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MBDA UK Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship 2027

Pays £19,500 a year in Stevenage, Bristol and Bolton.

NoLevel 6 Degree Apprenticeship (Business, Systems Engineering, Software) and Level 3 to 4 Engineering, Software and Manufacturing Apprenticeships

No. MBDA UK does not sponsor its level 6 degree apprenticeship for international students who need a visa. MBDA's security and vetting page states that background, nationality, any previously held nationalities and place of birth may limit the roles a candidate can perform, and that meeting the security clearance criteria typically means having UK or UK dual nationality. All apprentices must pass at least Basic Personnel Security Standard checks before joining, with some roles needing Security Clearance or Developed Vetting, which can take 8 to 20 weeks.

Sponsors grads?
No
Pay vs threshold
Below the threshold
Opportunity
apprenticeship
Pay
Salaries starting at £19,500, plus a £3,000 joining bonus
2027 cycle
Applications open in October 2026, no closing date published
Confidence
high

MBDA UK Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship: at a glance

MBDA UK runs four-year apprenticeships in business, engineering, software and manufacturing, with rotational placements around the company and study by day release at university or college. Level 3 and 4 routes include Project Control, Manufacturing Operator, General Engineering and Finance, while degree apprenticeships lead to qualifications such as a BEng in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, a BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions and a BA in Business and Management. MBDA pays for all qualifications. Source

Duration
4 years“Starting each September our apprenticeships last for 4 years”Source
Start date
September“Starting each September our apprenticeships last for 4 years”Source
Who can apply
Typically 5 GCSEs for advanced apprenticeships, 5 GCSEs and 96 UCAS points for higher apprenticeships, and 5 GCSEs and 120 UCAS points for degree apprenticeships“Each of our apprenticeships has different criteria; our advanced apprenticeships will typically need 5 x GCSE's whilst our higher apprenticeships typically need 5 x GCSE's and 96 UCAS points. Our degree apprenticeships typically need 5 x GCSE's and 120 UCAS points.”Source
Locations
Stevenage, Bristol, BoltonSource
Starting pay
Salaries starting at £19,500, plus a £3,000 joining bonus“salaries starting at £19,500, with a £3,000 joining bonus paid in your first months salary”Source

How MBDA UK recruits

2027 apprenticeships (applications open October 2026). 6 stages, from MBDA UK's own careers pages, checked 2026-10-03. Test providers are named only where MBDA UK names them.

  1. Submit an application

    Application form

    Application form with factual questions, role-related questions and a free section about yourself. One early careers application per recruitment year.

    “Our application form contains a few factual questions and details on your education, some questions relating to the role you have applied for and a section for you to tell us all about you!”
    Source

  2. Online assessment part one (strengths)

    Online tests

    Online strengths assessment tailored to MBDA and its early careers schemes.

    “Next in our process is part one of our online strengths assessment, completely tailored to our business and early careers schemes.”
    Source

  3. Online assessment part two (video tasks)

    Recorded video interview

    Three recorded video tasks based on authentic work scenarios from the programme.

    • 3 questions
    “Part two of our online assessments include three video recorded tasks which are authentic work scenario based activities”
    SourceHow to prepare for a one-way video interview

  4. Internal review

    Other stage

    Hiring managers and recruiters review the application and assessment results and shortlist for assessment centres.

    “Hiring managers and members of the recruitment team assess your application and assessment results and if successful, you'll be shortlisted for our assessment centres.”
    Source

  5. Assessment centre

    Assessment centre

    Half-day virtual strengths-based assessment centre with a range of tasks and meeting current programme members and the department.

    “Our strength based assessment centre is a half day virtual experience!”
    Source

  6. Offer

    Offer

    A call within three weeks of the assessment day with feedback and offer details.

    “We'll call you within three weeks of your assessment day to talk through your feedback and the finer details of your offer”
    Source

Every programme and stage at MBDA UK

“factors including your background, nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and/or your place of birth may limit those roles that you can perform”
MBDA UK, from its own careers pages
The catch: SC vetting takes a minimum of about 8 weeks and DV a minimum of about 20 weeks, run by UKSV, and the decision is UKSV's, not MBDA's.
MBDA UK early careersVerify on gov.ukSee the licence record

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What MBDA UK publishes about this programme

Checked against MBDA UK's own careers pages on 2026-09-22. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

  • Visa sponsorship policy: published
  • Application dates: published
  • Programme description: published
  • Duration and start date: published
  • Who can apply: published
  • Pay: published
  • Locations: published
  • Degree requirement: not published
  • Recruitment stages: published

More early careers programmes at MBDA UK

Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-09-21. Application dates last checked 2026-09-22. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does MBDA UK sponsor visas for its level 6 degree apprenticeship?

No. MBDA UK does not sponsor its level 6 degree apprenticeship for international students who need a visa. MBDA's security and vetting page states that background, nationality, any previously held nationalities and place of birth may limit the roles a candidate can perform, and that meeting the security clearance criteria typically means having UK or UK dual nationality. All apprentices must pass at least Basic Personnel Security Standard checks before joining, with some roles needing Security Clearance or Developed Vetting, which can take 8 to 20 weeks.

What is the MBDA UK level 6 degree apprenticeship?

MBDA UK runs four-year apprenticeships in business, engineering, software and manufacturing, with rotational placements around the company and study by day release at university or college. Level 3 and 4 routes include Project Control, Manufacturing Operator, General Engineering and Finance, while degree apprenticeships lead to qualifications such as a BEng in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, a BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions and a BA in Business and Management. MBDA pays for all qualifications.

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme sits below the Skilled Worker salary threshold, which is itself a reason sponsorship is not possible.

What is the catch international students miss with MBDA UK?

SC vetting takes a minimum of about 8 weeks and DV a minimum of about 20 weeks, run by UKSV, and the decision is UKSV's, not MBDA's.

When do applications open for the MBDA UK level 6 degree apprenticeship?

Applications open in October 2026, no closing date published. Checked on 2026-09-22 against MBDA UK's own site.

How long is the MBDA UK level 6 degree apprenticeship?

4 years, according to MBDA UK's own careers information.

When does the MBDA UK level 6 degree apprenticeship start?

September, according to MBDA UK's own careers information.

Who can apply for the MBDA UK level 6 degree apprenticeship?

Typically 5 GCSEs for advanced apprenticeships, 5 GCSEs and 96 UCAS points for higher apprenticeships, and 5 GCSEs and 120 UCAS points for degree apprenticeships, according to MBDA UK's own careers information.

Where is the MBDA UK level 6 degree apprenticeship based?

Stevenage, Bristol, Bolton, according to MBDA UK's own careers information.

What does the MBDA UK level 6 degree apprenticeship pay?

Salaries starting at £19,500, plus a £3,000 joining bonus, according to MBDA UK's own careers information.

How should I confirm MBDA UK's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on MBDA UK's careers site, ask its early-careers team directly, and check the employer on the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Policies and thresholds change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm for the exact role and cycle.

Related guides

All visa and sponsorship guides

Other engineering & industrial schemes

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Sponsorship data: Home Office register + job ad wording. Not immigration advice, verify on gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. How we check this data.