2. Overview
The Digital and Technology Solutions
Professional Degree Apprenticeship is a
unique programme combining honours
level education with workplace learning to
help address skills gaps across the digital
industries.
Designed with a trailblazer group of leading
employers such as IBM, Lloyds Banking Group
and John Lewis, it develops degree apprentices
with the skills and knowledge to work in a
wide range of graduate-level tech roles, such as
cyber security analyst, IT consultant, network
engineer and software engineer.
The degree apprenticeship is designed to bring
together a range of digital and technology
disciplines, with a balance of technical
competence and practical skills that will
support apprentices both as learners and
as future digital and technology solutions
professionals.
The apprenticeship helps employers tailor the
skills of fresh, emerging talent to their business
needs and offers young people opportunities
to pursue academic learning alongside real-life
work experience.
After completing a common first year,
participants follow one of four role-specific
pathways, appropriate to their role and career
aspirations. They will benefit from academic
and practical sessions at the University while
the value of work-based learning is strongly
emphasised within your organisation.
Key drivers
• It is estimated that 134,000 new entrants
per year are required to meet demand for
specialist IT and digital technology talent in
the UK workforce (Tech Partnership).
• 52% of businesses in the digital sector are
reporting digital skills shortages and hard-
to-fill vacancies (ONS/Eurostat, 2015).
• 78% of organisations believe that a skills
shortage in digital expertise is one of their
main barriers to progress (2015 Global PwC
Digital IQ Survey).
• Over 12 million people and a million small
businesses in the UK do not have the skills
to prosper in the digital era (Go.On UK).
• The 2015 Employer Skills Survey report
from the UK Commission for Employment
and Skills found that the skills most
commonly lacking amongst professionals
are specialist skills or knowledge, and
advanced or specialist IT skills as well as
complex problem solving skills.
• Over 80% of people say they are more likely
to use a business if it offers apprenticeships
to young people.
• The introduction of the apprenticeship levy
in April 2017 for all large organisations.
Benefits for employers
• Connect with a leading university
committed to working with industry
partners to produce tomorrow’s leaders in IT.
• Attract and retain the best young talent,
supporting the youth employment agenda.
• Get immediate access to a low cost resource
– even in their first year, learners are able to
offer a cost-effective contribution to projects
via coding, app development etc.
• Get work-ready graduate-calibre employees
embedded within your organisation, who
truly understand your business, have
learned from other organisations and
sectors, and bring fresh perspectives and
ideas.
• Tailor the skills of the learner to company
requirements, products and solutions to
‘grow your own’ talent.
• Enhance your learning and development
strategy by establishing a clear progression
route for aspiring and established digital
professionals.
• Generate a return on investment through
accelerated development and increased
commitment.
• The Digital and Technology Solutions
Professional Degree Apprenticeship fosters
the skills, creativity and loyalty employers
need for employees to commit themselves
to an organisation and drive it onto the next
level.
• The principles, techniques and practical
skills learned at university are further
developed in the workplace, which develops
employees’ confidence and professional
competence.
• More than a third of the programme is
focussed upon activity undertaken within
the company. Projects are negotiated with
employers to ensure they benefit all parties.
How we can help you
• The Department of Computing at Sheffield
Hallam University has a recognised
reputation for employer-centred education
and has long-established relationships with
major blue-chip providers such as Cisco,
Microsoft, Oracle, SAS, SAP and Sony, and is
now ready to help you capitalise on degree
apprenticeships.
• Professionalism within an industry context
is emphasised throughout with strong links
to the British Computer Society (BCS).
• Learners are exposed to multiple
programming languages, tools and
technologies that are current industry
standard, in addition to fundamental
underlying principles designed equally
around three core aspects – core computing
skills, specialist knowledge and work-based
learning.
• You will have access to our cutting-edge
facilities and benefit from the world-class
expertise of our staff, including areas such
as software engineering, networking and
cyber security, with industry-leading tools
and applications.
• We can help you to access government
funding of up to two-thirds of the course
fees, plus additional incentives for SMEs and
young apprentices.
• As experts in student recruitment, we
can support you to attract new young
apprentices, developing your future talent
pipeline, as well as increasing the capacity
of your existing employees.
Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship
Programme Outline
3. Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree ApprenticeshipDigital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship
Award
The BSc (Honours) Professional Practice
in Digital and Technology Solutions is an
innovative work-based learning solution that
is designed to meet the needs of the employer
and the learner, putting them at the heart of
the programme.
Designed to develop highly-skilled digital
solutions professionals, all parties benefit
from knowledge and skills exchange, with
participants applying the academic building
blocks of the course to live projects that deliver
outputs with real value.
Apprentices study a common first year
before specialising in one of four disciplines
appropriate to their role and career aspirations
within the IT industry.
The apprenticeship award in all cases will
be the Digital and Technology Solutions
Professional Degree Apprenticeship.
The Bachelor’s degree award will depend on
the route chosen, ie
• BSc (Hons) Professional Practice in Digital
and Technology Solutions (Cyber Security
Analyst)
• BSc (Hons) Professional Practice in Digital
and Technology Solutions (IT Consultant)
• BSc (Hons) Professional Practice in Digital
and Technology Solutions (Network
Engineer)
• BSc (Hons) Professional Practice in Digital
and Technology Solutions (Software
Engineer)
Duration
The programme is usually delivered over
three years.
Delivery method
Typically learners attend University for five
days at a time, four times per year, although
this decreases to two five-day blocks in the
final year when the major in-company project
is being undertaken.
Outside the five-day blocks, work-based
learning is facilitated through self-study and
assessment using the Blackboard virtual
learning environment (VLE), virtual meetings
and drop-in sessions. It is anticipated that
employers will need to allow learners half
a day of study time per week, per module,
in addition to the five-day block at Sheffield
Hallam University.
There is also a two-day, non-credit bearing
induction at the start of the course.
Course description
The course entails a common first year to build
fundamental skills and knowledge before
apprentices pursue one of four specialist
pathways to facilitate expert knowledge and
career progression in their chosen field.
The aim of the course is to provide industry-
ready employees in four roles, namely
• Cyber Security Analyst
• IT Consultant
• Network Engineer
• Software Engineer
Only one of these specialisms is applicable for
each apprentice and should be decided based
on the employment role within the workplace
before starting the programme.
There are four taught modules in Year 1 and
2, and two in Year 3. Each taught module is
divided into 12 weeks of study. Work-based
learning modules throughout the course
encourage a greater focus on the specialist
areas of work in your business. These run
alongside two taught modules, taking a total of
24 weeks each. An illustrative example of the
structure of the course is provided below.
The programme culminates in a synoptic assessment based on a predetermined workplace
project and presentation focussed on the learners chosen specialism.
Level BSc (Hons) Professional Practice in Digital and Technology Solutions
4
Systems Analysis
and Design
Programming
Concepts
Hardware and
Networks
Introduction to
Computer and
Information Security
Reflective and Personal Development Skills Work-based Review
5
Database Administration
and Security
Planning and Project
Management
Pathway Specific
Module
Pathway Specific
Module
Professional Review and Future Planning Work-based Project
6
Pathway Specific
Module
Pathway Specific
Module
Work-based Investigation
Reflective Practice and Professional Development
Further information, including module titles is provided in the table below.
The pathway specific module titles are listed below.
Work-based learning undertaken in the workplace
All modules are 20 credits each, except for the final work-based investigation worth 60 credits.
*The availability of a specific pathway is subject to a minimum student number requirement.
Pathway Level 5 modules Level 6 modules
Cyber Security
Analyst
Object-oriented
Programming
Digital Forensics Web Security
Information Security
Management
IT Consultant
Object-oriented
Programming
Developing Interactive
Web Applications
Advanced Web
Technologies
Information Security
Management
Network
Engineer
Network Server
Administration
Networks: Switching
and Routing
Advanced Network
Design
Network Management
Software
Engineer
Object-oriented
Programming
Software Engineering:
Concepts and Methods
Functional
Programming
Concurrent and Parallel
Systems
Preparatory
work
(1 week)
Kick-off
session
(Week 1)
Confirm
objectives
(Week 5)
Progress/
feedback
(Week 10)
Progress/
feedback
(Week 16)
Assessment
submission
(Week 24)
Preparatory
work
(1 week)
Block
attendance
(1 week)
Block
attendance
(1 week)
Self-
study and
assessment
(10 weeks)
Self-
study and
assessment
(10 weeks)
Work-based module
Taught module Taught module
4. Assessment
The degree award will incorporate a mix of
innovative and traditional assessment types
to monitor and reward progress. Assessment
for learning and a thread of work-based
modules will ensure that learners are able to
integrate academic learning and on-the-job
development.
