Project Management Apprenticeship (Integrated Degree) – Level 6

Project managers are responsible to the project sponsor/owner for the end-to-end delivery of a project or a subset of a project dependent on the complexity and criticality to the business.

They have responsibility for delivering the project in line with defined objectives, taking decisions to manage stakeholder expectations by leading a multi-skilled, cross-disciplinary team to deliver the project to time, cost and quality requirements.

Using their unique knowledge, skills and leadership behaviours project managers will manage the social, legal and environmental implications of their project.

They may consider the impact of their project on green, ethical, or sustainable concerns. In addition, they will manage a variety of interfaces with the organisational entities involved in the project, reporting to the project sponsor, and working within the requirements of the programme and portfolio as appropriate.

In addition, they will manage a variety of interfaces with the organisational entities involved in the project, reporting to the project sponsor and working within the requirements of the programme and portfolio as appropriate.

A project manager must also have the competencies to contribute to benefits management and realisation, consolidating appropriate metrics to report thus ensuring that identified business benefits are achieved.

What will I achieve?

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will achieve:

  • BSc (Hons) Project Management
  • Association for Project Management - Project Management Qualification
  • Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship Certificate
Location
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Duration
3.5 years
Start date(s)

September/October

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Course content

The programme is made up as follows:

Modules

Year 1
  • Professional Skills for Project Management
    Introduces key professional behaviours, reflective skills and communication approaches used in modern project environments. Apprentices explore leadership, ethics and personal development planning while building early workplace confidence.

  • Project Fundamentals
    Covers core project management principles, including planning, scheduling and basic governance. Apprentices learn how structured tools help guide project delivery and decision-making.

  • Understanding the Project Environment
    Explores how organisational context, stakeholders, strategy and external factors shape project work. This helps apprentices understand the wider environment that projects operate within.
Year 2
  • Organisational Change and Transformation
    Examines how organisations evolve and how project managers support change. Includes culture, readiness, leadership and impact on people.

  • Risk and Issue Management
    Focuses on identifying, analysing and managing risks and issues in live project settings, helping apprentices build confidence in proactive decision-making.

  • Benefit Planning and Realisation
    Helps apprentices understand how projects create value. Covers benefits identification, planning, measurement and evaluation.
Year 3
  • Programme Management
    Explores how multiple related projects are steered at programme level, including governance, leadership and strategic alignment.

  • Procurement and Finance
    Introduces procurement processes, contract considerations and financial planning so that apprentices can work effectively with commercial and budgetary aspects of projects.

  • Research Methods for Project Management
    Prepares apprentices for their End Point Assessment project by teaching research design, data collection and analytical skills.

Entry requirements

To be eligible, apprentices will need to evidence the following:

  • Achievement of Level 2 Maths and English (GCSE, functional skills or equivalent) OR be demonstrating that you are functioning at Level 2 in both Maths and English, this would be determined by an initial assessment conducted by University of Staffordshire.

Fees

For levy-paying organisations the cost is paid from their digital account at a rate of £22,000 per apprentice.

For non-levy paying organisations there may be a financial contribution on 5% which equates to £1,100 per apprentice.

Delivery and assessment

Delivery

The course is delivered as blended learning. Each semester will feature a mix of face-to-face days at our Stoke-on-Trent campus, and webinars held online via Microsoft Teams.

Apprentices will typically attend campus approx. 4 days per semester, in addition to weekly online webinars approx. 1-4 hours in length.

Webinars feature a mix of content and small group activities encouraging insightful discussion, application of theory to practice, and incremental progress towards a range of formative and summative assessments.

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used throughout the course:

  • Assignments/Reflection: these are usually in essay format of varying length. Assignments must be presented in an appropriate scholarly format which develops academic writing skills.
  • Seminar/Presentation: the research, planning and presentation of findings to an audience.
  • As part of the apprenticeship and once you have completed your academic qualification, you will undertake an end point assessment (EPA). This will include professional discussions with an external assessor and must be completed within 6 months of completing your academic studies.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our AccessAbility Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment or learning difficulties. You will also have full access to our support services such as Student Guidance.

Feedback

Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Responsibilities

  • Employer must not ask the apprentice to contribute financially to the direct cost of learning
  • Ensure apprentice spends at least 6 hours per week of their time in off-the-job training
  • Enter into a contract with University of Staffordshire
  • Participate in reviews with the Apprentice and university, providing evidence and feedback on progress at work and success in meeting apprenticeship milestones
  • Provide a safe, healthy and supportive environment, which meets the needs of the apprentice
  • Provide apprentices with a contract of employment for the duration of the apprenticeship on the first day of their apprenticeship and be paid at least a wage consistent with the law for both the time they are in work and in off-the-job learning
  • Provide the apprentice with paid time to attend off-the-job training, including additional support for English and Maths, or support accessed for learning difficulties and/or disabilities
  • Recognise that the apprentice must complete the apprenticeship within their working hours
  • Support the apprentice to gain new skills
  • A citizen of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA**) or have the right of abode in the UK, and have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for at least the previous three years on the first day of learning
  • Able to complete the apprenticeship in contracted working hours
  • Be an employee (have a contract of employment for the duration of the apprenticeship) on the first day of their apprenticeship and be paid at least a wage consistent with the law for both the time they are in work and in off-the-job learning
  • Be in a new job role (nine months or less), or in an existing job role, where significant new knowledge and skills are needed – employer statement of justification needed (relevant to the apprenticeship)
  • Be in full-time employment for typically 30 hours a week
  • Has the right to work in England
  • Maintain a safe, healthy and supportive environment, which meets your needs
  • Not be enrolled on another apprenticeship at the same time
  • Participate in reviews with the employer and university, providing evidence and feedback on progress at work and success in meeting apprenticeship milestones
  • Administer the funding and running of the Apprenticeship Standard to an acceptable standard of quality and in compliance with the DfE’s requirements
  • Agree jointly between the University, the Employer and Apprentice, an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) ensuring that satisfactory progress is achieved and to ensure that the contents of the ILP fulfil the requirements of the Apprenticeship Standard
  • Provide a safe, healthy and supportive learning environment, which meets the needs of the Apprentice
  • Provide off-the-job learning and assessment and oversee the on-the-job skills development as detailed in the ILP
  • Provide support on selection of the endpoint assessor, if applicable. The endpoint assessment will be completed by the learning provider for all integrated degrees

Careers

You will have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team who support you with professional branding, career mapping and realising your potential.

Enquire

To join a higher degree apprenticeship programme or recruit an apprentice for your business, enquire with us today.

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