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L6Apprenticeship4771 approved provider
The Level 6 Materials Science Technologist (Degree), and the 1 provider delivering it.
Ensuring materials are fit for purpose for a wide range of different industries.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices develop the technical and professional skills needed to work with materials across industries including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, defence, and energy. The programme covers materials testing and analysis, failure diagnosis, product and process development, and laboratory management. Apprentices also build capability in client-facing work, including technical consultancy and business development. Depending on the employer's specialism, this may extend to additive manufacturing, polymer and ceramic science, rheology, or the design of advanced materials for specific applications such as prosthetics, battery components, or protective coatings.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Week to week, an apprentice might carry out mechanical or chemical testing on client materials, investigate failures through physical evidence and data analysis, and write up findings with clear recommendations. They may contribute to new product development projects, assist with laboratory management, and work alongside cross-functional teams on scale-up or proof-of-concept initiatives. Client contact is a realistic part of the role, whether that means presenting results, supporting technical sales, or advising on material selection. Work takes place in laboratories, offices, and occasionally on site.
Career outlook
Graduates from this programme typically move into roles such as materials tester, R&D technologist, development engineer, technical service specialist, or quality assurance engineer. Some move into technical sales or consultancy, particularly in organisations that serve industrial clients across multiple sectors. Employers range from specialist testing laboratories and SME manufacturers to large aerospace, pharmaceutical, and defence contractors. With experience, progression into senior technical, project management, or business development roles is a common path.
1 approved provider
Sorted by achievement rate.
Blackpool and The Fylde College
Employer: 4.0
Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) offers a wide range of technical and professional education o...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Graduates typically move into roles such as Materials Development Engineer, Graduate Materials Scientist, R&D Technologist, or Materials Tester. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Technologist positions are a common entry point in manufacturing and production environments. Those with stronger commercial instincts often start as Technical Service Specialists or Graduate Technical Sales Executives, managing client relationships while applying materials knowledge in a consultancy or sales context.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, most practitioners advance to Senior Materials Engineer, Principal R&D Technologist, or Materials Failure Analyst. The fork between leadership and specialism tends to appear at this stage. Those taking a leadership track move towards Laboratory Manager, Technical Project Manager, or Commercial Manager overseeing key accounts. Deep specialists tend to focus on a particular domain, such as polymer science, advanced ceramics, rheology, or additive manufacturing, and may progress to Chartered Engineer status or consultancy.
Where these roles sit
Employers span a wide range of industries. Major hirers include aerospace and defence contractors, automotive manufacturers, pharmaceutical producers, petrochemical companies, and construction materials firms. Testing laboratories, contract research organisations, and specialist materials consultancies also recruit regularly, as do NHS supply chains and medical device manufacturers. The sector includes large multinationals alongside SMEs, with a meaningful number of roles in government-funded research institutions and public sector agencies working on defence, energy, or infrastructure programmes.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the programme, the apprentice builds knowledge and practical competence in materials science while working in their employer's setting, covering areas such as materials testing, failure diagnosis, product development, and technical leadership. Before moving to final assessment, the apprentice and employer must confirm readiness through a gateway review, where evidence of the required knowledge, skills, and behaviours is checked. Final assessment then confirms whether the apprentice can perform at the level expected of a degree-qualified materials science technologist. Assessment models for several degree apprenticeships are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Building a strong body of workplace evidence from early in the programme makes the end of the apprenticeship considerably less pressured. Learners should record real project work, lab activities, client interactions, and any leadership responsibilities as they happen, rather than trying to reconstruct them later. Working closely with both the training provider and line manager to track progress against the standard's knowledge, skills, and behaviours will help identify any gaps well before the gateway review is reached.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers who can show direct links to laboratory facilities where apprentices work with characterisation equipment, whether that is electron microscopy, spectroscopy, rheometry or mechanical testing rigs, rather than relying solely on university lectures. Achievement rates above 65% are a reasonable baseline for a degree-level standard; anything consistently above 75% signals strong learner support through a demanding four-year programme. Check that the provider covers the specific materials subdiscipline relevant to your sector, whether polymers, ceramics, metals or composites, since generalist science programmes often lack the applied depth this occupation requires.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious if a provider cannot explain how off-the-job training integrates with the employer's own laboratory or production environment. Vague answers about how the degree curriculum maps to the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard are a warning sign. A high learner volume combined with a declining achievement rate on the FATP profile suggests retention problems, which matter particularly here given the 48-month commitment. Providers who cannot point to alumni working in roles such as development engineer, R&D technologist or technical specialist after completion should be pressed on outcomes.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What characterisation and testing equipment do apprentices have hands-on access to during the programme, and is any of it at the employer's site?
- How does the curriculum address failure analysis and materials selection, given these are core day-to-day tasks in the occupation?
- What is the current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the last two years?
- How do you support apprentices who are also managing client-facing or laboratory leadership responsibilities alongside study?
- Can you show examples of end-point assessment results, including which competency areas apprentices most commonly struggle with?
- How do you tailor delivery for employers in different sectors, such as aerospace versus pharmaceutical versus construction?
- What is the typical cohort size for this standard, and how much individual tutorial contact does each apprentice receive?
Common questions
What are the entry requirements for this apprenticeship?
Employers set their own entry criteria, but most will expect A-levels or equivalent qualifications in relevant subjects such as chemistry, physics, or mathematics, or an existing Level 3 qualification in a related field. Some employers may consider applicants with significant relevant work experience instead of formal qualifications. The apprentice must be in genuine employment throughout and working in a role where materials science knowledge is genuinely applied day to day.
How long does the apprenticeship take and how is learning structured alongside work?
The typical duration is 48 months, though this can vary depending on prior experience and the employer's delivery arrangements. Apprentices remain employed throughout, combining on-the-job learning with off-the-job study toward degree-level qualifications. The current rules on minimum off-the-job training hours are subject to revision under Skills England reforms, so check the latest specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page for Standard 477 before planning delivery.
How is the apprentice assessed and what is the gateway?
Before sitting the end-point assessment, an apprentice must pass through a gateway, a point at which the employer, training provider, and apprentice agree that all required knowledge, skills, and behaviours have been demonstrated to the required standard. The specific end-point assessment methods for many degree apprenticeships are currently being reviewed. Check the current approved assessment plan on the gov.uk apprenticeship standard page for the up-to-date requirements before enrolling.
How does funding work for employers taking on a materials science technologist apprentice?
The funding band for this standard is £24,000, which is the maximum government contribution toward training and assessment costs. Levy-paying employers draw this from their Digital Apprenticeship Service account. Non-levy employers pay a 5% co-investment contribution, with the government covering the remaining 95%. If your organisation has fewer than 50 employees and the apprentice is aged 16 to 18, the government pays the full training cost. Salary costs remain the employer's responsibility throughout.
What does a materials science technologist apprentice actually do day to day?
Day-to-day work varies by sector and employer but typically includes materials testing, failure analysis, laboratory management, and supporting product development. An apprentice might test samples for a client, investigate why a component failed in service, help develop a new coating or additive, or contribute data to a manufacturing process review. More experienced apprentices may also take on team leadership responsibilities, liaise with clients, or contribute to technical sales and consultancy work.
What career progression is available after completing this apprenticeship?
Completers typically move into roles such as development engineer, R&D technologist, quality assurance specialist, or technical service specialist. Some move into technical sales or client management. The degree-level qualification also provides a foundation for postgraduate study, including master's degrees or a PhD, for those who want to specialise further in areas such as advanced ceramics, polymers, or materials failure analysis. Sectors hiring include aerospace, automotive, defence, healthcare, energy, and construction.
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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: 477.
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.
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