Degree Apprenticeship - Software Engineering

Launch Your Career with the Instil’s Degree Apprenticeship Programme!

Are you finishing school or college and eager to begin a career in IT? Instil is now accepting applications for our Computing Systems/Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Programme, designed for curious, driven, and tech‑minded individuals who want to learn, build, and grow in a real engineering environment.

What You’ll Get at Instil

A Fully Funded Degree: Study one day each week at one of our partner universities:

• Ulster University - BSc (Hons) Computing Systems Degree Apprenticeship

• Queen’s University Belfast - BEng Software Engineering Higher Level Apprenticeship

Hands-On Industry Experience: Spend four days a week working within Instil’s engineering teams, with the opportunity to rotate across areas such as:

• Software Engineering

• Cyber Security

• Data & AI

Earn While You Learn: Receive a competitive salary throughout the programme and graduate with industry experience and zero student debt.

A Supportive, People-First Culture: We’ll set you up for success with:

• On‑the‑job coaching

• Regular check‑ins and development plans

• A collaborative environment where learning is part of every day

Impactful Work in a Leading Engineering Consultancy: You'll be embedded in our Belfast team, contributing to solutions used by customers across the UK, Ireland, and beyond.

What We’re Looking For

Academic Requirements

• Predicted or achieved BBB at A‑Level (or equivalent) by August 2026

• We particularly welcome candidates with A‑Level Software Systems Development, Computing, Computer Science, especially those with coding experience

Passion for Technology

• Show us your curiosity, whether it’s personal projects, hackathons, coding practice, gaming mods, online courses, or anything else that demonstrates genuine interest.

Personal Qualities

• Motivated and proactive

• Eager to learn

• Great communicators

• Collaborative team players

Application Details

• Start Date: September 2026

• Right to Work: Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK

• Application Process: You’ll join Instil as an employee first, and then we’ll support you in the formal university application process (subject to DfE funding)

• UCAS: This programme is not available through UCAS

Offers of employment are conditional upon:

• Meeting the academic entry criteria for the chosen university programme

• Meeting the eligibility criteria for the Department for the Economy’s Higher Level Apprenticeship scheme

• Confirmation of DfE funding approval for the apprenticeship place

If you're excited about beginning your career in technology straight from school or college and want to learn in a supportive engineering environment, we’d love to hear from you. Start your journey with Instil!

Company Description

Instil has been delivering world-class software engineering and technology solutions for over 20 years, trusted by global brands to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. From modernising legacy systems to building cutting-edge applications, we help our clients navigate an ever-changing digital landscape with confidence and agility.

We’re proud to be an award-winning employer, reflecting how our people are at the heart of everything we do:

• Recognised as a Great Place to Work® for three consecutive years, and in 2024 ranked in the Top 20 Best Workplaces in the UK for medium-sized companies.

• Winner of Company of the Year at the Digital DNA Awards 2022, celebrating excellence in Northern Ireland’s tech sector.

Driven by a love for technology and a commitment to excellence, we bring together people who want to make a difference. We’ll support your journey, because your success is part of ours.

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