Systems Engineering Master’s Degree Apprenticeship MSc

London, Bloomsbury

This programme aims to equip you with an integrated, interdisciplinary view of complex systems and systems engineering. The programme has been specifically designed for the needs of engineering professionals working in the field of complex systems development. The programme encompasses not only the technical tools and approaches needed to build success in this area, but also the management dimension of the relevant processes.

UK students International students
Study mode
Flexible
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
See Fees Note
Fees for this programme are available on request from the department.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
See Fees Note
Fees for this programme are available on request from the department.
Duration
Up To 5 Years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Entry requirements

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related subject (STEM subject – science, technology, engineering or mathematics) from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants without a Level 6 STEM subject qualification will be considered only with significant relevant experience. Candidates must have current employment in an engineering/technology-focused organisation, and commitment from the employer to provide mentoring necessary for the vocational component. Applicants must expect to spend at least 50% of their working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The MSc programme consists of 6 taught modules and 3 research activities. Five of the taught modules are compulsory and you may select one from a list of options. The apprenticeship also ensures that you will gain direct experience of applying the systems engineering process in real-world situations through significant relevant projects undertaken with your employer. The programme has been designed to map to the existing Systems Engineering Master’s Degree Apprenticeship standard. You will be assigned a UCL Personal Tutor and an Employer Mentor.

Who this course is for

Applicants must have current employment in an engineering/technology-focused organisation within the UK. They must have the commitment from their employer to provide the time and mentoring necessary for the vocational component.

What this course will give you

This MSc combines academic rigour with the practical expertise exemplified by our collaborators in UK industry and government.

The programme combines lectures, group exercises and case studies to reinforce key points. Lecturers are experts in the field, many of whom have engaged in the practice of systems engineering in industry, and all of whom oversee research across a broad range of subjects relating to systems engineering, project management and technology management.

Industry is operating in an environment where technology changes rapidly, and where global competition grows ever more intensive. The challenge to remain competitive means we must make the right thing at the right price. Our MSc equips graduates with the skills to meet this challenge.

The foundation of your career

Graduates are expected to go on to become leaders (for example systems engineering managers or technical leaders/design authorities) in engineering and technology organisations in a range of sectors including rail, aerospace, and management consulting companies.

Employability

On completing this programme, you will already be employed (since employment is an entry requirement to this programme as part of an apprenticeship scheme).Through the scheme you will develop a broad range of skills and knowledge as outlined in the learning outcomes section below.

Networking

Our programmes attract students who are already in work from a variety of companies and sectors. There are opportunities during teaching events to discuss and compare experiences. In some modules we invite industry speakers as part of the teaching. Alongside the module teaching we have a Professional Skills development series which typically includes talks from industry professionals, from alumni now in work and industry visits.

Accreditation

The academic component of the apprenticeship programme (MSc Systems Engineering Management) is accredited by the IET. The apprenticeship also provides a route towards the knowledge, experience and competence required to apply for INCOSE CSEP and Chartered Engineer (CEng) status.

Teaching and learning

Classes are taught in small class (up to 30 students per class) teaching blocks, supported with case readings, discussions, short exercises and extended case studies. We will provide you with pre- and post-class reading, together with a subject-specific bibliography for each module. You will acquire intellectual skills primarily by participation in discussion groups and syndicate exercises, which will form a major component of each teaching block.

Vocational activities will provide the mechanism for you to build on the underpinning academic knowledge and skills and develop and refine them through applying them on real work problems and projects. These activities will involve undertaking various aspects of the systems engineering role on real projects, applying and reflecting on concepts introduced in the MSc element. It is this experience and application that will develop you into a practitioner-level systems engineer.

The student’s grasp of the principal points covered in taught modules will be assessed by a combination of coursework and unseen examinations. In addition, the student’s understanding of systems engineering is expected to be demonstrated in the research activities, which are assessed through reports and presentations.

It is expected that reflective and progressive learning and understanding is captured and recorded throughout the apprenticeship in the apprentice’s ‘logbook’ or development record. Within this record, each apprentice will collate evidence of activities undertaken, what they have achieved and a reflection of the knowledge and competencies they have gained.

While on programme, the apprentice will prepare a portfolio of evidence, which in conjunction with the apprentice’s logbook/development record, will provide an input for the end point assessment, which will be used to confirm achievement of the apprenticeship Standard’s aims. The end point assessment will also include a presentation and an interview, and will be conducted by a qualified independent review.

Further information on all aspects of the assessment including roles and role requirements can be found here:

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/systems-engineer-degree-v1-2

A taught module (15 credits) is assumed to require around 150 hours of study. This time is made up of formal learning and teaching events such as lectures, seminars and tutorials, as well as independent study.

Around 24 of these 150 hours will be taken with live teaching events and group work, but a significant proportion is independent study time. This includes working through the reading and recorded lectures, researching and responding to the assignment and, where applicable, revision for the exam.

For students on this programme, taught modules are delivered in a block format with contact hours of around 24 hours per block week. Modules in block mode are delivered from Monday to Thursday, and the number of block weeks will depend on the modules selected.

Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, students are expected to use their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments. Students are expected to interact with tutors via the Moodle forums before and after class sessions. There are also additional welcome and wrap-up sessions online totalling 3-4 hours per taught module.

In term three and the summer period students will be completing the final report of the research project, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisor.

Modules

You will undertake modules to the value of 180 credits, consisting of 90 credits of ‘taught’ content and 90 credits of ‘research’ content. Taught modules: Five compulsory taught modules must be taken, with one optional taught module (15 credits each). See below for details. Research modules: You will take one compulsory reflective report module (15 credits), one compulsory project concept module (15 credits) and a 60-credit major individual research project. Since this is a flexible mode programme, you will have the option of spreading modules over 1-3 years and then taking the research modules in the following 1-2 years (five years maximum).

The main difference between the diet of this programme and the established SEM MSc programme is that one of the optional modules from SEM (Systems Design) is compulsory on this programme. This reflects the needs of the SE apprenticeship standard to provide more coverage on aspects such as requirements and design.

This is a non-integrated Level 7 apprenticeship programme, consisting of an MSc (as described above) and a separately assessed vocational component. The MSc is delivered in parallel to the vocational component as described in the figure below (extracted from the SE apprenticeship standard assessment plan).

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Systems Engineering Master’s Degree Apprenticeship.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) See Fees Note
Tuition fees (2025/26) See Fees Note

Fees for this programme are available on request from the department.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Next steps

Recognition of prior learning will be addressed using the standard UCL apprenticeship application form. This will identify whether prior learning (either accredited or experience-based) means that any of the taught modules may be skipped. In addition, students that have completed some MSc modules of the MSc Systems Engineering Management but have not completed the qualification should be allowed to apply for RPL if they want to transfer onto this programme.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.