📈 Level 4 Data Analyst Apprenticeship – Course Outline (24 Months)
Standard Reference: ST0118 – Data Analyst, Occupation Level 4 ([DfE/IfATE standard ST0118, V1.1]) qa.com+15instituteforapprenticeships.org+15reddit.com+15
Maximum Funding: £15,000 (fully covered by Apprenticeship Levy for eligible learners)
Equivalent: Higher National Certificate (HNC)
🧭 Curriculum Overview
1. Induction & Foundations (Months 1–2)
Program overview, occupational standards, roles, responsibilities
GDPR & legal requirements for data handling reddit.com+15findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk+15ifate-web-dev.azurewebsites.net+15
Introduction to the data life cycle: collection through visualisation
Essential professional behaviours: integrity, collaboration, analytical mindset reddit.com+4findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk+4qualifications.pearson.com+4
2. Data Collection & Preparation (Months 3–6)
Identifying and accessing structured/unstructured data sources
Data extraction and migration from varied systems
Data cleansing techniques & quality assurance reddit.com+11findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk+11qa.com+11
SQL database querying: joins, ETL pipelines, and performance optimisation
3. Analysis & Modeling (Months 7–12)
Statistical and exploratory analysis: descriptive, predictive, prescriptive findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk+1kaplan.co.uk+1
Data modeling techniques, including time series forecasting and data mining ifate-web-dev.azurewebsites.net+1advancedtherapiesapprenticeships.co.uk+1
Tool proficiency: Python (with Pandas, NumPy), R, SQL Server/SSMS
Introduction to cloud platforms: Azure/AWS/Hadoop/Spark for scaling workloads findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk+4advancedtherapiesapprenticeships.co.uk+4qa.com+4
4. Visualization & Insight Presentation (Months 13–18)
Dashboards & BI tools: Power BI, Tableau, Excel advanced (pivot tables, XLOOKUP) reddit.com+3qa.com+3qa.com+3
Data storytelling: converting analysis into stakeholder-informed recommendations reddit.com+9ifate-web-dev.azurewebsites.net+9barnsley.ac.uk+9
UX considerations and domain context in visual communication
5. Advanced Analytics & Projects (Months 19–21)
Applied predictive analytics and machine learning techniques
Real-world data project: full lifecycle from definition to delivery
Ethical decision-making in advanced analytics and large-scale datasets
6. Portfolio Development & EPA Readiness (Months 22–24)
Building a comprehensive portfolio aligned to KSBs and synoptic requirements ifate-web-dev.azurewebsites.net+1reddit.com+1
Presentation preparation: flow, storytelling, visual aids (use STAR) reddit.com+1reddit.com+1
Practice professional discussion and Q&A interviews
Gateway: Level 2 English & Maths must be completed before EPA ccn.ac.uk+4ifate-web-dev.azurewebsites.net+4instituteforapprenticeships.org+4
🔧 Workplace Learning Integration
80% on-the-job with employer mentor: real tasks in analytics teams
20% off-the-job: workshops, labs, online instruction (discover-practice-apply model) qa.com
Tools & platforms: SQL Server, Python, Power BI, Tableau, AWS/Azure
Mentoring by senior analysts and feedback loops for continuous improvement
🎓 EPA Components
Project Report + Presentation: business-focused case with stakeholder insights reddit.com+2ccn.ac.uk+2qa.com+2
Professional Discussion: scenario-driven interview grounded in portfolio evidence reddit.com+6ccn.ac.uk+6qualifications.pearson.com+6
Employer Reference: evaluation from workplace supervisor
Grading: Pass / Merit / Distinction—typically around 37.5% distinctions in L4 data qa.com+15barnsley.ac.uk+15ccn.ac.uk+15reddit.com+1reddit.com+1
🤝 Outcomes & Career Path
Completing this apprenticeship equips learners for roles such as:
Data Analyst
Business Intelligence Analyst
Data Visualization Specialist
Junior Data Engineer / Data Modeller
Typical starting salary range: £24k–£30k+ dependent on sector