What is a degree apprenticeship?
Degree apprenticeships combine a full undergraduate or Master’s degree while working, and allow students to gain both an academic and vocational education at the same time.
Apprenticeships typically last between three and six years and are split between four days of work and one day of university study, which depending on the institution and proximity to your workplace can either be online or in-person.
The scheme was introduced in 2015 by the coalition Government to “bring together the best of higher and vocational education” and launched with nine different courses.
Although carried out at top universities, including some Russell Group institutions, degrees are co-designed by employers to make sure the skills learnt are relevant for the industry.
You pay no tuition fees for a degree apprenticeship with the cost split between the Government and your employer.
What qualifications do I need for a degree apprenticeship?
Degree apprenticeships are the highest form of apprenticeships and are a level 6 or 7 qualification depending on whether you complete an undergraduate or Master’s degree.
You must be 18 to enrol but there is no upper age limit on a degree apprenticeship. While some begin straight after school, it is a popular route for older people who want to return to higher education while still being paid a full-time salary.
Different degree apprenticeships will require varying qualifications but you can expect most to ask for A-levels or an equivalent such as BTEC or T-levels as well as at least five GCSEs at 9-4 including English and maths.
How do I apply?
Unlike a traditional degree, rather than applying directly through UCAS, you apply via your employer.
You can see degree apprenticeship vacancies via the Find an Apprenticeship website or via UCAS.
Applying for a degree apprenticeship is closer to applying for a job rather than a degree. You won’t need to fill out a personal statement. Instead expect to have to submit a CV, possibly a personal statement, and to go through an interview process with the employer.
What kind of degree apprenticeships are available and how much would I earn?
It is worth saying you will be more restricted in the choice of degree than if you were applying to university – it’s fair to say there are fewer Mickey Mouse options.
Industries that offer degree apprenticeships include accounting, construction, engineering, hospitality, law and marketing.
As of September, the NHS will launch a Medical Doctor Degree Apprenticeship for 200 students as part of a plan to see 2,000 people per year training to become a medical doctor via an apprenticeship by 2031-32.
Trainees will need to meet the same standards and will attend medical school and pass the same exams as traditional medical school students, however they will pay no tuition fees and earn a salary from the start of their studies.
It’s not just the NHS who are signed up to degree apprenticeships. Large companies such as Coca-Cola, Barclays, IBM, and AstraZeneca offer degree apprenticeships and are keen to take people who want to take this novel route into work straight from school.
Employers typically pay in excess of £20,000 a year on a sliding scale which increases with each year on the scheme.
Apprentices then have the opportunity to apply for a full time position at the company, allowing them to sidestep highly competitive graduate schemes traditional university students apply to upon completing their degree.