Aerospace Engineering Degree Apprentice (EDAS) Review
at BAE Systems
Degree Apprenticeship
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Lancashire
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
4.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
The EDAS scheme places me on 6x6 month placements across the business and the 1x 2 year exit role, taking the total duration to 5 years. I attend work Mon-Wed & Fri, where the work is dependent on what placement you are in, I personally am really enjoying my current placement, I have a great team and I am looking forwards to my future placements. Each Thursday I attend University at Blackpool & The Fylde College where we receive our degree which is accredited by Lancaster University.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I am very glad with my decision to start an apprenticeship with BAE, I have found lots of interest and it was definitely the better route for me as opposed to traditional university. I feel very supported and there is plenty of opportunities should you put the effort in. I am sill able to maintain a good social life and keep up with friends who are at uni whilst my career develops massively. I would highly recommend to anyone :)
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learnt a lot since joining, more than I have in any stage of my life before. You pick up new knowledge and skills daily and have plenty of chance to really develop your pre-existing skills. Learning and development is greatly encouraged and supported across the scheme.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Overall the programme is pretty well structured and has definitely developed massively in recent years. Whilst there can be some rough edges here and there, it is nothing that isn't normal and won't have too much of an impact on you from my experience - it definitely hasn't harmed my enjoyment or experience of the scheme.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
There is plenty of support across the scheme, and there is always someone you can go to for help. We each get given a skills coach to help take us through the apprenticeship scheme and to help us with out level 4 qualification (another qualification on top of your uni degree).
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
There is a good amount of support, there is often space to raise any concern or issues with the uni side if need be and the skills coaches are useful to have for general questions or qualifications specific questions
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I think the technical side of the degree will be very useful, especially for applying that knowledge. For a lot of the other things, I have found the work side influences the degree learning quite a lot as the pace at which you pick engineering principles and processes up at work is much faster and that will aid in your uni understanding lots.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There are quite a few extra-curricular activities, I know my scheme does social events pretty often which is nice to mix with the different cohorts and people. You can become a STEM ambassador and get involved with careers fairs, etc to boost STEM outreach and I'm sure there are lots of other opportunities should you desire to look into them more.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
You definitely get out what you put into this scheme. If you put in lots of effort and energy, you will get so much out of it. The amount of career development you get is crazy and far surpasses the traditional university route, you have no student debt and get paid a salary which is very nice. I moved away from home for this scheme and it has definitely been worthwhile and I very much enjoy the extra independence and maturity you gain.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
Do your research, be passionate and be yourself, make sure you put in the work and showcase why you are a good fit, the scheme is very very competitive so make sure to put your best foot forwards. And remember the application process is also about you finding out whether BAE is a right fit for you.
