Software Engineer Degree Apprentice Review
at BAE Systems
Degree Apprenticeship
Computer Science, Computer Systems Engineering, Engineering, Front-end Development, Information Technology, Software Engineering, UX/UI Design
Yeovil
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
3.6 /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
5/5
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Skills Development
3.4/5
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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
Starting out on the apprenticeship, for the first couple of years, my responsibility was almost exclusively running tests and updating documentation (such a user manuals). It got repetitive and menial, but helped me pick up the more general skills such as how different teams communicate on a daily basis, the different workflow structures (agile, waterfall etc.) used to develop software (which ones were used by each team and why), and common processes like setting up development environments and version control tools.
After this, I was moved on to take code implementation responsibilities within the teams I was on. This was a lot more interesting to me and saw me take on some major responsibility, particularly when working on smaller teams. Overall, I've had experience across the entire software development life cycle
After this, I was moved on to take code implementation responsibilities within the teams I was on. This was a lot more interesting to me and saw me take on some major responsibility, particularly when working on smaller teams. Overall, I've had experience across the entire software development life cycle
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
Aside form the work I was doing on the clock, I had a degree and a diploma to complete.
The degree was covered financially by the company, and I found it quite easy since I knew most of what we covered already from my placement work.
The diploma was managed horrendously, there was next to no guidance from the section of the business meant to be helping us, and my entire cohort was completely lost and got pretty much nothing done during this period. After this, some reforms were made to the staff appointed to us, and it got much better - to a more than acceptable level. However, by this point we had lost 2 of the 4 years it was expected the diploma would be completed within, and the business was reluctant to give us any extensions. This led to a lot of stress and cramming to complete 4 years of work within just over 2 (After a lot of pushing for it, minor extensions were awarded, but not nearly the 2 years we had lost out on). I understand that the diploma completion process has been overhauled, and the recent intakes are having a much better time than I did, which is great to hear.
The degree was covered financially by the company, and I found it quite easy since I knew most of what we covered already from my placement work.
The diploma was managed horrendously, there was next to no guidance from the section of the business meant to be helping us, and my entire cohort was completely lost and got pretty much nothing done during this period. After this, some reforms were made to the staff appointed to us, and it got much better - to a more than acceptable level. However, by this point we had lost 2 of the 4 years it was expected the diploma would be completed within, and the business was reluctant to give us any extensions. This led to a lot of stress and cramming to complete 4 years of work within just over 2 (After a lot of pushing for it, minor extensions were awarded, but not nearly the 2 years we had lost out on). I understand that the diploma completion process has been overhauled, and the recent intakes are having a much better time than I did, which is great to hear.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Learned something new every day, more often it was minor things like common techniques and processes, but got to gain experience with a huge number of new tools and programming languages. Also had personal meetings with customers to build up skills relevant to that also
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
Sort of covered this in a previous question, but the only major issues I had were with the diploma section of the apprenticeship. It was structured very poorly and was almost impossible to understand, until it was explained in depth a couple years later. This was all fixed with the overhauls to the schemes structure, though.
The degree was structured well, no complaints there, but some of the placement teams did not have the capacity to take on and train up apprentices, but received them anyway. This didn't benefit the team or the apprentice whenever this happened.
The degree was structured well, no complaints there, but some of the placement teams did not have the capacity to take on and train up apprentices, but received them anyway. This didn't benefit the team or the apprentice whenever this happened.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
Within my placement work, received all the support I needed in most of the teams I worked on, with the exception of a couple that were not equipped to take on apprentices.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
2/5
University was not very supportive - I personally didn't need any support but there were others in my cohort who I found myself supporting in the university's stead.
Support for diploma was next to nothing for the first 2 years, then I received a lot of support form that point on - but had still effectively lost out on 2 years.
Support for diploma was next to nothing for the first 2 years, then I received a lot of support form that point on - but had still effectively lost out on 2 years.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
University mainly just gave me more opportunity to practice software development, and the skills involved in that, everything else I had either already learned from day to say work, or was not relevant to my role.
Diploma was useful as self-reflection, but I dont feel as if it has actually helped me in any way.
Diploma was useful as self-reflection, but I dont feel as if it has actually helped me in any way.
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, but I am not involved in any currently.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BAE Systems to a friend?
Yes
Why?
While I have had major issues with the structure of the apprenticeship through the course, the business has clearly taken feedback from myself and others in my cohort to address these issues. The experience the new apprentices we're taking on have had so far has been much better.
While some the work I've done has been boring or menial, I have had the opportunity to work on some really cool, cutting edge stuff, which I've personally been very invested in.
While some the work I've done has been boring or menial, I have had the opportunity to work on some really cool, cutting edge stuff, which I've personally been very invested in.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BAE Systems?
if you're stuck doing boring work, there are multiple available ways to move onto something more interesting
