How does the degree apprenticeship work?

You study a university course alongside 30+ hours of employment – so you'll need a relevant job role before you apply. The combination of the course and the job has to meet a national ‘apprenticeship standard’ – in this case the Food and Drink Advanced Engineer standard. So you get to study for a recognised qualification, while earning a salary and having no student fees to pay.

The course normally takes 3 years part-time, followed by an endpoint assessment which you'll complete within 6 months.

Course summary

• Gain broad knowledge in mechanical, electrical, electronic, process and food engineering.
• Develop solutions to real-world food design, manufacture, supply and safety challenges.

Food engineers help to deliver innovative and high quality products throughout the world. With this accredited course you'll be able to advance your career in the biggest manufacturing sector in the UK (larger than aerospace and automotive combined) – whether you're a new recruit, or looking for a qualification to prove your experience in the sector.

How you learn

The course blends engineering disciplines with an understanding of food and food science. For example, you'll apply the mechanical engineering study of structures, systems performance and how fluids behave to safely and efficiently produce food and drink. You'll be able to specialise in areas like design, development, research and maintenance, as well as operations such as processing, packaging, storage and transportation.

You learn through

• part-time study at Sheffield Hallam
• a challenge-driven curriculum
• collaboration with external organisations, employers and communities
• work-based projects
• a portfolio of evidence
• an endpoint assessment

Where you'll study

You'll study at our City Campus, with academics who work in research and development in our National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering. You'll also study in our Department of Engineering and Mathematics, which supports an excellent range of engineering resources which are key to the food and drink industry.

Entry requirements

You need a job role to accompany your apprenticeship course

This has to be 30+ hours a week of employment in a relevant engineering role in the food and drink sector – and you would need your employer to agree to fund your course, either through government co-funding or the apprenticeship levy. You must also have the right to Abode in the UK.

You normally need qualifications as well

The usual entry requirements include GCSE (or equivalent) maths and English at Grade C, 4 or above. Plus 112 UCAS points from at least 2 A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications, eg

• BBC at A Level, including a maths or maths-based subject
• DDM in BTEC Extended Diploma in a maths-based subject
• a combination of qualifications, which must include a maths-based subject, and may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies

Modules

Level 4

• mathematics for engineering apprentices
• applied engineering principles
• computing for engineering apprentices
• business and management for engineering apprentices
• engineering industrial practice
• materials and manufacturing engineering (mechanical pathway and production pathway)
• analogue and digital electronics (automation pathway)

Level 5

• applied control and instrumentation
• packaging machinery design and mechanics
• maintenance, systems and management
• process improvement and lean operations
• work-based project
• applied mechanical engineering for food (mechanical pathway and production pathway)
• machine and drives (automation pathway)

Level 6

• food systems engineering
• total quality management
• computer modelling for food engineering (mechanical pathway)
• design, simulation and operation of manufacturing systems (production pathway and automation pathway)
• tribology, surface degradation and wear (mechanical pathway)
• energy management in food engineering (production pathway)
• automation and robotics for the food industry (automation pathway)
• endpoint assessment project

Fees and funding

You'll need an employer who can support your application – funding your course through government co-funding or the apprenticeship levy.

Funding options for employers.