Engineering: Design and Manufacture Graduate Apprenticeship in BEng (Hons)
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-18 | 2023-05-05 |
Program Overview
Graduate Apprenticeships are an innovative route to a degree qualification blending academic study with work-based learning, supported by the student’s employer. The Graduate Apprenticeship in BEng (Hons) Engineering: Design and Manufacture covers a blend of engineering design and manufacture topics.
It includes a thorough grounding in engineering principles, concepts and theories while appreciating the complexity and interaction of managerial, technical and environmental issues in the modern workplace.
The course provides students with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to support career development in engineering design, manufacturing engineering, engineering operations management and engineering project management. Students will learn how to apply their knowledge and skills to the solution of real world problems, analysing and evaluating practical issues involved in the design, specification, manufacturing technologies, maintenance and commissioning of mechanical equipment and associated systems.
Program Outline
Year 1
The course begins with the fundamental principles and introduction of the engineering design methods and manufacturing processes; properties of engineering materials; metal alloys and heat treatment; principles and practice of the engineer in a product development; introduction to the fundamentals of hydrostatic and thermodynamics systems; basic concepts and principles of electrical and electronic engineering.
Year 2
Year two will give the student the ability to apply advanced level mathematics to engineering problems including thermal-fluid and vibration systems; understanding of the formal design process for components and machine elements; understanding of the main manufacturing processes for metals, ceramics, polymer and composite materials and how to select appropriate materials and their manufacturing processes for a given product; introduction to CAD and CAM softwares.
Year 3
Students will learn to analyse and interpret the dynamic structural behaviour of engineering system components as well as a foundation in instrumentation and control systems technology; stress analysis of components subject to combined loading; fatigue and failure analysis and fracture mechanics; National and international codes of practice design approaches, including BS and Eurocodes; introduction to joining processes and equipment, surface technology and engineering metallurgy; understanding of Manufacturing support systems, process planning and production control, quality control and inspection and sustainable manufacturing. Introduction to design methodology including design for manufacturing and design optimisation; project management and group project.
Year 4
The final year will provide the student with the ability to use finite element method to analyse a range of engineering systems including static stress, dynamic modal analysis and heat transfer analysis; introduction to renewable energy systems; Introduction to business finance, accounting and law for engineers; Operation management, quality control and assurance, cost evaluation and supply change management; skills needed to use a variety of commercial software in design and manufacture of products and the rapid prototyping techniques including NC programming, mould modelling, rapid prototyping and sensitivity analysis; undertake a substantial professional design project incorporating planning, decision making, data collection and critical analysis.
Modules
Modules and delivery order may change for operational purposes. The University regularly reviews its courses. Course content and structure may change over time. See our
course and module disclaimer
for more information.Learning Methods
The course is designed to meet the national frameworks developed by Skills Development Scotland, the subject frameworks of the QAA and the skill and knowledge areas identified as crucial by industry. The teaching and learning strategy for this course is characterised by a commitment to ensuring a genuine interaction between theoretical and work-based learning. It enables the student to acquire and develop the subject knowledge and understanding necessary for successful professional employment.
Activity Summary
This is a work-based learning course delivered via a combination of practical learning activities in the workplace, complemented by learning delivered online through our virtual learning environment (VLE) and including one or two full-day(s) on campus workshop per module.
There will be two terms, each approximately 20 weeks in length. Students will study two modules concurrently in each term (a total of 4 modules per year). This will typically require:
Independent Study
The majority of the learning will be taking place at work and as you progress from Year 1 – 4, the level of independent learning increases significantly within specialist areas of the course. You are expected to have the confidence to apply your knowledge to more complex contexts and work on your own initiative as you progress towards graduation.
Staff Delivering on This Course
Staff are lecturers from traditional courses taught currently at RGU along with the potential for recorded guest lectures delivered by industry experts. Teaching will be undertaken mostly by staff with established expertise in the subject area of design and manufacture who hold a chartership status CEng and/or who are already involved in joint projects with different industrial partners.
Workplace Mentor
Employers assign a Workplace Mentor whose role will be to oversee the work based learning undertaken by the student. In addition to mentoring support for students, supplementary support may be provided by the employer, for example when subject matter experts are brought in to provide specific business or technical expertise or through access to other departments within the organisation. This ensures that the curriculum is fully covered as the student progresses in their studies.
Graduate Apprenticeship Success Coach
During the first year of study, access is provided to a dedicated Graduate Apprenticeship Success Coach to help make the most of all learning opportunities.
Assessment
A variety of assessment methods are used in this course, as deemed appropriate to the learning outcomes and subject material being assessed and the context in which the material is delivered.
Students will be assessed for each module using a variety of formative and summative assessment methods including:
In addition in year 4, students are assessed on their dissertation and on project outputs.
Feedback
We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of submission of coursework.
Academic Support
The Inclusion Centre advises and supports students who disclose a sensory or mobility impairment, chronic medical condition, mental health issue, dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-entry visit to discuss any concerns and to view the facilities.
The Inclusion Centre
Online Learning & Support
All undergraduate and postgraduate students, whether you are learning on campus or by online learning, benefit from using our collaborative virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle. You will be provided with 24/7 online access to your learning material and resources, along with the ability to interact with your class members and tutors for discussion and support.
CampusMoodle
Study Skills Support
The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in:
Study Skills Support
Library Support
The Library offers support for your course, including the books, eBooks, and journals you will need. We also offer online reading lists for many modules, workshops and drop-ins on searching skills and referencing, and much more.
University Library
Placements
Students will be in full-time employment throughout the duration of the course, therefore extensive use is made of work-based learning.
Job Prospects
Students joining this Graduate Apprenticeship will be already employed. Students may range from new entries to the industry to mature experienced individuals interested in formalising their experience. With each course tailored to the company, the Graduate Apprenticeship programme offers benefits to both the employee and the employer, meeting the long term development needs of both business and student.
CAREERS