With a degree apprenticeship, you can achieve a full Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. And just like traditional degrees, an apprenticeship is a great route to a great career.
The facts
Apprenticeships are available to anyone over the age of 16, living in England and are available at intermediate, advanced, higher and degree levels. All apprenticeships are genuine jobs so all apprentices earn a salary. You must be paid at least the national minimum apprenticeship wage and many employers pay significantly more. Apprentices should work enough hours each week so that they can undertake sufficient, regular training and on the- job activity, search ‘become an apprentice’ on GOV.UK for further information. Entry requirements depend on the sector and prior skills. If you have achieved A-levels you may still be expected to start at an intermediate or advanced level as some sectors, such as engineering, require you to build up your occupational skills.
How are they structured?
Higher and degree apprenticeships are available at levels 4 to 7. They combine work with study and may include a work-based, academic or combined qualification or a professional qualification relevant to the industry. Levels 4 and 5 are equivalent to a Higher Education Certificate/ Diploma or a foundation degree, level 6 is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree and level 7 is equivalent to a Master’s degree. Typically, higher apprentices study part-time at college, university or with a training provider. Apprenticeships take between one and five years to complete.
How do I find a higher or degree apprenticeship?
There were 494,900 apprenticeship starts in 2016 to 17 in a wide range of workplaces including Cap Gemini, Ford, ITV, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Barclays and the BBC. With so many opportunities on offer, you can find the apprenticeship that’s right for you. Applying is easy, just visit GOV.UK/apply-apprenticeship. There are between 12,000 and 20,000 apprenticeship vacancies on the site at any one time.
