Business and Project Management

Students are employed by an organisation throughout their course and combine full-time studies with the immediate application of work-based learning activities to connect their learning to their roles. Modules are undertaken sequentially rather than in parallel and all contribute to individual meta-skills development.

Year 1

Year 1 introduces fundamental business and management principles, helping students understand how organisations operate within diverse environments. Modules in Accounting and People Management provide the interpersonal and analytical skills for effective resource management while Developing Professional Excellence will encourage self-awareness and reflection, laying the foundation for effective study and future professional development.

Year 2

Year 2 introduces core operational efficiency and project management principles within organisations and deepens understanding of the business environment through applied study of the principles of economics and business finance. The Developing Professional Excellence module will strengthen interpersonal skills, preparing students to apply project management techniques within practical business settings.

Year 3

In Stage 3, students will engage with advanced project management themes, including planning, evaluation, governance, and strategic alignment. The inclusion of Digital Business will broaden understanding of technology’s role in project success. Through Developing Professional Excellence, students will enhance their analytical, leadership and decision-making skills essential for managing complex projects in contemporary business environments.

Year 4

Stage 4 emphasises strategic and ethical dimensions of project management, focusing on risk assessment, commercial integrity, and responsible decision-making. The Capstone module integrates learning from across the course, enabling students to demonstrate research, analysis, and professional judgement through an independent project, consolidating their readiness for leadership roles in global business and project management contexts.

Learning Methods

Our Graduate Apprenticeship courses are designed to meet the national frameworks developed by Skills Development Scotland, the subject frameworks of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and relevant skill and knowledge areas identified by industry.

To be eligible for this course students must be recruited/employed by a partner employer of the university.

Students will generally undertake 4 modules of study in sequence per year; each focused on a specific topic or discipline.

Uniquely, this course supports students to work with organisations and mentors to apply learning to the workplace.

Activity Summary

This course is delivered through supported online study using our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Moodle. Moodle offers flexibility of timing and location of study and provides access to tutors, peers, library and all other study support facilities.

Moodle provides course materials which may include:

• Live and recorded lectures and tutorials,
• Online reading and podcasts,
• Discussion forums and online activities,
• Learning Plans to guide work-based learning.

Peer learning is an important element of the GA with study groups enabling shared learning in a supportive community. On-campus workshops will support and develop this community; providing the opportunity to grow professional networks, share insights and experiences and engage with staff.

• Webinars: 30-40 students per group, for up to 2 hours per week over 9 week blocks
• Tutorial: 30-40 students per group, for up to 2 hours per week over 9 week blocks
• Project supervision: As agreed between student and supervisor
• Practical class or workshop: 30-40 students per group, for 1 full day once per module
• Independent study: at least 3 hours per week
• Ongoing work based learning with Workplace Mentor

Live online delivery will take place through Microsoft Teams in Moodle for up to 2 hours per week.

Independent Study

Some independent study will be undertaken with the employer in the workplace, and some in student’s own time. Learning Plans and weekly module tasks will guide the direction of independent study and students have access to library, study support and academic staff to support them in independent study.

Staff Delivering on This Course

Academic staff combine extensive industry experience with active research to ensure professionally relevant teaching. Several hold certified qualifications and memberships with the Association for Project Management (APM) and the Project Management Institute (PMI). Many are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy and have received student-voted STAR awards for teaching excellence.

Employers assign a Workplace Mentor whose role will be to oversee the work based learning undertaken by the student. In addition to mentoring support for students, supplementary support may be provided by the employer, for example when subject matter experts are brought in to provide specific business or technical expertise or through access to other departments within the organisation. This ensures that the curriculum is fully covered as the student progresses in their studies.

During the first year of study as a Graduate Apprentice, access is provided to a dedicated Graduate Apprenticeship Success Coach to help make the most of all learning opportunities.

Assessment

Typically students are assessed each year:

Year 1

• 3 reports
• 1 portfolio

Year 2

• 3 reports
• 1 portfolio

Year 3

• 3 reports
• 1 portfolio

Year 4

• 2 reports
• 1 consultancy project report and poster

As well as the summative assessment students will undertake a range of formative work based learning activities which will be contextualised within their own workplaces.

Feedback

We aim to provide feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Placements

Students will be in full-time employment throughout the duration of the course, therefore extensive use is made of work-based learning.

Job Prospects

A Graduate Apprenticeship synchronises theoretical learning with practical experience. With each course tailored to the company, the Graduate Apprenticeship programme offers benefits to both the employee and the employer, meeting the long term development needs of both business and student.

Employment

All applicants must be employed full-time in a role related to the course of study, must have the right to live and work in Scotland and be working in Scotland. The employer must commit to providing a suitable workplace environment and to offering guidance and mentoring support to the apprentice. In addition, the company must be willing to partner with the university via a Collaboration Agreement to create a setting in which the student will be able to achieve the required experience and learning outcomes.

• SQA Higher: BBBC 

Alternative Qualifications

We welcome applications from those with equivalent qualifications or work experience which equip them with an equivalent starting point for the course. For those applicants who do not meet our Standard Course Entry Requirements, applications may be considered from those who possess one years’ relevant work experience and where the applicant has demonstrated the development of key skills evidenced through a detailed CV. Applications from students with non- standard qualifications (including Foundation Apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships, SVQs/NVQs and access programmes) or work experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Advanced Entry

Applicants who are interested in applying for advanced (or flexible) entry will be considered on an individual basis. Attention is drawn to the university's process for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

For Academic Year 2025/2026

• £1,820 per academic year

Additional Costs

The following course-related costs are not included in the course fees:

Graduate Apprenticeship courses include an on-campus induction, together with one or two on-campus day(s) per module, therefore employers supporting Graduate Apprenticeship students need to plan for this time away from the workplace together with any associated travel and accommodation costs.

• The cost of books that you may wish to purchase.
• Accommodation and living costs
• Printing
• Re-sit fees, fees for re-assessment opportunities in a repeat year

Student Funding

Subject to meeting course entry and employer eligibility criteria, a number of fully-funded places are available for this course. 

Students should apply to SAAS to have their tuition fees paid:

As a paid employee, apprentices would not be eligible for other SAAS funding such as bursaries and student loans.  

Find out more information about funding and other frequently asked questions: