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Content

Section / Page
1. / Introduction
2. / Degree Apprenticeships
2.1 / What is a Degree Apprenticeship?
2.2 / High Quality Apprenticeships
2.3 / What are the Benefits of Higher Apprenticeships?
2.4 / Quality Indicators
3. / Apprenticeship Agreement & Commitment Statement
4. / Student Support & Guidance
5. / Arrangements for Collecting Employer and Student Feedback
6. / Insert Title Degree Apprenticeship
6.1 / Elements of the Insert TitleDegree Apprenticeship
7. / Requirements of the Insert TitleDegree Apprenticeship Standard
7.1 / Insert Title Degree Apprenticeship Standard
7.2 / Sections of the Insert Title Degree Apprenticeship Standard
8. / Insert Title of Degree Award
8.1 / Degree Award Structure
8.2 / Module Overview
9. / Assessment
9.1 / Degree Assessments
9.2 / Formative ‘On-Programme’ Assessments
9.2.1 / Portfolio
9.2.2 / 360 Degree Feedback
9.3 / Work Based Project
9.3.1 / Design
9.3.2 / Delivery
9.3.3 / Project Environment
9.4 / Summative ‘End-Point Assessment’
Appendices
Appendix A – Prior Learning Assessment Questionnaire
Appendix B – Apprenticeship Agreement
Appendix C – Commitment Statement
Appendix D – Skills & Behaviours – Cumulative Development Evidence Report
Appendix E – Insert Title Degree Apprenticeship Standard
Appendix F – Overview mapping to the Standard
Appendix G – Detailed mapping to the Standard
Appendix H – Insert Title Degree Apprenticeship Assessment Plan

1.Introduction

This handbook provides useful information about your Degree Apprenticeship, how it will be delivered, how you will be assessed, and what the Apprenticeship may lead to in the future. At appropriate stages during the Apprenticeship, in addition to this handbook, you will be given Course Handbooks for your insert Qualification Title. These will provide you with further useful information, such as course team contact details, and how to access support throughout your studies. To benefit from the full range of information, you should use both handbooks in conjunction.

2.Degree Apprenticeships

2.1 What is a Degree Apprenticeship?

Degree apprenticeships are the latest model to be developed as part of the higher apprenticeship standards, seeing apprentices achieving a full bachelor’s or a master’s degree as a core component of the apprenticeship. Degree apprenticeships combine both higher and vocational education and fully test both wider occupational competence and academic learning, either using a fully-integrated degree co-designed by employers and HEIs, or using a degree plus separate end-test of professional competence. Degree apprentices will be employed for a minimum of 30 hours a week. Learning fits around that work commitment and requires flexible learning through block release, distance or blended learning.

Degree apprentices split their time between university study and the workplace and will be employed throughout – gaining a degree from the University while earning a wage and getting real on-the-job experience in your chosen profession. A Degree Apprenticeship will take apprentices even further in their education and career.

2.2High Quality Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are built upon:

  • An Agreed Partnership:
  • An employer with the intention and capability of employing the apprentice to completion of their training and end-point assessment and securing their longer term future;
  • An apprentice who is motivated to learn and work diligently to complete their apprenticeship;
  • Training and support delivered either wholly in house or on behalf of the employer by a registered training provider, college or university
  • An initial assessment of the apprentice’s prior learning and the job role, against the standard;
  • An Apprenticeship Agreement and Commitment Statement between the employer, the apprentice and the provider, which sets out the training programme and covers the points in this statement.
  • The Occupation and Standard
  • Entry to a recognised occupation which can be transferred to other relevant employers and is sufficiently skilled to require employment and training of at least a year’s duration with 20% of the time in off the job training;
  • A written standard approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships, which fully defines the occupation in terms of the responsibilities and tasks involved and the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to achieve competence.
  • The Job
  • Employment in a job with legal and contractually acceptable terms and conditions;
  • The job role, together with the off the job training, provides opportunities to cover the full occupational profile and learning all of the skills, knowledge and behaviours required.
  • The Training Programme
  • A challenging and stretching training and learning programme developed and delivered with the active involvement of the employer(s), which uses a range of effective on and off the job training methods as well as work itself;
  • A motivating and supportive workplace with coaching and mentoring support for the apprentice and continuous assessment of progress;
  • An extended period of on and off the job training (at least twelve months duration with a minimum of 20% of the time in off the job training) which develops not only the knowledge and skills required but also the additional transferable skills which allow an apprentice to deal with new employers, situations, problems and equipment.
  • End-point Assessment and Certification
  • Achievement prior to entry to end-point assessment, of the appropriate level of English and maths, any digital skills required and other specified components of the Apprenticeship, signed off by the employer;
  • National standards built into a demanding independentassessment at the end of the apprenticeship, carried out by a registered apprenticeship assessment organisation, which meets the Institute’s requirements for quality, set out in its guidance on external quality assurance;
  • Certification by the Institute on completion of the whole apprenticeship. Recruiting employers and apprentices use this trusted record of employability as a licence for the occupation and to access related professional status.

