Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a combined package of work and study. It is not the easy option, however there are many benefits such as: 

• Your fees for the degree are covered by the government and your employer.
• Earning while you are learning is a very attractive proposition, you’ll be employed by a company and paid a wage for the work that you do.
• Apprentices are entitled to the same rights as other employees: a contract of employment and at least 20 days paid holiday per year, plus bank holidays. With this comes a commitment from your employer for ‘off the job’ hours to support you in attending University teaching or self-directed study.
• Potential for graduate employment, usually with your employer that has supported you through your apprenticeship.
• Many higher and degree apprenticeship programmes are designed to develop the leaders and managers of the future. The experiences you gain as an apprentice can provide a springboard towards promotions and higher level opportunities.

As an apprentice, you’ll be starting a challenging job and trying to prove yourself in the workplace, while getting to grips with studying for a degree. You will be expected to achieve academically and at work, managing your time and adjusting to longer hours with fewer holidays than at school or university. You might have to travel or relocate to find the right opportunity for you.

Entry requirements depend on the sector and your prior skills. For example, if you have achieved A-levels you may still be expected to start at intermediate or advanced level as some sectors may require you to build up your occupational skills. You would then need to apply for degree apprenticeships upon completion of these.

Our apprenticeship entry criteria are identified on each apprenticeship course page (which you can access below) and are designed to meet the funding criteria and University eligibility.

Please note, that even if you are planning to undertake a Master’s level degree, you are still required to meet the Level 2 English and Maths criteria (GCSE Grade A-C or equivalent).

Our registered nursing degree apprenticeships in Adult Nursing and Mental Health Nursing allow you to be employed and receive a full wage while studying. The BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing and BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing degree apprenticeships are recognised by the new Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses (May 2018). These standards set out the knowledge and skills that you, as the next generation of nurses will learn, to enable you to deliver world-class nursing care across a variety of health settings. On successful completion of this course, you will be awarded a BSc (Hons) degree qualification and be able to apply for professional registration with the NMC.

You will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the units. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators and technicians. You will also benefit from regular guest lectures from local healthcare services and workshops run by service users (patients and carers) who are part of the teaching team.

You will work in a range of placements which ensure you have a rounded experience of the patient journey and the different care settings in order to meet NMC requirements. This means all students will experience placements in the community, care homes, GP practices, the private sector, as well as within NHS hospitals wards and departments.

Become a vital part of the operating department team. Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) are responsible for delivering safe, high-quality care to patients during anaesthesia, surgery and post anaesthesia (recovery).

Advanced Clinical Practitioners are experienced clinicians who demonstrate expertise in their scope of practice. Advanced Clinical Practitioners manage defined episodes of clinical care independently, from beginning to end, providing care and treatment from the time an individual (includes patients, service users, clients and customers) first presents through to the end of the episode, which may include admission, referral or discharge or care at home.

They carry out their full range of duties in relation to individuals’ physical and mental healthcare and in acute, primary, urgent and emergency settings (including hospitals, general practice, individuals’ homes, schools and prisons, and in the public, independent, private and charity sectors). They combine expert clinical skills with research, education and clinical leadership within their scope of practice.

Advanced Clinical Practitioners work innovatively on a one to one basis with individuals as well as part of a wider team. They work as part of the wider health and social care team and across traditional professional boundaries in health and social care.

Our three-year part-time apprenticeship programme supports registered non-medical healthcare professionals currently engaged in or developing practitioner-led, autonomous or semi-autonomous, patient-focused services, in an advanced clinical practice role, within a multi-professional team. The emphasis of this programme is predominantly on practice-based learning and outcomes, and is suitable for healthcare professionals from all areas of clinical practice.

Enhanced clinical practitioners (ECPs) work as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team across a wide range of settings, including hospitals, community clinics, individuals’ homes and in dental and general practices. ECPs work at an enhanced level of practice, with specific knowledge and skills in a field of healthcare expertise, to manage an aspect of a patient’s care within their current level of practice. ECP is an extended role available to nurses and allied health professionals which will impact positively in a wide variety of clinical environments. 

This 18-month apprenticeship will support you to gain an enhanced level of practice with specific knowledge and skills in a field of healthcare expertise, with the option to work towards either a Graduate Certificate or a PG Certification qualification. 

