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L6Apprenticeship2001 approved provider
The Level 6 Civil engineer, and the 1 provider delivering it.
Designing, maintaining and decommissioning civil engineering infrastructure.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Civil engineering at this level spans the full lifecycle of infrastructure projects, from initial design through to construction, operation and eventual decommissioning. Apprentices develop technical skills across structural integrity, geotechnics, materials science, water management, transportation and sustainable construction. Alongside the engineering fundamentals, the programme builds competence in project management, stakeholder communication and regulatory compliance. Specialist areas such as tunnelling, marine and coastal engineering, flood management and waste infrastructure may feature depending on the employer and the projects the apprentice is placed on.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Work is typically project-based and varies by employer. An apprentice might spend time producing or reviewing design drawings, running calculations for structural or drainage systems, visiting construction sites to monitor progress against specification, and contributing to technical reports. They will work alongside senior engineers, project managers and other construction professionals, attending design reviews and client meetings as their experience grows. Software tools such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D or specialist analysis packages are commonly used alongside standard office and project management tools.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship leads to a Level 6 degree-equivalent qualification and positions graduates to apply for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status with the Institution of Civil Engineers or similar professional bodies. Typical job titles include Civil Engineer, Design Engineer, Project Engineer and Site Engineer. Employers range from local authorities and government agencies to large engineering consultancies and main contractors. With experience, progression into senior engineering, project management or technical leadership roles is common across infrastructure, transportation, water, and energy sectors.
1 approved provider
Sorted by achievement rate.
Anglia Ruskin University ARU
Employer: 3.0
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is an innovative UK university offering a wide portfolio of learning ...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to roles such as Civil Engineer, Graduate Civil Engineer, or Design Engineer within a consultancy or contracting environment. Some completers move into site-based roles as Site Engineer or Temporary Works Engineer, while those with a stronger design focus may enter as Structural Engineer or Drainage Design Engineer. The qualification is aligned with achieving Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status with a professional engineering institution, which many employers require at this level.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, engineers commonly progress to Senior Civil Engineer or Project Engineer, taking greater responsibility for design packages, client relationships, or site delivery. From there, two broad tracks open up: a technical specialist route leading to Principal Engineer or Technical Director roles in areas such as geotechnics, flood risk, or transportation; and a project management route towards Project Manager, Contracts Manager, or eventually Associate or Director level within a consultancy or contractor. Chartered Engineer (CEng) status is the standard professional benchmark at the senior level.
Where these roles sit
Employers span a wide range of organisations. Engineering consultancies of all sizes, from large multidisciplinary practices to specialist firms, hire at this level, as do civil engineering contractors working on infrastructure, highways, rail, water, and energy projects. The public sector is a consistent source of demand, including local authorities, Highways England, water companies, and Environment Agency. Utility providers and transport bodies also employ civil engineers directly in-house.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning happens alongside employment, with the apprentice applying civil engineering knowledge and skills to real infrastructure projects. Before final assessment, the apprentice must pass a gateway, a readiness check where the employer and training provider confirm that the apprentice has met all programme requirements and can demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of a civil engineer at this level. Final assessment then confirms that the apprentice is competent to work independently across the technical and management demands of the role. Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Because the gateway requires evidence of workplace competence, apprentices should keep records of their engineering work throughout the programme rather than trying to reconstruct it at the end. That means documenting project involvement, technical decisions, and professional development as they go. Working closely with both the employer and training provider from an early stage helps ensure the evidence gathered reflects the full breadth of the standard, including areas such as sustainability, structural integrity, and project management, rather than only the parts of the role the apprentice encounters most often.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile, and ideally above 75% given the five-year duration and the academic rigour of a Level 6 programme. Employer satisfaction scores carry particular weight here: civil engineering apprentices work across live project environments, so a provider should have structured relationships with employers in infrastructure, highways, utilities or water sectors, not just generic construction contacts. Check that the provider delivers the standard against an accredited degree pathway, and that off-the-job learning includes access to relevant site-based and laboratory facilities, not solely classroom instruction.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers showing high apprentice numbers but falling achievement rates over consecutive years, as this can signal poor pastoral support across a long programme. Vague answers about how the provider integrates academic learning with on-site experience are worth probing. If a provider cannot point to alumni now working in civil or infrastructure engineering roles, or cannot explain how they keep curriculum content current with industry standards such as Eurocodes or BIM Level 2 requirements, that is a meaningful concern. Opaque arrangements around end-point assessment preparation should also prompt further questions.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Which degree-awarding body is the apprenticeship aligned to, and is that qualification recognised by the Institution of Civil Engineers or the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation?
- How does the programme keep technical content current, for example around digital design tools, BIM workflows, or updated structural and geotechnical standards?
- What does the off-the-job learning include in terms of laboratory access, site visits, or practical project work?
- How do you support apprentices through the end-point assessment, and what does your completion rate look like for this specific standard?
- Can you connect us with employers currently using this programme in a similar sector or project type?
- What pastoral support is in place for a five-year programme, particularly at transition points between academic and workplace phases?
- How do you handle apprentices whose employer changes during the programme?
Common questions
What qualifications or experience does someone need to start a civil engineer apprenticeship?
Apprentices typically need strong A-levels or equivalent qualifications, often including maths and a science or engineering subject. Some employers also accept relevant HNC or HND qualifications, or prior experience in a technical construction role. Each employer sets their own entry criteria, so requirements vary. The apprentice must be employed for the duration of the programme, and the role needs to involve genuine civil engineering work across design, construction, or infrastructure management.
How long does the apprenticeship last and what does the learning commitment look like?
The typical duration for this apprenticeship is 60 months. Apprentices are employed throughout and complete their learning alongside their day job. Off-the-job training is built into working hours, not added on top. The minimum duration and off-the-job training requirements are subject to revision under current Skills England reforms, so check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education pages at gov.uk before planning a start.
How is the apprenticeship assessed and what is the end-point assessment?
Before completing, the apprentice must reach the gateway, at which point the employer, training provider, and apprentice confirm that the required knowledge, skills, and behaviours have been demonstrated. Assessment models for many standards are currently being reviewed under Skills England reforms, so the specific end-point assessment method may change. Check the current assessment plan on gov.uk for the latest requirements before enrolling.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
The funding band for this standard is £27,000, which is the maximum that can be drawn from the apprenticeship levy or government co-investment to cover training and assessment costs. Levy-paying employers (those with a payroll above £3 million) use their Digital Apprenticeship Service account. Smaller employers pay 5% of the funding band, with government covering the remaining 95%. Employers taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 may pay nothing, depending on their size.
What does a civil engineer apprentice actually do at work each day?
Day-to-day work varies by employer and project stage, but typically involves contributing to the design and analysis of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, drainage systems, or flood defences. Apprentices carry out calculations, prepare technical drawings, attend site visits, liaise with contractors and consultants, and support project management tasks. Over time, they take on more technical responsibility, working across lifecycle stages from initial design through to construction and sometimes maintenance or decommissioning.
What can a civil engineer apprentice do after completing the programme?
Completion at Level 6 is aligned with the educational base required for Incorporated Engineer (IEng) registration with a professional engineering institution such as the Institution of Civil Engineers. With further experience and development, progression to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status is achievable. Career paths include senior engineering roles, project or programme management, technical specialism, or consultancy. Employers in local authorities, central government, contracting firms, and consultancy practices all offer progression routes for qualified civil engineers.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 200.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.