Following the successful launch of RMIT's Degree Apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering this year, the University is seeking to partner with employers who are interested in working with them to employ and develop talented applied engineers for 2026.
There is still a concern in industry about the applied engineering capability of graduate engineers, meaning graduate employees require significant ongoing investment in skills development by their employers, reducing productivity and contributing to workforce skills shortages.
The Degree Apprenticeship is an industry-embedded learning model, co-designed with industry and enjoying the support of Australian Industry Group, as well as a consortium of employers from across manufacturing, defence, clean energy and engineering. It has been successfully implemented at scale in the United Kingdom.
Degree Apprenticeships see students complete their studies as part of their full-time, paid employment at a partner employer, allowing them to acquire valuable workplace skills while attaining a tertiary qualification.
RMIT’s five-year degree apprenticeship is an innovative, first-of-its-kind hybrid dual qualification program, consisting of the Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Mechanical) delivered over 2 years as a vocational traineeship, with automatic progression into the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechanical Engineering) for a further three years. Both program components are accredited by Engineers Australia.
Alongside better practical experience and skills in graduates, a reduction in upfront labour cost, improved productivity and the chance to shape the skills and mindset of the workforce from the earliest point, Degree Apprenticeships are a tool that can also support increased diversity in the future engineering workforce.
Entry to the program is only by employment by a participating employer partner, who have complete discretion over the employment decision.
In 2025 our first cohort of Degree Apprentices are employed on a wide range of projects, including naval vessels, tunnel boring machines, large chemical plants and concrete reinforcement systems.
If you are interested in learning more about the program or employing degree apprentices for 2026 please contact rick.ede@rmit.edu.au.
