Aerospace Engineering Degree Apprentice Review
at Airbus
Degree Apprenticeship
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
Bristol
Review Submitted: April 2025
Overall Rating
4.3 /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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.8/5
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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
Within a work based placement, perform/assist in engineering activities. Day-to-day this means working with experienced engineers on real engineering problems/activities that the company is partaking in, this can range from working on existing aircraft to working on future projects and getting a chance to develop new ideas.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I have thoroughly enjoyed my apprenticeship so far, especially since I have learnt more about the alternative (university). Being paid a salary whilst gaining real world engineering experience and studying a degree is perfect for me. I have had the opportunity to work on engineering projects with real world impacts.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Over the course of the program so far I have developed many skills that I use regularly. The company places a strong emphasis on upskilling its workforce. I have developed hard skills on company systems, 3D modelling etc and also soft skills that I use regularly such as public speaking.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
Whilst there have been some issues with communication between apprentices, the business and the training provider, overall there has been a solid structure. Any problems that do happen are quickly changed and if there is no possibility for change, mitigating actions are put in place to reduce the impact on apprentices.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive support from every possible source, both in the early careers team that manage my apprenticeship to work based placement managers that are very understanding of the stress of an apprenticeship to the training provider team that handle the degree side of the apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
Support provided is significant, compared to a normal university we have a much closer relationship with our training provider given the the apprentices are trained separately. This means instead of large lecture halls, it is a small classroom where our lecturers can provided a more 1-to-1 experience.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Working within my work based placements I have found that not every area of my degree is useful, this is understandable though given that many areas of my degree are very different to each other and tend to operate far apart in the world of real engineering.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
My company places a lot of importance on both professional and personal development, ensuring there are many networking events for apprentices to build their network. Additionally, as an apprentice I am encouraged to participate in STEM outreach activities to schools within the area to help build the next generation of engineers
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Airbus to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I have been provided with many opportunities to develop professionally and personally, being afforded the option to live and work independently so early on in my career is something that is very important to me. I have developed as an engineer rapidly thanks to working with real engineers.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Airbus?
Research the business, what impacts have they had on the aerospace industry? Is an apprenticeship what you want? They have a lot of benefits but are a lot more effort than a direct university route. What are you doing now that could benefit your development? Airbus likes to see that you are actively bettering yourself, potentially through soft skill development
