Apprenticeship Information

If you want to study for a career in engineering but you feel that full time university is not for you there are three options you can consider under the heading of “apprenticeships”.

For pupils in fifth and sixth year at school a Foundation Apprenticeship (FA) enables you to get work experience and spend time in college while working towards a qualification that is recognised as the same level as a Higher. Foundation Apprenticeships are available in Civil Engineering and Engineering. This can lead on to a degree course, a Graduate Apprenticeship or full time employment

A Modern Apprenticeship (MA) combines college based study with paid employment, leading to an SQA accredited qualification.

A Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) enables the student to study for an Honours or Masters degree at university while combining with full time work – this is similar to what used to be known as a “thin sandwich” course and offers the chance to gain practical experience alongside theoretical learning; a powerful combination. Graduate Apprenticeships are available in Civil Engineering, Construction and the Built Environment, Design and Manufacture, Instrumentation, Measurement and Control and Data Science (as well as many other subjects).

Explanations of the different levels of apprenticeship (FA, MA, GA) can be found at: https://www.apprenticeships.scot/become-an-apprentice/

Apprenticeship frameworks (all levels) for “Engineer”: https://www.apprenticeships.scot/browse-frameworks/... (helpful for info about different types of apprenticeships available)

Engineering Apprenticeship vacancies across Scotland with companies who have registered on the Skills Development Scotland system can be found at:

https://www.apprenticeships.scot/find-a-vacancy/…

Job profiles for different careers in the (wider) Engineering sector: https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/my-career-options/job-categories…

All apprenticeships sit across the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework – mapping their level of difficulty against other comparable qualifications. This is also be a handy resource for context (particularly for parents): https://scqf.org.uk/about-the-framework/interactive-framework/

For example, an MA at SCQF Level 6, is the same level of difficulty as a Higher or an NC (they will have different required hours for completion – an MA is a bigger qualification than a Higher, but at the same level of learning).