2.3What are the Benefits of Higher Apprenticeships?

Higher apprenticeships havea number of benefits for employers, prospective apprentices, and universities.

  • Employers can attract new talent, particularly high-calibre school-leavers who are keen to earn a University qualification in a work-based environment. It will allow them to acquire the graduate/post-graduate level skills they need, where the training costs, including the degree, are co-funded by government.
  • The apprentice, like any other apprentice, will be employed and paid a wage throughout, will gain a University qualification, and gain a head-start into their chosen profession compared with many of their counterparts.
  • The Higher Apprenticeship combines academic study with work-based activities, adding value to the learning experience by providing opportunities for apprentices to evidence theory in practical industry contexts.
  • Throughout the Apprenticeship, the apprentice will receive support from a network of professionals at the College/University and in the workplace.
  • On completion of the programme, the apprentice will have a CV benefitting from a professional qualification and sector relevant work history.

2.4Quality Indicators

The Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) has identified a set of key indicators that will enable them to measure the extent to which Apprenticeships meet the skills needs of employers and apprentices and the quality and outcomes of training for apprentices.

Apprenticeships will meet the skills needs of employers and apprentices by reflecting the range of occupations and skill levels in our diverse economy.

The IfA will measure this by:

  • Cumulative entry to and achievement of apprenticeships by occupation, level and age group and compared to the mix in the labour market;
  • The number of employers recruiting and training apprentices by size and sector;
  • Standards development and implementation by level in relation to the occupational maps;
  • Proportion of apprenticeships beginning with a vacancy/new employee/new role;
  • Apprenticeships will deliver high quality training and outcomes for apprentices in terms of quality and achievement.

The IfA will measure this by:

  • Retention up to sign-off for end point assessment;
  • Ratio of entry to success (including grades) in end-point assessment;
  • Destinations in employment in the apprenticeship occupation (with the training employer or with a different employer);
  • Attainment of a higher level educationally and/or occupationally within 3 and 5 years of completion;
  • Ofsted overall and apprenticeship grades/HEFCE (OfS) judgements.

The IfA will calculate a baseline for these indicators, gather data regularly over a period and determine any action needed. Once the indicators have bedded down, the IfA will then consider whether they should set any associated targets.

The IfA intends to gather feedback from employers and apprentices using the existing employer and learner surveys operated by the DfE. They aim to develop both of these surveys to include feedback on meeting skills needs, occupations/standards, job roles, training programmes and end-point assessment. They will work also with the Apprenticeship Service to develop a new on-line approach to employer feedback.

3.Prior Learning, Apprenticeship Agreement & Commitment Statement

Apprentices will have passed and confirmed their eligibility and any relevant prior learning (see Appendix A) prior to signing their Apprenticeship Agreement and Commitment Statement.

The Apprenticeship Agreement is signed by the Apprentice and Employer and defines the contract between the two parties. This then forms part of the contractual arrangement between the Employer and the University.

The purpose of the Apprenticeship Agreement is to:

  • Identify the skill, trade or occupation for which the apprentice is being trained;and
  • Confirm the qualifying Apprenticeship framework/standard that the apprentice isfollowing.

See Appendix B– Apprenticeship Agreement

The Commitment Statement sets out the following aspects of the apprenticeships to clearly outline how the apprenticeship will work. The statement must be signed by the apprentice, employer and the provider. The statement will contain the following:

  • The planned content and schedule for apprenticeship training and end-point assessment:
  • Details of the apprenticeship standards being followed including start and end dates
  • Details on which elements are eligible for co-funding/levy funding
  • List of organisations delivering each segments of the training
  • Roles and responsibilities for employer, provider and apprentice and arrangements for how the three parties will work together. This must include contact details and set out the expected commitment from each to ensure the smooth running and day-to-day delivery of the apprenticeship, including for example:
  • Apprentice; attendance and study time
  • Employer; commitment to wages and time off to study in the working day
  • Provider; support and guidance available and how to access this
  • The process for the employer and apprentice to use for resolving any queries or complaints regarding the apprenticeship, including quality. This must include details of the escalation route within the lead provider’s own organisation and the escalation process to the ESFA through the apprenticeship helpline.

See Appendix C – Commitment Statement

4.Student Support Guidance

We endeavour through our support systems to support all apprentices in all relevant areas to their apprenticeship – whether relating to professional, academic and/or personal development.

For course delivery information and support, please contact insert name of Course Leader (incl. Email and Tel No).

For Administrative support on updating any relevant personal information, please contact insert name of Student and Course Administrator supporting the apprenticeship.

For general apprenticeship policy information and clarification, please contact the Apprenticeships Team on and/or 0800 169 2148.

If your concerns are of a more personal nature you can consult with insert the person appropriate to your School (incl. Email and Tel No).

