University's first cohort Â

The nine students are the first in England to be awarded the new Embedded Electronic Systems Design and Development Engineer Degree Apprenticeship.

Six of the apprentices, who are all based in Hampshire engineering firms from Sonardyne to the Royal Navy, achieved first-class honours. 

They also achieved level 2 in English and Maths and all '˜knowledge, skills and behaviours' as defined in the apprenticeship standard. 

Mike Punt, the university's director of learning  at work, said the degree shows a '˜key relationship' between the university and employers.