Program Overview

Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship

The Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship is a Tech Industry Gold accredited program that equips apprentices to drive innovation through digital technologies. This program is designed in collaboration with leading employers and integrates the best of academic IT education with practical work-based learning.

About the Program

The program's broad purpose is to develop apprentices who can evaluate, initiate, create, and support business solutions using digital technology. Apprentices learn a broad set of skills and knowledge across the main areas of the digital and technology landscape, enabling them to understand the complexity of information systems, systems development, data, cybersecurity, business organization, IT project management, and computer and network infrastructures.

Program Content

Taught units are supported by work-based projects that focus on live business scenarios and real-world problem-solving. The core units comprise 60% of the program and include:

• Database Fundamentals
• Digital Technology in Organisations and Society
• Introduction to Business Systems
• Introduction to Programming
• IT Project Management
• Computer Networks and Security
• Reflective Practice for Digital and Technology Solutions Professionals
• Synoptic Project

Pathway units and negotiated business projects allow apprentices to study a specialist route, including:

Specialisms

• IT Consultant: Bridges the gap between users and technology, using consulting skills to advise clients on how to best utilize technology to meet business objectives.
  • Specialist units covered include:
    • Business Analytics
    • Customer Life-cycle Management
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Information Technology Consultancy
    • Operations Management
    • Strategic Information Systems
    • Technology Ethics and Regulations
• Data Analyst: Collects, organizes, and studies data to provide new business insights to stakeholders.
  • Specialist units covered include:
    • Advanced Relational Databases
    • Data Science Ethics
    • Data Visualisation and Dashboard Design
    • Machine Learning
    • Mathematics for Data Science
    • Python for Data Science
    • Unstructured Data
• Cyber Security Analyst: Leads in defining, implementing, and maintaining security products and systems within an organization's policies and service level agreements.
  • Specialist units covered include:
    • Advanced Networks
    • Applied Cryptography and Information Security
    • Emerging Issues in Security, Privacy and Forensics
    • Incident Response
    • Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Management
    • Security Fundamentals
    • Security Governance, Policy and Auditing
• Software Engineer: Undertakes all requirements during the solution development life-cycle from gathering requirements to analysis, design, code, build, test, implementation, and support.
  • Specialist units covered include:
    • Advanced Programming
    • Enterprise Programming
    • Full Stack Web Development
    • Introduction to Web Development
    • Operating Systems
    • Software Design and Architecture
    • Software Testing and Quality Assurance
• Software Engineer (Mainframe Pathway): Focuses on the principles of computing that underpin the effective use of mainframe technologies.
  • Specialist units covered include:
    • Enterprise Systems
    • Full Stack Web Development
    • Introduction to Mainframe Development
    • Introduction to Web Development
    • Mainframe Application Servers
    • Managing Mainframe Data
    • Operating Systems
    • Software Testing and Quality Assurance

Program Length and Approach

The program is delivered over four years, with apprentices attending university for face-to-face teaching one day a week during the academic year. Apprentices are taught by experts from the triple-accredited Business School and Department of Computing and Mathematics. As well as lectures on campus, students work with a skills coach and need to complete project work reflecting their current role.

Qualification Awarded

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will achieve a BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions degree by Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as a Level 6 degree apprenticeship qualification. The qualification will formally recognize the apprentice's specialist area of study.

Entry Requirements

This program is designed with professionals in mind, and this is reflected in the entry requirements. All applicants need to be employed with a supporting organization in order to be eligible. They must:

• Be 18 or older
• Have the right of abode and right to work in the UK to qualify for funding
• Meet program entry requirements

Applicants should have a minimum of 104 UCAS points at A-level (grades BCC) or an equivalent (for example, BTEC DMM).

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 programs. 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 course. Additional incentives are also available to employers who recruit new apprentices into their business.

Accolades

The Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship is a Tech Industry Gold accredited program. Manchester Metropolitan University was named Digital Apprenticeship Provider of the Year at the AAC Apprenticeship Awards in 2023.