Staffordshire University has a commitment to supporting students with additional needs, therefore students enrolled on this Apprenticeship are also entitled to access the range of Staffordshire University facilities and services available to help support student learning. This is particularly so once they have progressed to the on-campus Level 6 top-up. You can contact Student Support Services [01782 294977; 4-5 Winton Square, Stoke] to find out what support may be available and to discuss your individual requirements. Full details about the student support services can also be found on the University website.

Information on university support services can be found in the on-line student guide (available at:

The Student Advice Centre run by the Students’ Union provides independent, impartial and confidential advice to students free of charge. More information on the Students’ Union can be found at:

For information on ‘Appeals, Complaints and Conduct’ please refer to the Student Guide, also found on: For all other University policies, please access:

5.Arrangements for Collecting Employer and Student Feedback

Employer Feedback

During your apprenticeship you will receive feedback from your Employer regarding aspects of the programme that relate to workplace activities, eg.

  • What should you start doing to be more effective?
  • What should you stop doing to be more effective?
  • What should you continue doing to be more effective?

In addition you will have the opportunity to discuss with your Employer your progress with the academic studies which form an essential part of your apprenticeship.This will be recorded and evidenced throughout the course of the apprenticeship to ensure the knowledge acquired through the apprenticeship is being applied to achieve the skills and behaviours in the workplace.

See AppendixD– Skills & Behaviours - Cumulative Development Evidence Report

The Award Leader will meet with the Employer every three months, plus a formal annual review to discuss your progress.

Student Feedback

You will have the opportunity to provide feedback on your experience of studying during your apprenticeship in three ways:

  • Module Questionnaires, completed at the end of each module.
  • The Staff / Student Liaison Committee, which meets once per semester.
  • Student Satisfaction Survey, completed annually.

6.Insert Title ofDegree Apprenticeship

Provide a summary of the Degree Apprenticeship including:

  • Rationale and Background for development of the apprenticeship (include information on why the apprentice should do the apprenticeship and the benefits of doing so, as well as justify why we are delivering this apprenticeship, outlining how it reflects employer and skills demand, and why they - via the employer - should choose Staffordshire University as the apprenticeship provider).
  • Specific entry requirements
  • Typical job roles of applicants
  • Aspiring job roles of applicants
  • Timescales of apprenticeship
  • Delivery overview(include an overview of the mode and frequency of delivery of all components within the apprenticeship and who is delivering it – outlining any subcontracting arrangements, if applicable)

6.1Elements of the Insert Title Degree Apprenticeship

There are insert amount elements to the insert titleDegreeApprenticeship. The following diagram outlines what each of these elements are, and the key features that make them so valuable to the apprentices overall learning experience. It also shows how each component of the Apprenticeship relates to the others during the insert apprenticeship duration study period.

(List all components that are part of the apprenticeship – example diagram available upon request)

7.Requirements of the Insert TitleDegree Apprenticeship Standard

Provide an overview of the Degree Standard.For further information on the apprenticeship standard, see ‘Appendix E’.

7.1Insert Title Degree Apprenticeship Standard

The Degree Apprenticeship Standard comprises the following sections:

  • Knowledge

Through formal learning and applied according to business environment.

  • Skills

Acquired and demonstrated through continuous professional development in the workplace.

  • Behaviours

Developed and exhibited in the workplace

A summary of the Degree Standard is below.

Insert a table showing a summary of the content

For the full Degree Standard and its relationship to the modules studied on the Honours degree programme see ‘Appendix F’ and ‘Appendix FG.

7.2Sections of the Insert Title Degree Apprenticeship Standard

Provide a brief explanation of how the sections of the Degree Apprenticeship Standard are organised, eg. (insert as appropriate).

  • Knowledge
  • Skills
  • Behaviours

8.Insert Title of Degree Award

The completion of the Insert Award Title [eg. B.A. (Hons) Professional Business Management] is an integral part of the Degree Apprenticeship Standard and this will be completed before the final elements of the Degree Apprenticeship have been finished.

Provide a summary of the award content (incl. details of any ‘exit’ awards).

8.1Award Structure

Insert Diagram of award structure (from the Programme Specification).

8.2Module Overview

In order to fulfil the requirements of the insert qualification title, you will study the following modules:

(insert modules overview)

9.Assessment

The Insert Title Degree Apprenticeship Standard provides details of the assessment requirements which form part of the ‘Portfolio’.

There are a number of elements that make up assessment for the Degree Apprenticeship Standard including: (amend as appropriate)

  • Degree assessment (ie. formal assessment of the degree modules)
  • Formative ‘on-programme’ assessment, (assessments that do not contribute to the degree, but provided an opportunity to develop and apply new skills and knowledge)
  • A work-based project (part of the degree and an important element of the apprenticeship’s ‘end-assessment’)
  • A summative ‘end-point assessment’. (which includes a review of the work-based project and the evidence produced as part of the ‘on-programme’ assessment.)

During the delivery and assessment of the Degree Apprenticeship there should be regular reviews (at least quarterly) between the employer and the Provider with a formal annual review of the apprentice’s progress.