Engineering - Apprenticeship Level 2

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Full-time
Start date: 4th September 2023
End date: 20th February 2026

Course fee: FREE (See eligibility criteria)

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What is an Apprenticeship?
As an apprenticeship you are employed as full-time members of staff and typically work for an employer three to four days a week. One or two days a week is spent at college, studying for nationally-recognised qualifications in the same profession as the apprenticeship.

• You must find your own employer
• Some employers may require GCSEs on entry
• It might be possible to do an apprenticeship with a current employer
• You work all year round, but your College classes run from September to July
• Employers pay for the day the apprentice is in college, meaning you will receive a full-time wage at least in accordance with the national minimum wage

Details and restrictions

• Apprentices must be aged 16 or above. Restrictions apply for those over 25. (Age restrictions currently under review by the Department for the Economy)
• Employers must be based in Northern Ireland
• Apprenticeships are part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department for the Economy (DfE)

  

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Course Content

The engineering course is designed to meet industry standards and provides a good grounding for you to go out into the workplace.

Units may include:

• Applied electrical and mechanical science for engineering
• Engineering Maintenance Procedures
• Preparing and Controlling Engineering
• Manufacturing Operations
• Electronic Devices and Communication
• Engineering Assembly Methods and Techniques
• Selecting and Using Secondary Machining
• Techniques to Remove Material
• Application of Welding Processes
• Fabrication techniques and sheet metal work
• Electronic Circuit Construction
• MMA Welding

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Course Update

Please note that due to ongoing major campus construction projects courses at Ballymena, Coleraine and Ballymoney may be relocated to alternative suitable locations as required.

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You must:

• Have attained the minimum school leaving age of 16 (currently under review by the Department for the Economy)
• Be employed or be about to take up permanent paid employment with a Northern Ireland-based company and be contracted to work a minimum of 21 hours per week (including day release/off- the-job training) with one employer
• The potential to successfully complete all the requirements of the appropriate Level 2 Apprenticeship Framework
• Meet any health requirements (eg colour vision) specific to the occupation of their choice
• Achieved any necessary entry academic qualifications (eg GCSE) determined by the relevant sector for the apprenticeship and approved by the Department for the Economy
• Pass any entry tests specified by the relevant sector/employer and approved by the Department for the Economy.
• Attend an information session.

In the event of oversubscription, the College reserves the right to apply enhanced criteria.  See our Apprenticeship page for further details.

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Following successful completion of the Level 2 Apprenticeship you may be able to progress to the Level 3 Apprenticeship or to employment in the field you have studied in.

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