HR Degree Apprenticeships

What does an HR degree apprenticeship involve?

An HR degree apprenticeship is a structured programme lasting four to five years that allows you to work in a human resources role while studying for a bachelor's degree. Unlike the traditional university route, you'll split your time between working for a company and academic study. This is usually 4 days in the office and 1 day a week studying at a university. 

A degree apprenticeship is full on, so expect to learn a deep understanding of HR, have a lot of responsibility and get involved in huge projects right from the start. Depending on the sector you choose, your typical week could include:

• Collaborating with team members and clients

• Meeting with senior leadership to discuss talent strategy and workforce planning

• Developing compensation and benefits frameworks

• Using workforce analytics to forecast hiring needs

• Creating HR policies and procedures documentation

And the bonus: you’ll earn a competitive salary and dodge all the tuition fees and debt you’d otherwise get if you had gone to university full-time to study.

By the end of your apprenticeship, you'll graduate with a full honours degree and more professional experience than traditional graduates, giving you a strong foundation for your future HR career.

What qualifications do you need for an HR degree apprenticeship?

You’ll usually need a higher-level qualification to do a degree apprenticeship. Usually, employers will ask for:

• Three A-Levels (or similar: BTEC, Level 3 or 4 apprenticeship)

• Between 112-120 UCAS points

You’ll also need to be 18 and older. 

If you've already got HR or business experience, you might not need as many qualifications as someone just starting their career journey. But you should be able to demonstrate your skills.

Always double-check the requirements before applying. You'll find these on job descriptions.

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to be a degree apprentice? We have hundreds of job reviews from apprentices. Here’s what one had to say about their time at JLES Group, working within HR.

CIPD-accredited programme

If you’re looking to develop new skills and advance your HR career, the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) will give you all the leadership experience you need from day one.

CIPD accreditation means your qualification is recognised and respected across the HR profession. When your degree apprenticeship is CIPD-accredited, you'll typically gain:

• Industry recognised credentials - highly valued by employers

• Fast-tracking your career - A CIPD qualification can open doors to more senior positions

• Ongoing support - networking opportunities, events, and continued professional development

When researching programmes, check whether the degree apprenticeship leads to a CIPD qualification and at what level. Most HR degree apprenticeships align with CIPD Level 5 or Level 7 qualifications, significantly enhancing your career prospects. When completing an HR degree apprenticeship, many employers will fund this accredited programme, so this is another thing to look out for!

Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship

You can also kickstart your HR career through a chartered management degree apprenticeship. This is a 5-year programme specifically designed to refine skills such as:

• Project development

• Managing customer and client relationships

• Sales and marketing

• Leading a team

• Ethics and sustainability.

When you successfully complete your end assessment, you’ll receive Chartered Manager (CMgr) status, which is internationally recognised and can seriously upgrade your employability. Find out more about chartered status with The Chartered Management Institute. 

Many students have taken this route and are now thriving - take a look at some of the reviews left by them!

How much are HR degree apprentices paid?

On average, you could earn over £27,000 per year as a degree apprentice. How much you earn depends on your employer, so it’s worth having a look around.

For example, if you do an HR degree apprenticeship with L’Oreal, you could earn up to £30,000 per year! It totally depends on who you work for and where.

How to apply

Job openings appear throughout the entire year. That said, certain companies recruit apprentices during the February-April period for positions beginning in September. Make sure to carefully review each role's requirements and submit applications early on for the best chance of success.

Struggling to keep track of important dates? We can help. Create your Higherin account, and we'll send you reminders when your application due dates are approaching through our application tracker!

Sending off your application

Every employer has their own application requirements. You might need to take online tests with some companies, whilst others may require you to attend an in-person or virtual assessment centre. In nearly every case, you'll need to prepare an apprenticeship CV along with a cover letter.

We also have tons of insight into the apprenticeship application process, so you can get clued up on what to expect moving forwards.