Tell us about your background. What have you been doing before starting the course?

I started out at the University of Bristol where I studied Physics, which was really good fun. After graduating, I joined the Royal Navy as an engineer, which is where I was initially introduced to the concept of systems engineering – understanding the whole system and the impact that one part of a system can have on another. Upon leaving the Navy, I continued working as a systems engineer within Defence.

How did you find starting the apprenticeship after time away from education?

I graduated from Bristol in 2014 and started my apprenticeship in 2023, so it had been quite some time. I’ve found it a bit of a learning curve, balancing my day job, my life and my studies. I’m enjoying it, though, and have found my academic tutor a great source of knowledge and advice.

The first coursework was a bit tricky – getting back into academic writing was a challenge. I asked many questions in class and via email and received helpful responses immediately. I also really liked the fact that the tutors took time prior to our teaching weeks to talk us through the software we would be using – a software I had never used before.