Final award:
- IfATE Level 6 Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship
- University of Exeter BSc (Hons) Project Management
- International Project Management Association (IPMA) Level D qualification
- CMI Level 5 Certificate in Project Management
| Duration | 3 years |
|---|---|
| Entry point(s) | October |
| Application deadline | See How to apply |
| Campus | Blended learning, with some mandatory days on Streatham Campus in Exeter throughout duration |
|---|---|
| Contact | Programme Director Angela Danks |
Overview
- This course is for current or aspiring project managers to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours so that they can drive performance and productivity improvements in their organisation.
- Apprentices will develop new knowledge, skills, and ideas that will enable them to become more effective employees who can add real change to their organisations and lay the foundation for a prosperous and challenging career.
- Our flexible learning and online resources minimise disruption so apprentices can continue to fulfil their current roles.
- Apprentices will study for at least six hours per week throughout the duration of the course and will be taught through innovative learning and teaching methods.
- The University of Exeter’s Business School is triple accredited by AAVSB, AMBA, and EQUIS, demonstrating our assurance to providing high standards of quality and an outstanding educational experience, helping our students to stand out in a competitive global environment.
8th in the UK for Business and Management
The Times and the Sunday Times Good Education Guide 2023
8th in the UK for Business and Management
Complete University Guide League Tables 2023
8th in the UK for Business and Management
The Times and the Sunday Times Good Education Guide 2023
8th in the UK for Business and Management
Complete University Guide League Tables 2023
Accreditations
How to apply
Project Management BSc (Hons) does not follow the standard UCAS application process. You can apply to this programme in addition to making applications to any institution through UCAS. To gain a place on the degree apprenticeship:
- Apply directly for a vacancy with a relevant employer – please check their websites for vacancies. The GOV.UK website will also list a number of DA vacancies throughout the year. Current DA vacancies our partner employers are advertising through us can be found on our current vacancies page. Applicants are welcome to apply for more than one vacancy.
- Already have a position or job offer from a company that is willing to support your application.
Once you meet one of above options, please get in touch with us and we will proceed with your application.
Funding
Full programme cost: £22,000
The employer fully covers the cost of this apprenticeship; students do not pay for any of the eligible training costs. The students will be an employee of the organisation, gaining a University of Exeter award alongside working and earning a salary.
Degree Apprenticeship
Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy will pay for the apprenticeship fees directly through that contribution.
UK-based employers who do not pay the Levy will be able to claim 95% of the cost of the apprenticeship from the Government. p to 100% Government contribution may be available if the employer has fewer than 50 employees and:
- Recruits an apprentice aged 16-18
- OR an apprentice aged 19-24 who has previously been in care or who has a local authority education, health, and care plan
See further information on the Apprenticeship Levy funding.
Employers must pay their apprentices a salary at least consistent with national legislation.
Funding eligibility criteria
To be eligible for funding the apprentice must meet the criteria listed in the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) guidance.
The apprentice must have a valid and eligible residency status to gain entry onto the apprenticeship – please see the ESFA guidance for further information.
Entry requirements
The Project Management programme has two entry routes:
- Application through A-Levels CCC or equivalent Level 3 qualification.
- Application through Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL): Applicants will be required before acceptance to the programme to demonstrate previous project management experience.
There is a requirement from the Education and Skills Funding Agency that apprentices hold a level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics.
If an applicant does not hold GCSE's (C /4 or above) in English and Maths or cannot evidence these or equivalent qualifications, they should be willing to work towards Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications prior to Gateway.
For more information about how we support Functional Skills, click here.
Applicants will be in a role that supports the gathering of evidence required for the Project Management apprenticeship ‘standard’.
Individual employers may set additional selection criteria in discussion with the University.
Applicants must also have a valid and eligible residency status to gain entry onto the apprenticeship – please see the ESFA guidance for further information.
Applicants who have achieved the Level 4 Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship, could be eligible for accreditation of prior certificated learning (APCL) and complete the programme in 2 years. If individual employers have any prospective employees that hold the L4 Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship please get in touch with the University for further information.
Course content
This apprenticeship enables current or aspiring project managers to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours so that they can drive performance and productivity improvements in their organisation and implement change management.
Our ambition is for our apprentices to graduate academically ready to grow into senior roles. Apprentices will gain the knowledge and experience to enable them to:
- understand the totality of actions a company needs to take to achieve long-term goals;
- manage a project from planning to implementation over the entire project lifecycle;
- and to use quality assurance and controls to improve project management processes.
The apprenticeship involves a minimum of 6 hours of study per week. Apprentices can expect to be stretched and challenged but supported throughout as they develop the academic skills required to deliver change through project management roles.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Your first year includes an introduction the fundamentals of project management, business environments and organisational strategy, and the governance and financial controls necessary to projects.
120 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEM1035DA | Introduction to Project Management | 30 |
| BEM1036DA | The Business Environment and Organisational Strategy | 30 |
| BEM1037DA | Governance and Financial Controls of Projects | 30 |
| BEM1038DA | Professional Practice | 30 |
| BEM2050DA | Project Justification and Change Control | 30 |
In second and third year, the focus shifts to project management skills such as project justification and change control, stakeholder engagement and communication management, and organisational change management.
Year 2
120 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEM2051DA | Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Management | 30 |
| BEM2052DA | Organisational Change Management | 30 |
| BEM2053DA | Quality and Risk Management | 30 |
| BEM3074DA | International Project Management (IPMA) | 30 |
Year 3
90 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BEM3073DA | Commercial Procurement and Contract Management | 30 |
| BEM3078DA | Applied Project Management | 20 |
| BEM3076DA | Work-Based Project | 20 |
| BEM3077DA | Professional Review | 20 |
As part of your End Point Assessment you will spend 20 weeks working on a work based project, and your final assessment for your apprenticeship and degree will be your professional review. The professional review is assessed through a formal presentation followed by an interview.
40 credits of compulsory modules
Please note that the Professional Review for End Point Assessment as referenced in Stage 3 above will continue over the end of academic year into Stage 4.
Learning and teaching
On average, approximately 6 hours per week of a learner’s contractual working time will be given over to study.
The first year provides fundamental knowledge underlying project management, delivering the principles and themes of building a successful project; an understanding of the business environment, exploring how projects contribute to businesses operating in local, regional, national and global economies; and delivers training in evaluating and establishing project governance.
In the second year, the apprentices will gain knowledge and skills in project justification, constructing robust project proposals, and change management models, including practically planning and implementing change; understanding communication with internal and external stakeholders to build support; understanding of working with project sponsors, as well as the organisational influences and demands on the management of a project; and an understanding of quality management, to convert actions into project management success.
The third year delivers understanding of strategies for managing cost, quality, service, and time across supply chain networks that leverage assets to deliver financial target, before undertaking a project to demonstrate an understanding of the principles and themes of building a successful project from planning to implementation.
During and outside of this time apprentices will also be able to meet one-to-one with their academic mentor.
Careers
About the apprenticeship
Apprentices will be a full salaried member of an organisation. Much of the learning will take place at work, either through projects linked to academic content or time set aside for distance learning. Apprentices will be working in an exciting and relevant job from day one of their studies, meaning when they graduate, they'll have both the professional and academic experience sought after by employers.
Employer-valued skills
Solid industry experience is what employers look for when recruiting. The structure of the apprenticeship standards means that apprentices will gain knowledge, skills and behaviours to be a fully-fledged project manager at the end of the programme. They will have gained experience in areas including business environment and organisational strategy, governance and financial controls, project justification, change control, stakeholder engagement, communication management, organisational change management, quality and risk management, commercial procurement and contract management, and international project management.