Assessment types can include management
and technical reports, research investigations
into practice, problem-solving activities,
presentations, self, peer and co-assessment,
and in-company projects.
This unique approach to assessment of the
degree enables each learner to contextualise
and tailor their learning to their organisation
and sector.
End-point assessment
Unlike other Degree Standards, the Digital and
Technology Solutions Professional Degree
Apprenticeship Standard has an end-point
assessment of the apprentice that is conducted
by the University (rather than an independent
third party). This consists of a final work-based
investigation and report to ensure that the
apprentice is ready to join the profession with
full occupational competence.
Professional recognition
The BSc (Honours) Professional Practice in
Digital and Technology Solutions is accredited
by Tech Partnership. The University is also in
the process of seeking accreditation from the
British Computer Society (BCS).
Options for larger employers
Where an organisation has 15 or more learners,
Sheffield Hallam University can work with you
to co-create tailored content to meet individual
business needs.
Entry requirements
The Digital and Technology Solutions
Professional Degree Apprenticeship is suitable
for both new recruits (eg school leavers
entering into the industry) and for developing
existing and aspiring IT professionals already
in employment, who do not have a relevant
digital degree.
For new recruits, the usual entry requirements
are
• GCSE (or equivalent) mathematics and
English language at grade C or grade 4,
or above
Plus one of the following
• 112 UCAS points including at least 64
points from two A levels or equivalent BTEC
National qualifications. AS levels may
count towards these points but key skills
qualifications do not. We accept general
studies.
• 96 UCAS points from three A levels or
equivalent BTEC National qualifications. We
accept general studies.
• Access to HE Diploma with at least 45
credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2.
At least 15 Level 3 credits must be at merit
grade or above, from a QAA-recognised
Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access
to HE certificate.
Please note that this information is based
on the new UCAS tariff points system for
courses starting from September 2017. This
is significantly different to the current points
system and uses an alternative method of
calculation. You can find information about
these changes on the UCAS website (www.
ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-
started/entry-requirements/tariff/new-
tariff-2017) and use the UCAS tariff calculator
to work out your points.
For those already in employment the
apprenticeship provides access to development
opportunities for applicants who may
already have practical experience but wish
to improve their theoretical understanding,
want to develop their skills further, and obtain
an academic qualification and professional
recognition.
We welcome applications from people of any
age. We may be flexible in our normal offer if
you can show a commitment to succeed and
have the relevant skills and experience. This
must show that you will benefit from and
finish the course successfully.
Applicants must be working in a relevant
role within the digital industries and have
appropriate employer support to undertake
this course.
Fees
Typically £27,000 per learner, however
tailored programmes may vary depending on
requirements.
Government funding is currently available
to cover up to two-thirds of training costs
(funding rules apply) and additional incentive
payments are available. Please visit the
Skills Funding Agency website www.gov.uk/
guidance/sfa-funding-rules for more details.
However, for learners who start their
apprenticeship after April 2017 the available
funding will be set by the government’s rules
on the apprenticeship levy and operated under
the proposed Digital Apprenticeship Service.
The recent government consultation contains
proposals that
• levy paying employers with wage bills
above £3,000,000 per annum will use their
levy and a 10% government top-up to pay
for apprenticeship course fees and any end-
point assessment
• non-levy paying employers (below
the wage-bill threshold) may access
government funding of 90% of the course
fees (or 100% for learners below the age
of 19 at the start of the course or for small
employers with less than 50 staff)
The government’s response to the consultation
will clarify the relevant funding bands, any
additional incentives for learners under the
age of 19, financial arrangements relating to
completion of the apprenticeship and use of
levy funds for end-point assessments.
As a leading provider of higher and degree
apprenticeships, Sheffield Hallam University
is working closely with government to
understand the implications of these
reforms and to maximise the benefits of
our apprenticeship programmes for both
individuals and businesses.
Please contact us to find out more and to
get started.
Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship
