Test Engineer Review
at IBM
Degree Apprenticeship
Software Engineering
Towcester
Review Submitted: March 2026
Overall Rating
3.4 /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!
3.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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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
Every day is different depending on the project and where we are within that project. Currently we start the day with a stand up with the rest of the test team before working on our individual tasks. I'm currently working on reviewing various deliverable documents as well as supporting the work towards performance testing as we are currently within the detailed design phase of my current project.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
There were definitely some challenges throughout my time, the programme was almost fully remote with only bootcamps in the first two years being in person; but with being remote it was also self-paced as opposed to live lectures on a set day. I believe this did make the programme fairly isolating and there could have been more opportunities for collaboration between the whole cohort.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I previously completed a Level 4 apprenticeship with the company so did spend some of the degree programme developing existing skills. I did also learn new skills throughout my time but sometimes found these difficult to translate into my everyday role due to the nature of the projects I worked on.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
Being fully remote it can be difficult to know who to contact for support whether that be general support or academic support. It was clear to see the progression in learning throughout the course and build upon skills linearly.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I received great support from my manager throughout my time, even when things were difficult within my personal. Being a consultant on various projects made it difficult to always get the allocated off the job hours and the support from projects did vary.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
I personally never contacted any lecture's for support within my time as I felt fairly isolated from the rest of the university due to the remote nature of the programme. All 'lectures' were prerecorded which did not help with this feeling. My apprenticeship advisor (who we would meet with every 8-12 weeks roughly) also changed various times throughout my programme, I believe I had 4 different advisors which made it difficult to form a familiarity with them. During my EPA, my academic advisor was quite often late to meetings or did not show up at all so I only met with him twice during this time at the beginning of working on my EPA.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I have a lot more knowledge surrounding the other areas forming IT organisations. There are some modules that I do not actively use every day but I can see how I will use this training in the future as my career develops and I move in to different 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.)
3/5
I work fully remotely so not applicable to me.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend IBM to a friend?
Yes
Why?
There are various courses and roles available within IBM as well as a culture for growth and expanding skills.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to IBM?
Be honest with what you know and what you don't know, IBM typically looks at the individual and how they are for learning, not necessarily a finished product at the interview stage.
