Software Engineering Degree Apprentice Review
at MBDA
Degree Apprenticeship
Software Engineering
Stevenage
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
4.6 /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!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.4/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
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.
- Currently, I am working in a cross functional team where I am developing a software side project, as well as supporting the main project, in which I take a role in sorta everything (i.e testing equipment, product building)
- I used to run the software work experience (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.
- Currently, I am working in a cross functional team where I am developing a software side project, as well as supporting the main project, in which I take a role in sorta everything (i.e testing equipment, product building)
- I used to run the software work experience (Optional)
- I attend outreach events (Optional)
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
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.
Last year I had said that university was quite horrible, however, its been a lot more fun in Level 6, as:
- The sessions are more interesting and we get a bit more freedom to experiment.
- Students in my group assignment are now participating, as Level 6 is a major part of your overall grade.
- We now have clear guidance and dates for our EPA :)
Although, our assignments are still quite unclear, and they feel constrained by the word count.
Last year I had said that university was quite horrible, however, its been a lot more fun in Level 6, as:
- The sessions are more interesting and we get a bit more freedom to experiment.
- Students in my group assignment are now participating, as Level 6 is a major part of your overall grade.
- We now have clear guidance and dates for our EPA :)
Although, our assignments are still quite unclear, and they feel constrained by the word count.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
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
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. Also, barista coffees quite cheap :)
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.
