Faculty of Engineering
 
Technician working on a Batch Distillation Column rig

Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship

Our Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship offers employers a cost-effective way to develop both mechanical and electrical engineering expertise within their workforce. This pioneering programme focuses on developing skills, knowledge and behaviours, working on engineering challenges in the workplace, delivering real-time benefits to employers.

 

Fact file

Qualification

BEng (Hons) Electro-mechanical Engineering and Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship Certificate

Duration

Five years (not including the end-point assessment)

Delivery

Block release and blended learning

Entry requirments

At least Grade B in A level Mathematics (or equivalent), and two additional A levels at Grade B (or equivalent). The following A levels are not accepted: Citizenship Skills, General Studies and Critical Thinking.

or

Preceding level apprenticeships, alternative qualifications or demonstrable work experience in a relevant occupational area – to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. We strongly recommend contacting our Employer Engagement Team to discuss the suitability of this programme for your staff.

Other requirments

Apprentices must be working in a job role that provides opportunities to learn the skills, knowledge, behaviours outlined in the Level 6 Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship standard (external link). Apprentices must be supported to carry out off-the-job training.

Grade 4 or above in GCSE English Language (or equivalent) Grade 5 or above in GCSE Mathematics (or equivalent).

Apprentices who do not provide a suitable Level 2 English certificate, and do not hold an appropriate English language equivalent qualification from this list, will also need to provide an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) result that is dated within the last two years. The minimum requirement for this programme is an overall score of 6.0, with no less than a 5.5 in each of the individual elements. The university’s policy around this can be found here

Please note the apprenticeship route is only available to UK/EU/EEA nationals or apprentices that have lived and have had a right to work in the UK for three years or more and work a minimum of 50% of their time in England.

Start dates

September 2023

Application closing date 

Mid-July 2023

Programme cost

2023/24 entry - £27,000. Programme costs are paid by the employer and you may be eligible for funding, there is no cost to the apprentice. 

Campus

 University Park, Nottingham

Department

 Faculty of Engineering

 

 Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship Open Morning 
Wednesday 21 June 
10am - 2pm

An opportunity for businesses and those employed in engineering roles to find out more about our Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship. 

 
 

Apprenticeship overview 


Designed with industry, our Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship offers businesses a cost-effective way to develop exceptional employees. Suitable for upskilling existing employees or attracting new talent, the programme offers strong retention and recruitment incentives by offering employees the opportunity to gain a world-class degree, without debt. 

Electro-mechanical Engineer apprentices will develop knowledge, skills and behaviours, working on real engineering challenges in their workplace, contextualising their learning in real-world application. 

The Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship develops the skills, knowledge and behaviours required by engineers working in a range of functions across a broad range of industries.  

Who is the Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship for?


The programme offers businesses a cost-effective way to attract and develop new talent or upskill existing staff. Candidates may come from a range of educational pathways including preceding level apprenticeships, A-levels or equivalent qualifications or work experience. As well as developing new recruits the apprenticeship offers existing employees an opportunity to take the next step in their career or formalise their skills and knowledge.  

Apprentices must be employed in a job role that provides opportunities to learn the skills, knowledge and behaviours outlined in the Level 6 Electro-mechanical Engineer Apprenticeship Standard. They must also work at least 50% of their time in England.  

We acknowledge that apprentices will come to this programme from a variety of educational backgrounds and job roles. For example, some apprentices may have more experience in electrical or mechanical engineering. We work with each apprentice to determine their level of existing skills and knowledge and build a learning plan to provide the support they require to meet the apprenticeship standard. 

Programme details


The Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship is delivered by block release via blended learning, with each year further building on the apprentice’s knowledge and skills. The programme is typically delivered over five years* at which point successful apprentices will be awarded a BEng (Hons) Electro-mechanical Engineering Degree and progress onto a gateway review and end-point assessment to complete their Electro-mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship.

All apprentices must undertake the end-point assessment (EPA) which is a synoptic assessment of the knowledge, skills and behaviours that have been learnt throughout the apprenticeship. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure apprentices meet the standard set by employers and are occupationally competent.

*If employees work part-time the programme length maybe extended

Modules

Year one

Principles of Electro-mechanical Engineering

Apprentices are introduced to the essential attributes that modern engineers should possess. The module includes hands-on problem solving to design and develop solutions to posed engineering challenges, laboratory-based project and teamwork, data analysis, self-learning and information presentation. 

