Network Engineering Apprentice Review
at BAE Systems
Degree Apprenticeship
Computer Systems Engineering
Christchurch, Dorset
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
3 /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!
3.5/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
2.2/5
-
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
When working, we do a wide variety of work depending on which project you are on. This work can range from Testing, to networking to software engineering. Line Managers are required to give you work, so you rarely sit around and do nothing. We have 2 university days a week, in which we either are in a lecture online or studying.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
That being said, university is quite frankly a joke, but the BAE side of the Apprenticeship is genuinely worth putting up with the multitude of problems with the University. Plus it pays really well, especially as you get further into the apprenticeship, plus its a free degree tacked on.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
You get lots of real experience working in a workplace on multiple projects for a major company. You will get lots of different skills depending on what is required for the project, from coding python to configuring routers. If you do not know how to code Python, the university modules will teach you how.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
Individually, BAE and the University are quite organised and structured, but the moment they are intertwined with eachother, forget it. There is a severe lack of communication between the company and the university, that the apprentices tend to know more than the managers do. This has been gradually getting better, but problems still arise.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
2/5
Used to be quite little, but recently more support options have become available, especially with BAE Systems side of the apprenticeship. Generally fine, University support is underwhelming, but occasionally a few lecturers provide sufficient support.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
The amount of support is sufficient, however you will have to take the initiative when it comes to asking for it. If you dont ask for support you arent going to get much, but if you do ask then there should be no problems.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
Most of the time the Universitys content is not related to the work you will be doing at the company at all.
Primarily this is because the University cannot know the specifics of what you will be doing for security reasons, but it will give you a foundation that might be useful in certain job roles.
Primarily this is because the University cannot know the specifics of what you will be doing for security reasons, but it will give you a foundation that might be useful in certain job roles.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
There is one or two notable extra-curricular activities, primarily related to STEM. Sadly most of the work related social activities have stopped though, but occasionally some social events with work will pop up here and there, like Christmas Dinners.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
If you arent interested in Uni Culture, and mind going without it, this apprenticeship worth it 100%.
Work experience is immeasurably useful, you get a degree at the end with no debt needed (even if its not exactly a stellar degree) and it pays well.
Work experience is immeasurably useful, you get a degree at the end with no debt needed (even if its not exactly a stellar degree) and it pays well.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
There are multiple BAE Sites with different apprenticeships, so make use of those when applying, because the apprenticeship is very competitive to get into, and you can reapply yearly if you dont get it.
If you are on the fence about apprenticeships, take my word for it, this one is absolutely worth it.
If you are on the fence about apprenticeships, take my word for it, this one is absolutely worth it.
