BA (Hons) Modelmaking for Industry: Degree Apprenticeship

The BA (Hons) Modelmaking for Industry course is delivered to the apprenticeship standard of ST1371 Model Maker. Apprentices and employers are supported in training to meet this standard through three years of study, each consisting of three units of study.

Fundamentals are introduced and practised at the start of the course and, as apprentices develop their abilities in the real-life context of an employer's modelmaking workshop, underpinning theories and ideas about making, business and the creative industries are introduced.

Course content follows a validated structure, but evidence of the apprentices’ learning is collected through real-world experience and a series of assignments that build a portfolio of work over time.

Regular meetings between apprentices, employers and tutors record progress and encourage effective progression and planning of studies. All apprentices, from all employer workshops, will come together for ‘residentials’ to learn together at the AUB campus in Dorset. Here, they'll benefit from sharing experiences with peers, access to AUB’s world-leading facilities, and a wider perspective on the industries in which they are working.

Innovative ‘Learning Boxes’ will be used to support online training. These packages of core materials will be shipped to apprentices in advance of "off-the-job" training sessions and will include sketching tools, design thinking aids, moulding/casting basics, and other resources needed to introductions to fundamental modelmaking processes.

First-year units support the apprentice’s introduction to professional modelmaking, and enable the development of the fundamental skills needed for effective study. Critical knowledge of health and safety, project management, and the fundamental skills of communicating through sketching and drawing will be introduced and embedded. The breadth of the modelmaking industry will be explored, giving apprentices a solid understanding of their employer’s position in the creative industries. Finally, knowledge of project planning principles and technical design skills will be developed ready for Level 5.

Units:

• Language of Industry
• Exploring Creative Opportunities
• Project Planning and Model Design

Second-year units expand apprentices’ knowledge of research methods, innovation, and the commercial implications for the work that they do. Apprentices are challenged to consider the "journey" of a model from initial discussion with a client, through to completion. As skills are refined, techniques for pitching and presenting are studied, the idea of critical discourse explored. In preparation for Level 6, apprentices apply their abilities to communicate in a professional context.

Units:

• Innovation in Models
• Model Journey
• Critical Contribution

Final year units will enhance apprentices’ research and communication skills, while enabling them to establish a critical position on contemporary issues within their discipline. The use of modelmaking in unfamiliar areas of the creative industries is experienced, and apprentices will make good use of opportunities to learn from their peers and AUB’s making community. Finally, as they work towards the End Point Assessment that marks completion of the course, apprentices are tested to demonstrate their identity as an effective, professional and experienced practitioner.

Units:

• Catalyst
• Portfolio Enhancement
• Final Major Project
• (After the gateway) End Point Assessment

It’s important to note how you can apply for a place on an apprenticeship as the route is different from a traditional route into higher education.

To start a degree apprenticeship, you must apply for a relevant job with an employer offering the programme. It’s a competitive recruitment process. In contrast, an undergraduate course is accessed through UCAS, allowing students to apply directly to any available university course without needing a specific job offer.

A degree apprenticeship combines full-time paid employment with part-time university study, leading to a degree without tuition fees or student debt. It’s ideal for gaining practical experience, earning while learning, and building a career from day one. However, apprentices have less campus life and limited flexibility in choosing modules. An undergraduate degree, by contrast, offers a more traditional university experience with greater academic focus and flexibility, including extracurricular opportunities and broader networking. But it typically involves full-time study and student loans. Both routes lead to a degree, but the learning style, lifestyle, and career paths differ significantly.

• You’ll pay no tuition fees. Apprenticeships are funded by government, and by employers, not through student loans to pay for tuition fees. This means you’ll have no student loans to repay after graduation.
• Get paid while you study. Since 80% of your training will take place in a workplace, you’ll be earning a wage while studying.
• A degree-level qualification after three years. Degree apprenticeships are recognised as Level 6 qualifications. They're different to traditional degrees, but have the same status in the industry you've trained in.
• A community of apprentices. You’ll benefit from the experts that you’ll be working with day to day, and also a community of apprentices working across the UK with access to support from the University.

Each apprentice works on the job for 80% of the week, and 20% off the job in lessons. This is normally one day per week, but there'll also be blocks of time spent away from the workplace.

Lessons will take place online and in person, so the apprentice will need access to a computer to do their degree work. AUB will collaborate with you to ensure that the educational workload is balanced with your needs.

Apprentices will need to balance degree lectures, employment responsibilities, communication, and documentation – not an easy combination. It's important for you to ensure that pinch points are anticipated and reduced during throughout the apprenticeship.

Your apprentice will be a member of your team, learning through ‘on-the-job’ training while contributing to your company from day one. The BA (Hons) Modelmaking for Industry degree apprenticeship at AUB has the flexibility to align with your peak workflow when needed, enabling you to rely on your team. The curriculum is tightly aligned to you and your workflow, ensuring that you can control the work load and organisation of your workplace.

There's no age limit for apprentices applying, though other restrictions apply, and funding will vary depending on age and previous experience. Apprenticeships suit a range of organisations, from those with 100+ employees to small businesses with only a few staff.

• If your payroll is less than £3 million, 95% of the £26,000 apprenticeship will be paid by the government. Your company will employ the apprentice PAYE for the 36 months, and pay the remaining 5% plus wages (max: £9.50 per hour).
• If your payroll is more than £3 million, you'll already be paying into a compulsory apprenticeship levy. This can be used for internal apprenticeships.
• It's possible for larger employer, who pay the apprenticeship levy, to transfer some of their allowance to others, perhaps companies in their supply chain.

The BA (Hons) Modelmaking for Industry degree apprenticeship programme at AUB is designed with the creative industries in mind, and the knowledge that individuals or small numbers will represent this apprenticeship.

As the employer, you'll need to support an apprentice in prioritising one day to learn online and to attend three short residential annually. You'll also need to support an apprentice for eight weeks, for them to produce work independently for their End Point Assessment.

Working with apprentices and AUB, puts your company at the heart of the development of new modelmaking talent, boosting opportunities for your company’s future, and that of the apprentices that you employ. By employing an apprentice, you'll nurture talent that wouldn't otherwise enter a creative industry, and positively impact the early career of a young person who may not have had access to a typical education route.

Having an eager apprentice in the workshop, keen to learn the ropes from industry professionals while also gaining their degree gives you the opportunity to integrate an employee into your way of working right from the start.

Each apprentice works on the job for 80% of the week, and 20% off the job in lessons. This is normally one day per week, but there'll also be blocks of time spent away from the workplace.

Lessons will take place online and in person, so the apprentice will need access to a computer to do their degree work. AUB will collaborate with you to ensure that the educational workload is balanced with your needs.

Apprentices will need to balance degree lectures, employment responsibilities, communication, and documentation – not an easy combination. It's important for you to ensure that pinch points are anticipated and reduced during throughout the apprenticeship.