Apprentices will also be provided with the basic skills required to design and develop code solutions that can be implemented on multiple platforms. 

 

Mathematics for Apprentice Engineers (Part 1)

Apprentices will gain confidence and competence in a range of fundamental mathematical techniques utilised by electro-mechanical engineers. 

Analytical and numerical integration methods are introduced as well as basic differential equations, and vector algebra applied to lines and angles. Complex numbers and basic concepts of probability and statistics are introduced. 

 

Professional Skills for Apprentice Engineers 

This module aims to develop apprentices’ skills in, and awareness of, effective learning strategies, time management, written and oral communications and appropriate use of Information Technology in the context of Electro-Mechanical Engineering. 

 

Individual Work-based Project for Apprentice Engineers 

Apprentices will work on a year-long, work-based project. The project will be agreed upon between the apprentices, their employers and the university and will enable the apprentices to work towards solving an engineering challenge in their place of work, delivering immediate benefits to their employers. 
 
 

Year two

Mathematics for Apprentice Engineers (Part 2)

This module introduces a range of fundamental mathematical techniques and builds on prior learning. It includes: 

  • the calculus of a single variable, extended to develop techniques used in analysing engineering problems 
  • techniques for solving selected first-order and second-order differential equations
  • the algebra of complex numbers to provide a key mathematical tool for analysis of linear mathematical and engineering problems
  • the complexity of solving general (large) systems of equations 
 

Materials and Manufacturing

Apprentices will be introduced to the properties of materials, the main failure mechanisms which a designer will be concerned with and the core high and low-value manufacturing processes used in engineering applications. 

 

Information and Systems

Apprentices will learn the fundamental concepts of signals, analogue and digital systems and will be introduced to analogue devices and communication, gaining a theoretical grounding in these topics.

 

Design, Make and Test for Apprentice Engineers

The Design, Make and Test module will span over two years (two and three) and will further develop apprentices’ ability to solve engineering problems, applying knowledge gained in other modules. The module will cover both electrical and mechanical content and will focus on two work-based challenges – one in each year. These could be separate or sequential projects. 

 
 

Year three 

Statics and Dynamics 

Apprentices are introduced to fundamental concepts and principles of solid mechanics and dynamics, and their applications to mechanical engineering systems.

This introductory module covers analysis methods applicable to engineering design including:

  • Review of basic mechanics
  • Static equilibrium
  • Free body diagrams and pin-jointed structures
  • Stress, strain and elasticity
  • Linear and rotational motion
  • Linear and angular momentum
  • Work, energy and power
  • Drive systems
  • Load characteristics and steady-state characteristics
  • Flywheel design
  • Static and dynamic balancing
 

Power and Energy

Apprentices will further their knowledge of electrical power systems, including the typical components used in these systems. They will develop their ability to predict the behaviour of these systems using analytical tools and techniques.

 

Thermofluids

This introductory module covers the fundamental concepts and principles of thermofluids and their applications to engineering problems. Topics covered include: 

  • Introductory concepts – properties of fluids, equations of state and the perfect gas law Hydrostatics 
  • The first and second law of Thermodynamics, including heat engines Fluid Dynamics: Continuity, Euler and Bernoulli equations processes undergone by closed systems
  • The steady flow energy equation momentum flows including linear momentum, friction factors & pipe flows heat transfer 
 
 

Year four

Mechanics of Solids 

Apprentices will be introduced to more advanced topics in linear elastic solid mechanics, plasticity and failure. They will learn relevant analysis methods for material behaviour and demonstrate the application of these methods to the design of engineering components. 

 

Electrical Energy Conditioning and Control 

Apprentices will develop the knowledge of the key underpinning technologies in electrical energy conversion, energy conditioning and energy sustainability. 

 

Team Electro-mechanical Project 

Apprentices will also undertake a year-long project in a team, based with their employer but working collaboratively with other apprentices who are likely to be working with different employers and potentially in different engineering job roles. The project will involve both on and off-the-job learning, developing new and existing skills and knowledge. 
 

