Graduate ApprenticeshipsIT: Software Development BSc (Hons)

Designed in partnership with industry, our BSc in IT: Software Development graduate apprenticeship (IT:SD) gives employers the opportunity for their IT professionals to gain an undergraduate degree over 48 months.

Our flexible programme suits a wide variety of technology roles and experience levels. Apprentices can tailor course content by choosing from a selection of module options during the programme, ensuring their study is relevant to your organisation.

Our unique approach to work-based learning helps apprentices rapidly evidence their competency, whatever their role. Course content is primarily delivered asynchronously, online. As a result, only a small commitment for regular on-campus time from the apprentice is needed, helping minimise the impact on your business

We focus on developing apprentices that can quickly add value to your organisation. We start with the fundamentals, providing a solid foundation for future learning and helping apprentices become productive to their employer.

Course content has been developed in partnership with industry and is designed to equip apprentices with knowledge in contemporary tools and technology. We do not just focus on tech. Our approach to work-based learning helps develop more rounded professionals, with a wide range of soft skills that enable apprentices to contribute widely to your organisation.

Our IT:SD programme is delivered by our dedicated Graduate Apprenticeship team, including colleagues with significant industrial experience. Apprentices are guided by members of academic staff as well as an assigned Learning Adviser.

You’ll receive regular updates on the programme, helping you support your apprentices through their journey. There are ongoing opportunities to contribute to programme development to ensure your needs continue to be met.

Partner with us 

Partnering with us is easy. Employers can nominate existing employees or newly recruited candidates for consideration for admission to the programme. There is no limit to the number of places per employer – just contact us indicating the number of places being sought on the programme.

We are also happy to work directly with employers to streamline the recruitment process for new graduate apprentices and we are able to connect employers with prospective candidates.

Employer requirements

First and foremost, BSc IT: Software Development graduate apprentices are employees, who’ll continue to spend 80% of their time working for their employer.

There is no restriction on the size of organisation that can employ a graduate apprentice. We currently work with companies ranging from three employees to large multi-national financial institutions.

Employers must:

• ensure graduate apprentices have a role that involves IT
• allocate a work-based mentor who can offer the graduate apprentice support for the duration of the programme. This should not be their line manager
• agree study arrangements with the graduate apprentice
• ensure that graduate apprentices have sufficient time and opportunity to work on their studies and related assessment within their working hours. This must equate to one day per week, although this could be spread over a working week

We strongly advise that employers agree protected time for graduate apprentices to support their study.

As an employer, you are not required to pay tuition fees for employees to undertake the BSc IT: Software Development graduate apprenticeship. You may however incur costs for additional employee expenses, such as travel to on-campus learning days or textbooks to support learning. These should be agreed directly with the employee.

As employees progress through the graduate apprenticeship, employers can choose to receive updates on their progress, such as module grades and progress in developing their work-based learning portfolio. This is subject to signing a data sharing agreement.

Employee Requirements

Employees must:

• be employed in a role with an aspect of IT, for a minimum of 21 hours a week
• live and work in Scotland for the duration of the programme
• have the agreement of their employer to undertake the BSc IT: Software Development graduate apprenticeship

Each applicant is assessed for admission on a case-by-case basis. They will typically have at least four Highers at grade B, including either Mathematics, Computing Science, or Physics, and preferably National 5 English at grade C or above. We also welcome enquiries from applicants with non-traditional qualifications and/or relevant work experience.

Employees will be required to attend classes on campus for 10 days annually, once a month during term-time. The dates for all classes across the academic year will be supplied in advance to support planning work and learning commitments.

In addition, graduate apprentices will undertake around 12 hours of flexible learning per week, through our award-winning Virtual Learning Environment, complemented with three hours of learning directly in the workplace supported by our team of dedicated Learning Advisers. Read our student guidance for the BSc IT: Software Development graduate apprenticeship for more information about the content of the programme and support from the University

Read our student guidance for the BSc IT: Software Development graduate apprenticeship for more information about the content of the programme and support from the University.