JourneyApprenticeshipsControl systems engineer (degree)

Control systems engineer (degree)

Level 6 · DegreeEngineering and manufacturing 3.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship

What it involves

The Control Systems Engineer degree apprenticeship trains you to design, commission, and maintain the automated control systems that run industrial processes in sectors including energy, pharmaceuticals, water treatment, and manufacturing. You will work with Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), SCADA, and instrumentation to keep complex plant operating safely and efficiently. This Level 6 programme leads to careers as a control and instrumentation engineer, automation engineer, or process control specialist.

On the job

What you’ll learn

Control theory - feedback loops, PID tuning, and process dynamics
PLC and DCS programming using IEC 61131-3 languages
SCADA systems and human-machine interface (HMI) design
Process instrumentation - sensors, transmitters, valves, and actuators
Functional safety standards including IEC 61511 and IEC 61508
Systems integration, commissioning, and factory acceptance testing
On the job

What you’ll do day to day

Design and programme control logic for industrial processes and plant
Commission new control systems and carry out site acceptance tests
Diagnose faults in PLC, DCS, and instrumentation systems
Configure and tune PID control loops for process optimisation
Produce control system documentation including cause and effect matrices
Support project teams during plant shutdowns, upgrades, and modifications
The deal

How this apprenticeship works

You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there

What you need to start

Level 6 (Degree) - roughly Bachelor’s-degree level. Usually needs A-levels or a Level 3 qualification (employers set UCAS-point targets). You earn a full degree while you work - with no tuition fees to pay.
What’s next: Leads into professional roles, sometimes with a Level 7 (Master’s) apprenticeship after.

Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.

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What it’s really like

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