Engineering Management Part 1

To complement their technical skills, apprentices will begin work on two modules concentrating on Engineering Management (these will be continued during year five). The first introduces the principles of modern Engineering Management and includes: 

  • how projects are selected and financially evaluated  
  • how sustainability is assessed and lifecycle assents are constructed 
  • how health safety and ethics are maintained 
  • the construction and monitoring of the elements of an engineering or business programme 
 

 

 

Year five 

Engineering Management Part 2 

This module introduces apprentices to concepts and methods relevant to engineering management, with an emphasis on the commercial engineering context. Topics include introductions to the following: 

  • impact of digitisation and automation
  • operations planning and control
  • operations management 
  • financial planning, accounting and analysis
  • innovation and new technology
  • quality management
  • marketing 
  • new business formation and business models 
  • management of people
  • the foundations of contract law
 

Computer-aided Engineering

Apprentices will develop basic knowledge and understanding of the mainstream computer modelling techniques used in modern engineering practice (including Finite Element techniques and Computational Fluid Dynamics).

 

BEng Project

For their final module, apprentices will deliver a detailed project; the assessment will include a dissertation and a presentation. The project aims to give experience in the practice of engineering approaches at a professional level and involves planning, execution and reporting of a programme of work. This will normally involve a mixture of experimental, theoretical, computational methods and analysis, the balance of which will be decided with their employer in advance. This project aims to deliver an outcome of significant value to the employer.

 
 
 

Gateway

Once the apprentice has completed all of their on-programme learning, a meeting will take place between their employer and the university. During this meeting, the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours will be assessed to determine whether they have met the minimum requirements set out in the Electro-mechanical Engineer Apprenticeship standard. Apprentices deemed to have met these requirements will progress onto the End-Point Assessment (EPA).

 

End-Point Assessment (EPA)

The final part of the apprenticeship is the End Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA requires apprentices to demonstrate that their learning can be applied in the real world. Apprentices will undertake a knowledge test, submit a report on their work-based project and take part in a professional discussion assessment. 

 

Why choose a degree apprenticeship?


As an employer, a degree apprenticeship is an excellent way to demonstrate a commitment to your new and existing employees’ learning and professional development. The Electro-Mechanical Engineer Degree Apprenticeship provides employers with a route to tackle industry and business skills gaps by investing in graduate-level electro-mechanical engineering skills development, enabling employees to develop in-depth knowledge, skills and confidence to drive the innovation abilities of your organisation in years to come.

For the apprentice, the benefits of choosing this route are many:

  • There are no tuition fees 
  • You can earn while you learn
  • You will be developing practical skills and formalising your knowledge and qualifications

Why choose the University of Nottingham?


The University of Nottingham is a pioneering university providing an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience for its 45,000 students. Built on the ethos that education can unlock potential and transform lives, our graduates are among the most sought-after in the UK. 

Our Faculty of Engineering is ranked in the top 10 in the UK by research power. The Departments of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Mechanical Engineering are also ranked in the top 15 of The Guardian University Guide 2021. Working together, we equip your apprentices with the core knowledge, skills and behaviours your industry needs to compete and succeed at the highest level.

Benefits of Apprenticeships at Nottingham 

Supporting your strategic priorities

We work with local, regional and national businesses to understand strategic priorities and challenges. We develop specialist programmes that cost-effectively address industry skills gaps. 

Increase productivity 

Develop knowledge, skills and professional behaviours in your workplace with programmes that are backed by world-leading research. We are ranked eighth in the UK for research power with 97% of our research recognised internationally (REF 2014). 

Attracting and retaining talent 

Ranked 103 in the world (18 in the UK) out of more than 1,000 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2022 and part of the Russell Group, we support you to attract, develop and retain exceptional talent, whether new recruits or your existing workforce. Our apprenticeships offer exceptional early and mid-career employees the prospect of a world-class degree without the debt. 

Build networks 

Develop your business networks, apprentices study alongside employees from other leading businesses. We have over 270,000 alumni in 190 countries, many of whom hold positions of influence all over the world. Our staff and students benefit from continuous investment in a world-class environment, which includes award-winning campuses and unrivalled facilities in both the UK and Asia.

Careers and professional development

Invaluable to career progression, this degree apprenticeship will enable apprentices to demonstrate expertise within the scope of both electrical/electronic and mechanical engineering. Successful completion of the degree apprenticeship programme will enable apprentices to demonstrate their skills as autonomous Electro-mechanical Engineers able to lead engineering projects within their workplace.

 

 

Faculty of Engineering

The University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD



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