What is a Degree Apprenticeship?

Degree apprenticeships offer you the best of both worlds - you can study for a full bachelor's degree or master's degree, whilst also working in industry.  Apprentices can study part time and work part time in degree apprenticeship programmes, which have been developed jointly by employers and universities.  Studying can take the form of regular weekly study days, or blocks of time when studying is the main focus - this will vary, according to the university and employer.

Typically, degree apprenticeships take between three and six years to complete and are currently only available in England and Wales.  They are different to sandwich degrees as degree apprentices are employed throughout their course, and will be paid from the start of the apprenticeship.  In contrast, with sandwich degrees, a year is normally spent working in industry, and the rest spent in full time education at university, rather than work and study running alongside each other, as is the case with degree apprenticeships. Degree apprenticeships also differ to work placements, where it is usual for students to spend a holiday period working in an industry which is related to their degree.  These placements aren't routinely remunerated and are normally short term in nature.

Degree Apprenticeships are relatively new and as such, vacancies are fairly limited.  However, it is likely that opportunities will increase over the coming years.

What is a Degree Apprenticeship?

  • Whilst traditional degrees are created and written by university academics, most degree apprenticeships are created by employers, universities and professional bodies in collaboration, to create a course that will deliver industry-specific training, as well as academic teaching
  • Other degree apprenticeships might follow an existing degree programme to provide the academic element of the course, whilst additional training would be provided to reach the full degree apprenticeship requirements
  • Whichever format the degree apprenticeship takes, the degree awarded at the end is the equivalent of a degree achieved via the 'traditional' full time undergraduate route
  • Apprentices will have to carry out an assessment at the end of the course.  This assessment will cover all elements of the apprenticeship, including academic learning and workplace competence

What are the Pros and Cons of Degree Apprenticeships?

  • You will have the opportunity to study whilst also in paid employment 
  • You will receive a full bachelor's or master's degree, but you will not have to pay student fees as you would if undertaking a bachelor or master's degree
  • You will gain invaluable experience and skills in the workplace, and within an industry relevant to your degree course
  • Costs are funded by the government and the employer
  • You may have the opportunity to continue with the same employer if an opening becomes available (this is never guaranteed)
  • You will achieve independence quite quickly, as you will start earning your own money as soon as your degree apprenticeship starts
  • The structure of degree apprenticeships varies enormously across the different sectors, and between different employers, so you need to do your research thoroughly
  • Degree apprenticeships will tie you to your employer for the duration of the course, so take the time to research your prospective employer before you commit 
  • Most degree apprenticeships will take longer than bachelor degrees, so it's worth considering that your 'end point' will be further away

How Do I Apply?

Ultimately degree apprenticeships are jobs, so you should expect employers and universities to recruit candidates together, as both will need to be sure that prospective candidates can meet the requirements both academically and in employment.

Employers will probably choose to advertise vacancies on apprenticeship websites, and universities will carry information on any degree apprenticeship courses that they are involved in.


About the Author: Neil Hagger

With a rich experience spanning over two decades in recruitment, Neil's passion for CV excellence is palpable. Witnessing countless subpar CVs has motivated him to champion the creation of bespoke CVs tailored for sector-specific roles. While Neil encourages innovative approaches to make candidates stand out, he remains a staunch believer in maintaining universally relatable CV formats.



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