Program Overview

Explosives Ordnance Engineering Apprenticeship

The Explosives Ordnance Engineering Apprenticeship is a Master's level program designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of explosive ordnance engineering. This apprenticeship meets the requirements of the Level 7 Explosives Ordnance Engineering Master's Apprenticeship Standard.

Overview

• Start date: September
• Duration: 3 years part-time
• Delivery: Coursework, examination, and end-point assessment
• Qualification: MSc
• Study type: Part-time
• Campus: Cranfield University at Shrivenham

Course Details

The course is divided into several modules, including:

• Introductory Studies
• Research Tools
• Introduction to Explosives Engineering
• Munitions and Target Response
• Delivery Systems
• Future Developments: Scanning the Horizon in EOE
• Safety Assurance in EOE
• Testing and Evaluation of Explosives
• Rocket Motors and Propellants
• Design for Vulnerability
• Explosives and the Environment
• Thesis

Modules

Compulsory Modules

All the modules listed below are compulsory for this course.

• Introductory Studies: Prepares students for their subsequent program of study, revising, consolidating, and expanding their skill and knowledge base.
• Research Tools: Provides the tools to successfully undertake M-Level studies in EOE, including scientific search techniques, critical evaluation, and written and oral communication skills.
• Introduction to Explosives Engineering: Offers a through-life perspective of explosives ordnance engineering, covering initiation mechanisms, primary and secondary explosives, and safety, legislation, and environmental requirements.
• Munitions and Target Response: Analyzes targets and defeat mechanisms, including warheads, ammunition, wound ballistics, and human vulnerability.
• Delivery Systems: Enables an understanding of the ways in which a lethality mechanism (warhead) may be delivered to a selected target, covering light and heavy guns, torpedoes, and guided weapon design.
• Future Developments: Scanning the Horizon in EOE: Integrates learning from the taught phase with a critical evaluation of new trends and technologies in EOE, including nanotechnology, insensitive munitions, and environmental initiatives.
• Safety Assurance in EOE: Applies appropriate safety assurance for activities through life involving ordnance, munitions, and explosives (OME), covering key safety legislation, threats, and failure modes.
• Testing and Evaluation of Explosives: Provides a critical understanding and practical experience of testing methods, regimes, and requirements for explosives and explosive articles.
• Rocket Motors and Propellants: Develops an understanding of the principles of rocket propulsion and of rocket propellant composition and performance.
• Design for Vulnerability: Explores the policies and processes used to manage the consequences of extreme but credible accidents and enemy action, including the science underpinning the response of energetic materials and weapons systems.
• Explosives and the Environment: Offers a comprehensive overview of the behavior of explosives in the environment and their pollutant linkages.
• Thesis: Enables students to demonstrate their ability to generate a contribution to a work-based problem and a new or revised service offering, applying learned knowledge, skills, and behaviors within their own workplace.

Teaching Team

The teaching team includes leading experts with capability expertise, industry knowledge, and collective subject research, as well as external speakers from industry and defense.

Career Opportunities

Many students are linked to military employment and continue to work for their sponsors on completion of the course. The course has the potential to take students on to enhanced career opportunities, often at a more senior level, across a range of roles corresponding with their experience.

Fees and Funding

• Apprenticeship Levy: £37,640 (includes tuition fees and endpoint assessment only)
• Fee Notes: The fees outlined apply to all students whose initial date of registration falls on or between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026. All students pay the tuition fee set by the University for the full duration of their registration period.

Entry Requirements

• Academic Requirements: A degree in a science or engineering-related subject or, exceptionally, with at least seven years' experience.
• Apprenticeship Requirements: As part of all Higher-Level Apprenticeships in England, it is a requirement by the Education and Skills Funding Agency that an apprentice holds or achieves an approved level 2 qualification in Mathematics and English before they can successfully complete the apprenticeship.
• Security Clearance for Shrivenham: All applicants to courses that are wholly or partially delivered at Shrivenham must complete the BPSS (HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard V4 April 2014) prior to registration on the course or must already hold a security clearance to this level or higher.
• ATAS Certificate: Students requiring a visa to study in the UK may need to apply for an ATAS certificate to study this course.