What is a Degree Apprenticeship?

How do degree apprenticeships work?

You'll work full-time for an established company as an employee, typically spending four days on the job and one day studying towards your degree at a university.

It runs for around three to six years, and because it's a genuine full-time job, you're paid a salary the entire time.

In this video, our career experts Heléna and Grace break down everything you need to know about degree apprenticeships in the UK.

Are degree apprenticeships worth it?

University and degree apprenticeships can both lead to great careers. They just get you there in different ways. A degree apprenticeship is a real job from day one, so you’ll already have five years of the skills and experience employers are looking for by the time you graduate. Here’s what else you’ll get: 

• On-the-job training alongside your degree studies

• No tuition fees, so no student debt

• A salary the whole way through, potentially £30k a year by age 21

• Build professional connections early.

Worried about missing out on the social side of uni? You don't need to be. Companies usually hire multiple apprentices at once, so you'll be onboarded together with plenty of chances to socialise and make new friends.

When I finished my A-Levels, I knew I wanted a degree, but I also wanted to get straight into the world of work. An apprenticeship let me do both, so it felt like the obvious choice. If you're weighing up the same thing, know that you really don't have to pick one over the other. Georgia, Senior Events and Partnerships Executive at Higherin

It really is possible to get the best of both, real career experience and the academic side, without having to choose one over the other.

If you're still weighing it up, we've got a full breakdown of degree apprenticeships versus university to help you decide.

What kinds of degree apprenticeships are there?

There's a huge variety of degree apprenticeships across the UK, so no matter where your interests or skills lie, you'll find one to suit you.

You've got two tiers to choose from:

Right now, you'll find degree apprenticeships in a wide range of industries, including:

• Accounting

• Business and Administration

• Construction

• IT & Digital

• Engineering and Manufacturing

• Finance

• Legal

• Marketing

• Surveying.

So who’s hiring right now? Click to find out:

Want to know the best places to work? Check out our Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, ranked entirely by apprentices like you who've left honest reviews of their experience.

At Higherin, we have thousands of job reviews from previous apprentices. You can filter them by industry and company, letting you see exactly what it's like to be an apprentice.

Read what a degree apprentice working at L’Oréal thought about their experience:

We have loads more reviews fresh from our student community.

Do you get paid on a degree apprenticeship?

You absolutely do. You'll be paid at least the National Minimum Wage, and most employers pay a lot more than that depending on your role.

According to our apprentice-written reviews, the average degree apprenticeship salary is over £25,500 a year.

There's real earning power once you're at degree level. Banking degree apprenticeships can pay around £34,000 a year, and if you're heading into education, you could be looking at around £31,500. It's worth researching your specific industry before you apply.

Completing a degree apprenticeship also puts you ahead of your university graduate peers when it comes to future earning potential. With four to five years of work experience already on your CV, you're likely to climb the salary and career ladder faster.

What qualifications do you need?

Every programme is different, but most employers look for three A-Levels between A* and C.

You'll also need GCSEs in maths and english. If you don't have them, you can work towards a Level 2 or 3 Functional Skills qualification in maths and english during your apprenticeship instead.

No A-Levels? That's okay. Some employers accept candidates without them, especially if you've completed an advanced or higher apprenticeship.

You'll convert your grades into UCAS points, which usually need to total between 112 and 120.

It’s worth exploring university and employer sites for full entry requirements. You might qualify for more programmes than you think.

Not quite sure what works for you? Our Senior Events and Partnerships Executive, Georgia, did an apprenticeship after her A-Levels; she breaks down exactly what’s available to you once you’re finished.

Meet Georgia, a former degree apprentice

Georgia started her career journey as a business management degree apprentice at L'Oréal, and found the role through Higherin itself. Watch her story to hear what she got out of her apprenticeship and her top tips for applying.

Can you do a degree apprenticeship if you already have a degree?

Yes, you can definitely apply for an apprenticeship after university.

The only catch is you can't apply for one in a subject you already hold a degree in, since the whole point is that you're gaining new skills.

For example, if you already have a degree in nuclear engineering, you won't be able to do a degree apprenticeship in the same subject.

Read more about how to find an apprenticeship after university.

How do you apply?

Degree apprenticeships can be highly competitive, so it's worth putting real time into your application.

Lots of students apply at the same time as their UCAS applications, but most employers open applications between September and November.

There are roles you can apply for all year round, too, but the earlier you start, the better. Check out our apprenticeship application timeline to see exactly when to apply.

The application process usually goes like this:

Application form → CV and cover letter → Psychometric tests → Face-to-face interview or video interview → Assessment centre → APPRENTICESHIP STARTS

Ready to get started? Our application toolkit and apprenticeship CV guide will help you put a standout application together, and our interview toolkit has you covered once you land an interview.