Program Overview

Engineering Practice BEng (Hons)

Overview

The Engineering Degree Apprenticeship suite consists of two pathways, Manufacturing Engineering Practice or Electronic and Electrical Engineering Practice.

For all engineering degree apprenticeship students, stage 3 evaluates the emerging political, environmental and commercial drivers for change in the engineering industry, and explores the changes that these are likely to bring to the manufacturing sector. Developments in your professional skills will focus upon enhancing your ability to contribute fully to your business within, around and out with the specific context of your technical role. You will undertake a significant individual project based in your place of work.

Why us?

• Our BEng (Hons) Manufacturing Engineering Practice Degree Apprenticeship course has a 100% positivity score for how good teaching staff are at explaining things and how well teaching staff support students' learning (National Student Survey, 2024)
• You'll graduate with a power set of knowledge and skills enabling you to make a vital contribution to the business needs of your employer
• The University of Sunderland's apprenticeship provision has been rated good by Ofsted (July 2024)
• The programmes have been developed in conjunction with industry stakeholders and key employers including large multinational manufacturing companies and SMEs across the region

Course structure

Teaching on this programme is planned to take place one day a week at the University. A variety of teaching styles will be employed depending on the subject needs, this includes lectures, tutorial groups, project work, group work, and laboratory work. A variety of assessment strategies will also be included ranging between exams, coursework, laboratory reports, reflective journals and presentations. Where possible real-life projects will be a feature of assessments.

Electronic and Electrical Technical Support Engineering

Students on the electrical and electronic degree apprenticeship also investigate the nature of the supply of electrical energy to industry, the nature of electrical drives associated with manufacturing industry, and further explore the applications of electronic systems in the industrial environment. You will apply the principles developed in the programme during your employment, and will also routinely bring your experience and observations from work into the classroom.

Year 1:

• Engineering Mathematics and Statistics
  • Examine the mathematical principles which have a particular focus on the analysis of engineering problems and manufacturing process control. Develop your knowledge and analytical ability so that you can independently apply mathematical techniques to determine appropriate solutions to a range of engineering problems.
• Electrical and Mechanical Principles
  • Gain an introduction to the fundamental electrical and mechanical engineering principles and explore their use in a range of engineering applications. Engage in topics such as electrical and mechanical fundamentals, basic electrical theory and machines, alternating circuits, and laws of motion.
• Materials and Manufacturing Principles
  • Focus on manufacturing techniques and processes (traditional and advanced) while gaining an overview of the materials most commonly used in engineering manufacturing systems. Gain an awareness of the comparative costs and of the environmental and ethical issues surrounding the use of the materials and processes discussed.
• Design Principles
  • Learn to explain the principle requirements of current ISO drawing standards as applied to mechanical engineering drawing. Gain an understanding of how to explain the creative design process and the tools used in its application. Create and interpret engineering drawings using an industry standard CAD package. Apply the creative design process in order to arrive at an appropriate concept solution to a range of engineering design problems.
• Instrumentation and Data Analysis
  • Explore instrumentation and data analysis in the context of an analogue environment interfacing with the ‘digital world’ in which control decisions will be made. Examine topics such as basic sensors and associated electronics, microprocessors and microcontrollers, and data capture and offline analysis.
• Introductory Project
  • Gain an introduction to a range of practical engineering skills, then develop the broader planning and team skills required to work together in the design and implementation of a simple engineering artifact.

Year 2 (Applications to Systems and Processes):

• Manufacturing Process Innovation
  • Explore the differences and similarities between ‘process innovation’ and ‘product innovation’. Compare and contrast the essential characteristics of a range of manufacturing process innovation tools. Determine the essential considerations involved in process innovation proposals. Explain the ethical and environmental considerations in manufacturing processes. Determine the optimal process proposal through the analysis and evaluation of significant criteria.
• Industrial Automation
  • Study the concepts of industrial automation. Explore the different types of actuator used in industry. Develop and automated control system as part of a team.
• Electrical and Electronic Systems
  • Develop a greater understanding of electrical machines by performing a range of electrical experiments using generators and motors. Learn to design electronic signal conditioning circuits using simulation software. Gain further understanding of fault finding and testing of electrical and electronic circuits.
• Personal and Professional Skills 1
  • Engage in and develop personal and professional skills over the duration of the course. Develop your knowledge and understanding of engineering principles and practice.
• Group Project
  • Work in groups to understand a project specification and develop a work plan to achieve the specified project aims. Apply knowledge of engineering and analytical skills to solve an industrially relevant problem as a team.

