Program Overview

Digital User Experience (UX) Professional Degree Apprenticeship

The Digital User Experience (UX) Professional Degree Apprenticeship is an innovative blend of higher education and work-based learning, designed to build sought-after UX skills to drive better online experiences in a wide range of businesses.

Programme Overview

• Developed with leading employers and industry groups, this programme equips apprentices with the essential skills for delivering high-quality online products and services.
• Demand for these skills is increasing across all sectors, particularly creative, tech, manufacturing, and finance.
• This flexible qualification is ideal for apprentices working in a range of digital roles, including user interface designer, user researcher, interaction designer, and product manager.

Programme Content

Apprentices will develop the fundamental skills for a successful career in user experience (UX) design and management. The core curriculum combines workplace training with an academic programme that shows how to investigate, analyse, and design online interactions. It equips apprentices with the skills to deliver, improve, and optimise digital products and services.

Year One

• UX Origins and Applications
• UX Methods
• UX Human Contexts
• UX System Contexts
• UX Practices 1: Making
• UX Practices 2: Communicating

Year Two

• Creativity through Research
• Applying Creativity through Research
• Ethics, Rights and Research
• Ethical Considerations in UX
• UX Practices 3: Building, specialising in one of:
  • Code
  • Design
  • Storytelling
  • Sound

Year Three

• Psychology and Behaviour
• Psychological Research Methods
• UX in the Business
• Conversion and UX
• UX Toolkit
• UX Toolkit: Iteration

Year Four

• UX Futures
• UX Futures: Leadership
• Final Project and Assessment

Programme Length and Approach

• The programme is taught part-time over four years on the Manchester Metropolitan University campus in central Manchester.
• Teaching is based in the new £35m, specialist School of Digital Arts building.
• Each year, there will be around 24 days of classroom learning, organised into six blocks of four days – mirroring the sprint approach common in digital projects.
• A skills coach at the University and a workplace supervisor undertake regular progress reviews and support apprentices in their work and studies.

Qualifications Awarded

• All successful graduates are awarded a BSc (Hons) Digital User Experience (UX) degree from Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as a Level 6 degree apprenticeship.

Entry Requirements

• Applicants can be existing employees looking to develop their careers or new recruits aiming to get working life off to a flying start.
• They must:
  • Be 18 or older
  • Have the right of abode and right to work in the UK to qualify for funding
  • Meet course entry requirements
• Applicants should have a minimum of 104 UCAS points at A-level (grades BCC) or an equivalent (for example, BTEC DMM).
• Apprentices aged 16 to 18 who do not hold Level 2 or GCSE Maths and English Qualifications will be required to complete Functional Skills alongside the apprenticeship.
• Apprentices aged 19 and over who do not hold or are unable to evidence achievement of Level 2 or GCSE Maths and English Qualifications will be required to undertake an initial assessment to assess their current working level.

Funding

• Degree apprenticeships are paid for by employers, not apprentices.
• Employers with a payroll of more than £3 million can use their apprenticeship levy contributions to pay for places on apprenticeship programmes.
• Any business with a payroll below £3 million is eligible for government funding that will cover at least 95% of the cost of an apprenticeship programme.
• Additional incentives are also available to employers who take on young apprentices.

Accolades

• Tech Industry Gold accredited programme
• Winner - Digital Apprenticeship Provider of the Year 2023

Current Vacancies

Apprenticeship vacancies with employer partners will be advertised when available.

Employers and Apprentices Information

Employers

• Attract talented new recruits to grow sought-after UX skills, or reward high-potential existing employees with career-enhancing qualifications
• Quickly develop employees into confident and capable professionals who can make a difference in a wide range of businesses, from the creative industries to tech, manufacturing to finance
• Manchester Metropolitan was named Digital Apprenticeship Provider of the Year at the AAC Apprenticeship Awards 2023.

Apprentices

• Based in the new £35m, pioneering School of Digital Art (SODA) building, which is helping to develop the creative digital and tech talent needs of the economy, and build Greater Manchester’s growth as a digital and media hub
• Learn the academic foundations that enable you to investigate, analyse, and design successful experiences for digital products and services
• You will be supported throughout the degree apprenticeship with a workplace supervisor and a skills coach at the University to quickly develop your skills

About Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University is a leading institution for higher education and research, located in the heart of Manchester. The university is committed to providing high-quality education and training, and the Digital User Experience (UX) Professional Degree Apprenticeship is just one example of its innovative approach to education.