineer (IEng), with particular reference to your organisation and their place within it. Learning focuses on your workplace environment and works towards building the transferable body of knowledge and skills demanded to achieve IEng status and apply this expertise within your organisation. 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 in off-the-job learning, including studying at the university.

Formally timetabled classes, including lectures, tutorials and tutor-led in-class exercises, along with case studies, laboratories, investigations and assignments, in groups and individually, are designed to help apprentices acquire and develop appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills. Our personal tutor system underpins all our teaching activities and provides one-on-one support, peer support and individual care and attention.

Other teaching methods, such as open-ended projects and design, make and test activities, provide opportunities to develop creativity and innovation skills. These are designed to meet the professional body accreditation requirements and help apprentices apply, assimilate, and integrate their understanding of the course material. Personal study time is required, along with online learning in the form of maintaining an electronic Personal Development Plan (ePDP). As your apprentices progress through the programme, their studies will become less structured and more open-ended in nature as they develop as independent learners.

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 the individual learning plan required to progress the apprentice’s professional body membership.

For the degree element of this programme, we assess each apprentice’s individual performance through a strategic blend of project or design reports, examinations, portfolios, presentations, blogs and other assignments. Some assessments contribute to their final module marks, while others are designed to help 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 an end point assessment at the end of the apprenticeship period.

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.

• Engineering Environment
• Engineering Principles 1
• Engineering Principles 2
• Projects and Systems
• Graphical Communications and Computer Modelling
• Work-based Portfolio and PDP 1
• Engineering Applications
• Mechanics of Materials and Machines
• Thermofluids and Control Systems
• Engineering Modelling and Analysis
• Engineering in Business and Society
• Work-based Portfolio and PDP 2
• Major Project
• Advanced Materials and Structures
• Management and Enterprise in Engineering
• Advanced Thermofluids and Control
• Finite Element and Difference Solutions
• Work-Based Portfolio and PDP 3

Assessment methods

Learning activities

Disclaimer

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.