Year 3 (System and Process Design and Enhancement):

• Engineering Enhancement
  • Gain an appreciation of the practical, commercial, and professional considerations and processes involved in enhancing the efficiency and productivity of an engineering process. Build on technical knowledge developed in other modules and focus on professional and practical considerations.
• Electrical Power Systems
  • Gain a critical understanding of the operating characteristics of system components within Electricity Generation, Transmission and Distribution, and the techniques that may be employed to model them. Explore the range of sources of energy available for power generation, and economic factors relevant to the provision, and use of, electrical power. Analyse the steady state performance and interpret practical operating data for power system components, such as generators, transformers, and transmission lines.
• Industrial Electronic Systems
  • Critically discuss and evaluate the modes of operation of and the modulation techniques used in a range of topical electronic communications media. Gain an understanding and application of industry-standard software for high level and assembly-based developments. Design, implement, and evaluate LAN and WAN connection technologies. Select and apply the various tools, technologies, and protocols used in the design, development, and testing of microprocessor-based systems.
• Personal and Professional Skills 2
  • Engage in and develop personal and professional skills over the duration of the course. Develop your knowledge and understanding of engineering principles and practice.
• Individual Project
  • Demonstrate your advanced knowledge of engineering and analytical skills gained in previous modules by applying them to an industrially relevant project.

Manufacturing Engineering

Students on the manufacturing degree apprenticeship also engage in the design of manufacturing processes and explore approaches to ensuring quality and reliability in the manufacturing industry. You will apply the principles developed in the programme during your employment, and will also routinely bring your experience and observations from work into the classroom.

Year 1:

• Engineering Mathematics and Statistics
  • Examine the mathematical principles which have a particular focus on the analysis of engineering problems and manufacturing process control. Develop your knowledge and analytical ability so that you can independently apply mathematical techniques to determine appropriate solutions to a range of engineering problems.
• Electrical and Mechanical Principles
  • Gain an introduction to the fundamental electrical and mechanical engineering principles and explore their use in a range of engineering applications. Engage in topics such as electrical and mechanical fundamentals, basic electrical theory and machines, alternating circuits, and laws of motion.
• Materials and Manufacturing Principles
  • Focus on manufacturing techniques and processes (traditional and advanced) while gaining an overview of the materials most commonly used in engineering manufacturing systems. Gain an awareness of the comparative costs and of the environmental and ethical issues surrounding the use of the materials and processes discussed.
• Design Principles
  • Learn to explain the principle requirements of current ISO drawing standards as applied to mechanical engineering drawing. Gain an understanding of how to explain the creative design process and the tools used in its application. Create and interpret engineering drawings using an industry standard CAD package. Apply the creative design process in order to arrive at an appropriate concept solution to a range of engineering design problems.
• Instrumentation and Data Analysis
  • Explore instrumentation and data analysis in the context of an analogue environment interfacing with the ‘digital world’ in which control decisions will be made. Examine topics such as basic sensors and associated electronics, microprocessors and microcontrollers, and data capture and offline analysis.
• Introductory Project
  • Gain an introduction to a range of practical engineering skills, then develop the broader planning and team skills required to work together in the design and implementation of a simple engineering artifact.