The FdSc Nursing Associate Apprenticeship is a two-year apprenticeship offered by Bournemouth and Poole College, validated by Bournemouth University. 

The Nursing Associate Apprenticeship provides you with a high level of training, that will support you to deliver effective, safe and responsive nursing care in collaboration with Registered Nurses and other health care professionals. As a Nursing Associate, you will work independently, within defined parameters, to deliver care in line with an agreed plan. The programme will provide you with the breadth of knowledge and skills to serve local health populations, working in a range of settings covering pre-life to end of life. 

You will undertake your Nursing Associate training whilst employed with a local healthcare provider. You will be required to study one day a week at college, to complete practice placement hours and to undertake protected study within your contracted workplace setting. As part of the apprenticeship, you will be required to undertake some external placements that will enhance your exposure to varied settings where healthcare is delivered in contemporary nursing practice. 

In order to apply for this apprenticeship, you should: 

• Be employed in healthcare role, in a setting where you can be supervised by registered nurse or other registered health professional, a line with NMC guidelines.  
• Possess a L3 NVQ/QCF Diploma in Health or Health and Social care or equivalent. 
• Possess Maths and English functional skills at L2 or a GCSE grade A-C.  
• Possess the Care Certificate. 
• Demonstrate the ability to study a programme at academic level 5.  
• Satisfy through application and selection process suitability for Nursing Associate practice and values and behaviours in accordance with the NMC (2018) Code. 

Applicants whose first language is not English must offer evidence of qualifications in written and spoken English. The Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) accept the following: English language requirements International English Language Test System (IELTS) 7.0 overall (at least 7.0 in listening and reading sections and at least 6.5 in the writing and speaking sections) or Occupational English Test (OET) grade B in listening and reading and writing and speaking (OET tests only accepted if taken from February 2016).

For full information about the apprenticeship and entry requirements, including recognition of prior learning, occupational health screening and DBS checks please visit the Bournemouth and Poole College website below. 

As detailed by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education: “Manufacturing Engineers primarily support the activities involved in bringing design programmes into manufacture. This role is pivotal to the launch planning and smooth delivery of exciting new products or product refresh programmes. The focus is on the advanced manufacturing techniques and project management skills required to launch products on time, on cost and to the right quality. Typically Manufacturing Engineers work closely with a range of other engineers, functions and managers both within their own company and supplier base.”

As detailed by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education: “Product Design & Development Engineers work on all stages of product creation, product modification and product componentry. They support activities ranging on early concept feasibility, Computer-Aided Design and other modelling, activities and stages through to final preparation for launch and customers. This includes working in concept studios, rapid prototyping, assembly, testing, validating and analysing performance. Typically they work closely with suppliers and managers in bring new concepts to life or contributing to redesigns of existing products.”

As part of the two apprenticeship programmes, the apprentice will complete an Engineering Council accredited BEng (Hons) Engineering degree which has been developed specifically for engineers in employment. Before progressing to the Bachelors level at Bournemouth University, the apprentice will study an HNC and FdEng in Engineering at Bournemouth and Poole College.  Four pathways are offered to suit the needs of both the apprentice and the employer (Mechanical Design, Manufacturing Management, Electronic Design and Marine Technologies). All programmes have been designed to be delivered in part-time day release and flexible learning modes.

A key feature of this programme is its industrial relevance and close ties with the requirements of local industry. As the apprentices are employed within engineering, projects can be ‘live’ and assignments related to and based on real experiences within industry. Seminars and group work give the apprentices the opportunity to elaborate on their experiences within industry to their peers and therefore expand knowledge beyond a purely academic sense.

For the Engineering Degree apprenticeships, applications should be made to Bournemouth and Poole College through The BASE, the college's in-house employability service.

The Bournemouth University Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship (SLA) aims to develop critically informed, agile, and resourceful leaders who can successfully deal with the challenges faced in the workplace, and is delivered by the BU Business School, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This Apprenticeship is also accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

The SLA is a part-time, blended learning programme with around 22 months of on-course activities and applicants need a first degree (or equivalent) and at least three years of managerial experience or at least five years of managerial experience for those without a first degree.

The programme is funded by the employer, usually via the Apprenticeship Levy.