Level: 7
Course duration: Typically 2 years (20-24 months practical training plus 4 months EPA)
Next start date: September 2025
Mode of delivery: Combination of face-to-face on campus and online study
Postgraduate Engineer Apprenticeship (R&D Pathway)
The Postgraduate Research and Development Engineer Apprenticeship is a varied and multi-disciplinary programme seeking to equip learners with the complex problem solving and higher technical skills required to find innovative solutions and drive industry developments forward.
Delivered by experienced academics, practitioners and researchers from the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, with a strong input from industry, the apprenticeship aims to prepare technical professionals to become positive drivers of change. Apprentices undertake a workplace project, which is fully aligned with the research and development needs of their organisation, whilst benefiting from academic expertise of the project supervisor.
For apprentices who wish to develop their research further, this apprenticeship forms phase one of the Professional Doctorate in Engineering.
This apprenticeship is ideal for employers looking to build a collaborative research and development partnership with one of the leading Schools of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics in the UK.
It is open to talented individuals, working full-time in a senior technical role, who are keen to develop a multidisciplinary outlook by undertaking company-relevant applied research.
The cost of the Apprenticeship for 2025/26 entry: £26,500 (drawn down from the monthly employer levy)
Apprentices must be working in a suitable technical role which gives opportunity to put new learning underpinning the subject area into practice, holding either:
- a first or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a Science or Engineering subject; or
- a lower second-class honours degree where relevant experience can be demonstrated
As well as:
- be eligible to join the Apprenticeship scheme in England.
Level 2 English and Maths: from February 2025, the government’s funding rules no longer require 19+ year-old learners to achieve these in order to complete the apprenticeship. If a learner does not already hold eligible awards at level 2 or higher, employers may decide if these are required for an apprentice’s professional role. To inform this declaration, we shall continue to request evidence from candidates at the application stage.
We welcome employers and individuals to contact the Apprenticeships Team by completing the expression of interest form below. Once submitted, we will be in touch to outline your next steps and/or arrange a meeting with the Faculty.
Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering (Research and Development) awarded by Oxford Brookes
- Engagement with advanced scientific methods in an academic context
- Apply the theoretical knowledge to solve problems in existing and emerging technologies
- Thorough understanding of research methods that can be applied to the study of science and engineering
- Practical training in data analysis, data-oriented decisions, numerical modelling, scientific writing and presentation skills.
Core learning is typically delivered over 20-24 months. Apprentices study the equivalent of one day-a-week in ‘off-the-job’ training through a combination of face-to-face teaching and online study.
Progress in the workplace is monitored through regular contact between the employer, apprentice and their academic adviser.
Study Modules
- Research, Scholarship and Professional Skills (20 credits, compulsory)
- Specialisation modules selected from across the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics (40 credits, optional choices)
- Dissertation and End Point Assessment Portfolio of Evidence (60 credits, compulsory)
The End Point Assessment (EPA) brings together evidence demonstrating that an apprentice meets the occupational and professional competencies expected of a Postgraduate Engineer.
Typically taken over 4 months, the EPA comprises of:
- A Portfolio based Occupational Competence Validation Interview (Viva)
- Professional competence assessment undertaken by a Professional Engineering Institution
Unique opportunity to develop work-based research further by progressing onto our Doctorate in Engineering
- 24-hour access to learning and teaching facilities, including state-of-the art labs, computer rooms and social learning spaces
- Apprentices gain benefit from learning alongside the Faculty’s close-knit multidisciplinary postgraduate and research community
- We have 20 years experience of delivering applied research in computing and engineering