Manufacturing Engineer - BEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing

Page last updated 15 April 2024

Introduction

Study our Manufacturing Engineer apprenticeship to gain a BEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing degree accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Benefit from industry-standard facilities and equipment in our new engineering building.

Accreditations and partnerships:

Why study for a Manufacturing Engineer apprenticeship?

Our Level 6 Manufacturing Engineer apprenticeship offers an exciting opportunity for those looking to progress their engineering career by gaining a university degree. Based on the BEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing course, this apprenticeship will allow you to develop your expertise while remaining in work.

Our new inclusive, problem-based curriculum will broaden our engineering audience, enabling learners from a wider range of backgrounds to pursue a career in engineering. To date, we're the first university in the UK to transform our curriculum alongside constructing a new engineering building.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of central engineering concepts and learn to apply them directly to practical challenges in your workplace. You'll develop professional skills to use throughout your career, including creative problem solving, manufacturing management, computer-aided design (CAD), modelling, simulation, teamwork and innovation.

As an apprentice engineer, you'll start your professional journey towards becoming an incorporated or chartered engineer from day one. You'll learn by doing, applying and revisiting your early skills through embedded project weeks and development of digital and physical prototypes, as you would in practice.

Why UWE Bristol?

Our multi-disciplinary approach equips you with the skills and knowledge required to work in industry now and in the future. We'll enable you to reach your full potential through new technologies and innovative teaching methods, including lectures, tutorials, reflective workshops and practical sessions.

You'll experiment in our laboratories with industry-standard electro-mechanical equipment, and develop practical skills in our rapid prototyping facility and machine shop. You'll have the opportunity to develop prototypes using robotic assembly cells, power distribution systems and motor drives, as well as subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels.

On factory visits, you'll get to see engineering in action. You'll receive a guided tour of the shop floor and attend a presentation from the host organisation. Past visits have included Jaguar Land Rover, the National Composite Centre, Airbus and GKN.

Our state-of-the-art engineering building, which opened in Summer 2020, provides the ideal environment for inspiring innovation, combining teaching and research facilities. These include engine test cells, wind tunnels and collaborative learning spaces.

Benefits to your employer

This apprenticeship will strengthen and develop your engineering skills, enabling your employer to retain your talents while also helping them to attract promising new recruits.

The Manufacturing Engineer apprenticeship enables your employer to invest in you through university-level tutoring and hands-on training.

Careers

On successful completion of this apprenticeship, you'll achieve a BEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing degree, accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

In addition to supporting your development in the workplace, this apprenticeship will help you to understand the career landscape in your sector and plan for your longer-term ambitions. Our award-winning Careers Service is on hand to give you independent advice and guidance at any point in your studies.

Course details

Content

The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year one

Engineering Practice 1
Solid Mechanics, Materials and Manufacturing
Dynamics Modelling and Simulation
Thermofluids
Applied Electrical Technology.

Year two

Engineering Practice 2
Structural Mechanics
Quality control systems
Manufacturing technology
Lifecycle engineering for manufacturing systems.

Year three

Systems Design
Professionalism for engineers
Reliability Engineering and Asset Management
Engineering Research.

Options:

Composite engineering

Materials and Structures for Special Applications.

Year four

Engineering Project
Lean factory design
Integrated electro-mechanical systems
Group design and integration project.

You'll then take the End-Point Assessment to complete your apprenticeship.

Read more about the approved manufacturing engineer apprenticeship standard on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website.

Learning and Teaching

This part-time apprenticeship is delivered over four years.

You'll attend college full time in year one. Here you'll complete the first year of your studies and also the skills-based learning and assessment required for your apprenticeship, such as the Performing Engineering Operations.

In years two, three and four, you'll be expected to attend university for one day per week. You'll also need to spend at least the same amount of time self-studying when at university (nominally at least one extra day per week of your own time).

See our glossary of teaching and learning terms.

Assessment

You'll be assessed via a wide range of different assessment methods including exams, coursework, reports, presentations and vivas.

Features

Professional accreditation

BEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

The accredited BEng(Hons) will meet, in part, the exemplifying academic benchmark requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer and you'll need to complete an approved format of further learning pursuant to the requirements of UK-SPEC.

Life

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Sustainability

It is embedded in our culture, teaching and research.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Entry

Typical offers

Tariff points: 112
GCSE: GCSE: Grade C/4 or above in English and Mathematics, or equivalent (we accept Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Maths).
A-level subjects: Grade C or above in Mathematics plus a pass in one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Computing/Computer Science, Design and Technology, Electronics, Engineering, ICT, Further Mathematics, Music Technology, Physics, Statistics. Points from A-level General Studies and AS-level subjects (not taken onto full A-level) can be included towards overall tariff. You must have a minimum of two A-levels.
Specific subjects: The Maths requirement can also be met by the Cambridge Pre-U Mathematics at Merit 3.
EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: One of the following BTEC Diplomas: Aeronautical Engineering, Applied Science, Construction and the Built Environment, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Engineering, Land-based Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Operations and Maintenance Engineering. Must include Merit in one of the following units: Further Engineering Mathematics or Further Mathematics for Construction. Please list the units that you are taking in your application.
Access: Achievement of the HE Diploma; to include 30 Level 3 credits at Merit including 15 in Mathematics and 15 in another science or technology subject. Please list the units that you are taking in your application.
Baccalaureate IB: To include a minimum grade of 5 in higher level Mathematics and a pass at higher level in one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Design Technology, Physics, Environmental Systems and Societies.
Irish Highers: H2 in Mathematics plus a pass in one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Physics, Technology.
T Levels: Grade C in A-Level Mathematics, in addition to your T Level qualification.

Entry requirements

Accredited Learning

If you have a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or Foundation Degree in a closely related subject, we may be able to credit you with some of the modules in our course and potentially reduce your course duration. In your application, please give full details of all your qualifications (including modules and units).

ESFA eligibility requirements

To study an apprenticeship, you need to:

be aged 16 years or over
be an EEA citizen (with Right to Work in the UK) and not be in any other kind of full-time education (including being enrolled on any other apprenticeship programme)
be employed (for at least the full planned duration of your apprenticeship) in a role that is linked to the appropriate industry for the apprenticeship training
receive at least legal minimum wage for apprentices (wages vary depending on experience, employer and level or type of apprenticeship)
commit to at least six hours per week of apprenticeship training during your normal working hours
have support from your employer, including a mentor/line manager. Your employer is also responsible for funding your apprenticeship.

Find out about eligibility for apprenticeship funding.

We use the UCAS Tariff system to make offers to applicants. You can use the UCAS Tariff Calculator to convert your qualifications and grades into points.

How to apply

Employed

If you’re interested in applying and have the support from your employer, speak to your line manager and/or HR team in the first instance for approval. Your employer will contact us so we can send you an application link.

Unemployed

If you’re not employed, you can use the following tools to find an apprenticeship vacancy with an employer:

For more guidance on higher and degree apprenticeship applications.

For further information

For course-specific enquiries, please contact the Programme Leader.

For all other enquiries, please email our Apprenticeship Hub apprenticeships@uwe.ac.uk or call +44 (0)117 32 84888.

Read more about Higher and Degree Apprenticeships.

Higher/Degree Apprenticeship Manufacturing Engineer