Year 2 (Applications to Systems and Processes):

• Manufacturing Process Innovation
  • Explore the differences and similarities between ‘process innovation’ and ‘product innovation’. Compare and contrast the essential characteristics of a range of manufacturing process innovation tools. Determine the essential considerations involved in process innovation proposals. Explain the ethical and environmental considerations in manufacturing processes. Determine the optimal process proposal through the analysis and evaluation of significant criteria.
• Industrial Automation
  • Study the concepts of industrial automation. Explore the different types of actuator used in industry. Develop and automated control system as part of a team.
• Lean Principals
  • Learn to describe and evaluate eight types of ‘waste’ in the context of manufacturing and service industries. Gain an understanding of a range of ‘lean’ tools that will enable you to reduce/eliminate waste within a process. Learn how to critically describe lean manufacturing concepts and compile proposals while developing the skills required to enable this.
• Personal and Professional Skills 1
  • Engage in and develop personal and professional skills over the duration of the course. Develop your knowledge and understanding of engineering principles and practice.
• Group Project
  • Work in groups to understand a project specification and develop a work plan to achieve the specified project aims. Apply knowledge of engineering and analytical skills to solve an industrially relevant problem as a team.

Year 3 (System and Process Design and Enhancement):

• Engineering Enhancement
  • Gain an appreciation of the practical, commercial, and professional considerations and processes involved in enhancing the efficiency and productivity of an engineering process. Build on technical knowledge developed in other modules and focus on professional and practical considerations.
• Manufacturing Process Design
  • Critically discuss current manufacturing processes, philosophies, and practices, as well as a range of current lean manufacturing process assessment tools and techniques. Evaluate a variety of manufacturing process assessment and simulation tools and apply them to design a more effective process.
• Quality and Reliability Engineering
  • Gain an introduction to the Taguchi approach to quality and his philosophy that poor quality can’t be improved by inspection processes, rather that quality must be based upon the philosophy of prevention. Critically discuss and describe a range of management tools to promote and control quality and reliability in a manufacturing environment. Learn to evaluate and apply management tools and techniques to control quality.
• Personal and Professional Skills 2
  • Engage in and develop personal and professional skills over the duration of the course. Develop your knowledge and understanding of engineering principles and practice.
• Individual Project
  • Demonstrate your advanced knowledge of engineering and analytical skills gained in previous modules by applying them to an industrially relevant project.

Facilities

You will be based at the David Goldman Informatics Centre. Our specialist labs include:

• Product Development Lab
• Electronics Lab
• Automation Lab
• Project Lab
• Material Characterisation Lab
• Formulation Lab
• Thermofluids Lab
• Mechanical Engineering Lab

You will have access to a range of industry-leading technologies at the Industry Centre, the home of the Institute of Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice as well as access to industrial standard software to help prepare you for a future career in a digital context.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for Ireland. Please contact the Student Admin team on or .

The programme is work-based and, as such, is subject to the apprentice being employed by an organisation throughout the duration of the programme. The employer must confirm that apprentices comply with the apprentice eligibility criteria, including funding requirements.

Entrants to the degree apprenticeship will usually have gained the equivalent of 112 UCAS tariff points in relevant subject areas or relevant work experience.

Applicants aged 16-18 at the start of their programme must hold GCSEs in Maths and English at a minimum of Grade C or numerical grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), or be willing to work towards achieving this before the programme end date. This will be reviewed and discussed as part of the initial assessment process.

Apprentices who begin their training at age 19 or older are no longer required to achieve English and Maths qualifications to complete their apprenticeship. Employers now have the discretion to determine whether these qualifications are necessary for their apprentices' roles. They may choose to include them as an entry requirement or integrate them into the training programme if considered relevant.

Fees and finance

Larger organisations can use their apprenticeship levy and government top-up to pay tuition and professional fees of higher apprenticeships. For smaller employers, the government pays 95%, with the remainder co-invested by the business.

For a discussion around your specific requirements please call or email .

Career ready

Due to the nature of the programme you will be employed for the duration of study; this is likely to extend well beyond the programme. During the programme, you will make an increasing contribution to the employer and will become a highly regarded employee capable of applying engineering knowledge and skills to solve real problems in a commercial context.