Support a member of staff through a degree
Flexible distance learning, built around the job they already do.
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Undertaking a work-based degree with us has many benefits to employers and students alike. It offers a route to flexible part-time, distance learning, courses built around the job they already do. Degree and Masters level across a multitude of disciplines including business, engineering, professional studies, maritime, occupational health and safety management.
At a glance
Who it's for
Employers seeking to develop an individual member of staff. Employees wanting to gain professional relevant qualifications, enhance their career, whilst remaining in work.
Cost
Employer-sponsored or self-funded. Prior learning can reduce both the time spent studying and the fees.
Timescales
Varies by course and by how much prior learning is recognised.
Best suited to
Staff with relevant experience who need the qualification to match it, or wish to enhance their career. Those seeking professional recognition through professional bodies such as IET, IHEEM, IMarEST, RAeS, SOE, IGEM, IOSH, and ISEP.
What's involved
Work-based degrees are part-time, flexible, distance learning programmes designed to be embedded in the job your employee already does. Projects can be tailored to your work environment, and provide commercial and strategic value. Your organisation gains knowledge of best practice, so what they study is useful to you as they study it.
Applications are assessed individually, taking account of work experience as well as prior qualifications. Recognition of Prior Learning may reduce the credit your employee needs to complete — which reduces both the time it takes and the fees you pay.
This route lets you:
- Develop one person without committing to an apprenticeship framework
- Shape their projects around your objectives, tailor pace of learning to suit demands on time
- Recognise experience they already have, reducing time and cost
- Retain employees who would otherwise need to take a career break
- Sponsor fees directly, or let the employee fund their own study
How this differs from a degree apprenticeship
Work-based degree
Flexible part-time distance learning. Employer-sponsored or self-funded. No fixed release requirement. Prior learning can shorten time spent studying and cost. Students determine modules and work-based projects to suit what they need to learn.
Degree apprenticeship
Structured programme funded through the levy. Requires one day a week release and a specific employment arrangement.
How it works
1. Find a course
Browse work-based courses (BA/BSc, PgC/MA/MSc), or tell us the skills gap and we can suggest appropriate options. For applicants wishing to undertake a degree who do not have RPL equivalent to level 4 we also offer a CertHE as a starting point.
2. Your employee applies
Applications are assessed individually, taking account of work experience and prior qualifications. Recognition of Prior Learning is assessed, providing confirmation on credits to study, fees payable and expected timescales for completion.
3. Confirm sponsorship
Following receipt of an offer of a place, if you are paying, complete an External Company Sponsorship (RE2) form or send a letter of sponsorship. Details in the section below.
4. They study alongside work
Distance learning, with projects tailored to your workplace. Timescales for completion are flexible, dependent upon course, modules and credits to study.
Case study
UOP recognised my professional qualifications. The flexibility of the programme allowed me to study while working and to explore my interests, building my research project around them.
Before you enquire
Sponsorship means paying us directly. If you give the money to your employee and they pay us, they are classified as self-paying, not sponsored.
You must confirm sponsorship for each academic session, generally each year of the course, not once at the start.
Fees are payable within 30 days of invoice. If you need a purchase order number on invoices, it must be on the form — without it, your employee’s progress could be interrupted.
Your sponsorship commitment stands even if your employee withdraws from the course or leaves your employment. We recommend you make your own agreement with them covering that.
Tell us who you want to develop
Describe the skills gap, the person, and the qualifications they already hold and we will suggest appropriate routes.
Where next?
Recruit our graduates
If you are looking for an efficient and cost-effective way to recruit one of our graduates with up to 5 years' experience, then speak to our Early Careers Recruitment Consultants within the University of Portsmouth Graduate Recruitment Team.
