Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist (Software Engineering) MSc

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Develop leadership and technology leadership skills you can directly apply in the workplace. Learn from university academics with a strong track record in industry-related disciplines. Enhance your specialist areas of software engineering and develop skills to build a digital solution focused leadership team.

Overview

The Level 7 Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist is a masters degree apprenticeship designed to train and develop technical professionals into leaders in their specialist area.

The apprenticeship combines theory and practical-based applications in software engineering, project management and leadership. This apprenticeship is designed to help you to develop digital and technology strategies drawing on leadership skills and identifying and implementing technological solutions.

The course has been developed with the support of the Institute of Coding, a network of employers, universities, training providers and professional bodies working together to create the skills needed for the digital economy. The course has also been developed and co-designed with a range of industry partners including DXC Technology, Grid Smart Cities, Tombola and the NHS.

Why us?

Our apprenticeship was designed in conjunction with employers making it industry relevant and tailored to meet the needs of a wide range of industry partners
The design of the apprenticeship brings digital technology and business requirements together and enables apprentices to examine and apply new developments in specialist areas of computer science

Apprentices experience a wide range of contextual learning activities so that they are well prepared to work individually and in teams on analytical problem solving, and in practical scenarios of design, building, testing and evaluating business and software solutions

Course structure

This apprenticeship is a mixture of university-based learning and work-based training. With support from the employer, you are required to spend 20% of paid working hours on ‘off the job’ learning activities. This involves university-based learning attendance one day per week, coupled with self-directed study.

You will complete a mix of web-based, face-to-face and independent learning.

There are six modules which are taught consecutively and must be passed for the MSc Digital and Technical Solutions degree to be awarded.

A variety of assessment methods are used including written assignments, presentations and peer reviews. Assessments will directly relate to and benefit your job roles.

Postgraduate Certificate

Software Engineering Principles (30 credits)

Apply software engineering tools and techniques in the production of digital and technology solutions using skills acquired throughout the module. Gain the knowledge and skills to professionally and systematically develop software solutions and learn that software engineering is more than just programming; such as code quality and risk factors. Critically undertake examination and analysis of case study material and current research papers/reports and develop the research skills and techniques contextualized to the Software Engineering domain.

Technical Project Management (30 credits)

Develop both theoretical and practical skills in different project management methodologies and apply them in a work-based environment. Look at the main aspects of project management from assessing project feasibility through to project closure together with generic tools and approaches that will make project management more efficient and effective. Apply learnt skills, for example, in the evaluation of a live or historical project which has been selected by the employer or their client. Develop your knowledge of management issues and processes in such a way that this may be applied in other management situations and not just in project management.

Postgraduate Diploma

Software Platforms, Infrastructure and Deployment (30 credits)

Gain the knowledge, understanding, and practice of modern software delivery using DevOps and Cloud Computing, and learn how to apply these skills in a work-based context. The module focuses on the theory and practice of DevOps – which is the ability of an organisation to deliver high-quality software applications at speed and Cloud Computing – namely the processes and practices for building scalable applications in the cloud. Explore and assess microservices architectures implementing RESTful APIs.

Digital Transformation Leadership (30 credits)

Develop both theoretical and practical skills in digital transformation leadership and their application in a work based project/scenario, which will form part of your assessment. Critically explore leadership models and how these are applied in the context of technological and organisational change. Consider the nature of individual leadership styles and their subsequent impact to lead teams, manage stakeholders and deliver successful digital and technology solutions. Develop your learning strategy which utilises theoretical perspectives to explore the nature of leadership within technology enabled business processes.

Masters

DTSL7 (Masters) Project Module (60 credits)

Take the knowledge and skills gained from the taught modules to a higher level. Consider social, ethical, professional and legal issues when designing your study and underpin the approach and all communication with the client. Develop, for your employer or client/customer, a deliverable commensurate with the course objectives such as the development of a technically challenging artefact (e.g. a software engineered solution involving full stack development).

EPA01 End Point Assessment (0 credits)

Demonstrate that you have attained the skills, knowledge and behaviours set out on the apprenticeship standard. The EPA consists of two parts which you must pass in order for the MSc to be awarded. The first is a Project Report, which will comprise of a written account of a set of practical tasks undertaken within a work-based DTSL7 (Masters) project. The second will be a Professional Discussion, a structured discussion with the independent assessor where you will be required to respond to questions about your e-portfolio.

Facilities

The David Goldman Informatics Centre features an open plan area made up of terraces which contain nearly 250 workstations comprising PCs and MACs. The computers are installed with all the necessary software packages and are usually available on an open access basis, every weekday, from 7am til 9pm.

A range of free software is also available through volume licensing with partners such as Adobe, Symantec, Microsoft and Cisco.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

We usually require applicants to hold an honours degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent in a computing or related non-computing discipline (mathematics, statistics, engineering).

Applications are also considered from apprentices with five years' relevant business or industry experience.

Your employers are also required to allocate suitable live or historical projects where you can apply your learning and skills.

To search for apprenticeships offered by employers in your area go to: gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Fees and finance

Larger organisations can use their apprenticeship levy and government top-up to pay tuition and professional fees of higher apprenticeships. For smaller employers, the government pays 95%, with the remainder co-invested by the business.

For a discussion around your specific requirements please call 0191 515 3361 or email apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Student in the Sunderland Futures department

Career ready

This Digital and Technology Solutions Specialist degree apprenticeship can be the start of your exciting new career. It will enable you to gain a masters degree, while also gaining invaluable 'on the job' experience.

On graduating, it will provide an opportunity to consider a variety of senior roles within the tech sector as well as increasingly non tech sectors.

Meet our apprentices and employers

Lecturers are really supportive - it's very much a two-way street, very collaborative.

Matthew Graham

Related courses

Contact

For a discussion around your specific requirements please contact:

0191 515 3361 / apprenticeships@sunderland.ac.uk

If you’re looking to start an apprenticeship, it is the employer that will advertise this opportunity, not the University. To search for apprenticeships offered by employers in your area go to: gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Page last updated: 07 March 2023

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