If you want to get a degree, but
you’re worried about finances or just not sure that a traditional
university course is right for you, a degree apprenticeship could
be a great option.
A degree apprenticeship allows you to
study towards an undergraduate or master’s degree while you work,
getting invaluable industry experience and earning a salary. Your
off-the-job training takes place in your working hours, and you
won’t have to pay for your tuition.
Find out everything you need to know
about degree apprenticeships
here.
What are degree
apprenticeships?
Degree apprenticeships are jobs with
training. On completion of the apprenticeship, you’ll achieve an
undergraduate or master’s degree – just like someone who has got
their degree through a traditional
route.
Your training is paid for by
apprenticeship funding, so unlike with traditional university
courses, you won’t have to pay for your tuition yourself. What’s
more, you’ll earn a competitive salary while
learning.
Though you’ll study part-time at a
university, around 80%
of your time will be spent doing practical work. This allows you
to get real-life work experience and still gain a recognised
qualification.
Degree apprenticeships are a
Level
6 or 7 apprenticeship.
Who can do degree
apprenticeships and what are the
requirements?
The requirements for each degree
apprenticeship are different.
Some Level 6 apprenticeships will ask
for at least five GCSEs at 9-4 (or A*- C on the old grading
scale), including English and maths. But you could also progress
into a degree apprenticeship from a lower-level apprenticeship,
or another qualification like a T
Level.
It does mean that you’ll need to be at
least 18-years-old to participate in most degree apprenticeship,
though there is no upper age limit.
However, as well as considering your
grades, employers will be looking for other skills like
communication, teamwork and passion. They might also value prior
industry experience as much as formal
qualifications.
How much do degree apprentices
earn?
The amount you can earn depends on the
specific apprenticeship. However, many employers offer
apprentices a salary of at least £20,000 a
year.
Apprentices often go on to well-paid
jobs on completion of their training. Recent analysis showed that
one year after finishing their programmes, the median salary for
a former Level 6 apprentice was
£34,620.
What kind of degree
apprenticeships are available?
Degree apprenticeships are available
in a range of industries, from engineering, to science, to law,
to marketing and digital.
For example, you could gain a BSc
(Bachelor of Science) degree through a civil engineering, nursing
or biomedical apprenticeship. Other apprenticeships could lead to
a BA (Bachelor of Arts) in digital marketing, or an LLB (Bachelor
of Laws).
The NHS recruitment and training body, Health Education England
(HEE), has also confirmed funding for a new Medical Doctor Degree
Apprenticeship.
There are hundreds of degree
apprenticeships on offer throughout the
year.
Browsing apprenticeships and filtering them by level and location
could be a good way to get inspiration for the kind of degree
apprenticeship that excites you.
How to apply for a degree
apprenticeship
You apply to degree apprenticeships
direct with the employer. You can now search for degree
apprenticeships via the Find
an Apprenticeship website
or via UCAS.
Applying for a degree apprenticeship
is similar to applying for a job. This means that unlike with
university courses, you can apply for degree apprenticeships at
any time.
Applications will differ depending on
the apprenticeship, but it’s likely that you’ll have to submit a
CV and do an interview.
To get personalised advice on your
application, you can talk to a careers adviser for free via the
National Career Service. There are lots of ways
to get in touch including by phone, webchat or in
person.
