Academic Professional Apprenticeship (APA)

Why choose Academic Professional Apprenticeship (APA)

The Academic Professional Apprenticeship (APA) programme is an apprenticeship which is funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The programme at Middlesex University has been specifically designed to enable the development of the exact Knowledge, Skills and professional Behaviours (KSBs) required by the nationally approved Level 7 Apprenticeship Standard.

Why study the APA at Middlesex University?

On successful completion of your degree apprenticeship you will have gained:

• A Middlesex University degree (PGCert HE / APA)
• An Apprenticeship Certificate demonstrating that you have met the national
  Apprenticeship Standard for full occupational competence as an APA
• Professional recognition/status as a FHEA with the Advance HE
• 18 months applicable work experience working in the professional sector of your choice.

Degree apprenticeships at Middlesex take an integrated approach to your work and your education and therefore your programme has been designed with consideration for the typical work duties you will carry out as your time in employment progresses.

All apprenticeships delivered in England require that a minimum of 20% of your overall programme hours be categorised as ‘Off-the-Job training. The remaining 80% (or less) of the training hours within your programme take place through the completion of your regular workplace duties. We believe as a University that this integrated approach will make for an effective and coherent learning experience for you by learning applicable KSBs in a structured way which makes sense with your employers business goals and will as a result, allow you to hold a more positive, impactful position in the workplace.

The main benefit to you is that you will be allocated protected time during the period of the apprenticeship (minimum 18 months) where you will engage with a range of learning tasks, workshops, and time spent with a designated mentor. Of course, you will also benefit through achieving a nationally recognised higher education teaching qualification (PGCert HE) and the award of FHEA.

Key Benefits for the NHS Trusts

The apprenticeship allows the Trusts to draw down apprenticeship levy funding for this important staff development activity. It will provide an enriched professional development programme for staff new to learning and teaching at HE level. The implementation of the APA demonstrates a commitment to educators and academic staff and their CPD, raising levels of staff satisfaction. Importantly, if staff feel well equipped and confident to provide learners with innovative and learner-centred experiences then everyone will benefit.

• We normally make offers on second class honours degree 2:2 or above in an appropriate subject
• Applicants are required to be employed in a role that will enable them to engage in work activities that are relevant to developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to operate as an APA
• It is essential that applicants are already teaching students in Higher Education. Applicants should have a minimum of 100 hours of teaching at university level 4 or above over the duration of the course to be able to reflect on their current teaching experience and thus be able to reflect on their current teaching experience and thus complete the course assignments, including teaching observations
• Level 2 English and Maths