Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Review
at MBDA
Degree Apprenticeship
Software Engineering
Stevenage
Review Submitted: May 2025
Overall Rating
3.7 /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
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
3.2/5
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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
For my apprenticeship, I move around placements every 6 months. As part of this I get to try many different software teams, and even some outside of software, so that I can get a good overview of how the department works, the many different ways of doing things, and the place I would like to go afterwards.
Regarding my responsibilities:
- I am required to attend university on average once a week, and complete the assignments we get given.
- I work as part of a team to produce high quality software, with any safety standard like DO178-C being met.
- Currently, I run the software work experience along side my main responsibilities (Optional)
- I attend outreach events (Optional)
Regarding my responsibilities:
- I am required to attend university on average once a week, and complete the assignments we get given.
- I work as part of a team to produce high quality software, with any safety standard like DO178-C being met.
- Currently, I run the software work experience along side my main responsibilities (Optional)
- I attend outreach events (Optional)
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I absolutely love the work side of it, as there is always something to do, and the people around me are just fantastic, as they are always willing to help me where needed, and my ideas are actually considered, and utilised.
Whereas the University side is absolutely horrible, as:
- The session are incredibly boring
- When doing group work in lectures most of the team never participate.
- Assignments are unclear on what they want us to do.
- Communication with the university about EPA and other stuff is pretty horrible.
Whereas the University side is absolutely horrible, as:
- The session are incredibly boring
- When doing group work in lectures most of the team never participate.
- Assignments are unclear on what they want us to do.
- Communication with the university about EPA and other stuff is pretty horrible.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Team working as I am constantly working side by side with my colleagues to develop software.
Time management as I am balancing work, work experience, my university, and my life.
My interview and reviewing of applications skills were hugely developed when completing them for our work experience program.
Communication skills as I am always in office speaking to people, and when things are taking a while, I usually ring them up to ask what is going on. Also, I have to be critical and clear during meetings to ensure that many issues are ironed out. In addition to that I need to talk technically with my colleagues.
Presentation skills have improved a lot as I used to be extremely nervous, and although I still am a bit, I am pretty confident in presenting.
Time management as I am balancing work, work experience, my university, and my life.
My interview and reviewing of applications skills were hugely developed when completing them for our work experience program.
Communication skills as I am always in office speaking to people, and when things are taking a while, I usually ring them up to ask what is going on. Also, I have to be critical and clear during meetings to ensure that many issues are ironed out. In addition to that I need to talk technically with my colleagues.
Presentation skills have improved a lot as I used to be extremely nervous, and although I still am a bit, I am pretty confident in presenting.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Every 6 months, I get to move to a placement of my choice. I can either contact a placement manager and ask for the placement, or I can pick from a selection of choices.
On the first 2 years of the apprenticeship we have a training course in Wales known as Compass.
On the first 2 years of the apprenticeship we have a training course in Wales known as Compass.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I am always given the time to do my university work.
I receive feedback constantly, either through my team directly or the end of placement reviews that we have, enabling me to improve further.
If I need help everyone around me is always happy to help me.
I am, also, encouraged to seek opportunities such as outreach and running the work experience program.
I receive feedback constantly, either through my team directly or the end of placement reviews that we have, enabling me to improve further.
If I need help everyone around me is always happy to help me.
I am, also, encouraged to seek opportunities such as outreach and running the work experience program.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
1/5
We have not been given easy to find resources for our EPA.
Assignments are often unclear on what they want us to do.
Marks are often given out inaccurately, with little feedback, and late.
Often it feels like feedback given to them is brushed off.
Communication on important matters such as marks being delayed, EPA's, and assignments is often poor.
Assignments are often unclear on what they want us to do.
Marks are often given out inaccurately, with little feedback, and late.
Often it feels like feedback given to them is brushed off.
Communication on important matters such as marks being delayed, EPA's, and assignments is often poor.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
Alot of the modules we have been taught I feel like I already know from work or is pretty useless to my role. (i.e professional skills, business and society, and digital world).
Although, I can agree that I have improved on quite a few skills through uni, such as leading a team, presenting, and writing documents.
Although, I can agree that I have improved on quite a few skills through uni, such as leading a team, presenting, and writing documents.
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
Christmas Work Do. Thursday Pub, for ECPs created by first year grads / apprentices. Badminton club. Summer balls for ECPs. The apprentice big meet - London. TedxCranfield. IPT Parliament Tour. Department outings.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend MBDA to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It an absolutely amazing workplace that has given me a huge amount of support in growing myself, and others around me.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to MBDA?
I would highly recommend looking up on what we do and our 5 values. Then show values in your application in interviews and applications. For example, for passion you could bring up a personal project that relates. Mine was that I tried building a webserver that allows me to turn off and on my computer remotely, using an ESP32-S3.
