What is a Level 3 Apprenticeship?

How do they work?

As a level 3 apprentice, you’ll work for at least 30 hours a week, including time spent studying. Depending on your employer, you’ll either study in-house at a training facility or off-site at an external training provider such as a further education college.

Level 3 apprenticeships are viable alternatives to college or sixth form. They allow you to enter the world of work and earn a salary from age 16+.

By the time your peers have finished their A-Levels, you'll already have almost 2 years worth of work experience on your CV, giving you the upper hand.

What is a Level 3 apprenticeship equivalent to?

On completion, a Level 3 apprenticeship is the equivalent of getting 2 A-Level passes. If you’ve already got a handful of A-Levels, you can apply for a higher apprenticeship instead.

Did you know that 90% of apprentices are offered permanent employment either during their apprenticeship or post-completion? Once you’re done, you’ll become highly employable and could have a permanent job waiting for you.

Can I go to university with a Level 3 apprenticeship?

You can! A Level 3 apprenticeship is equivalent to A-Levels and UCAS points, which are enough to get you onto a university course (always check the entry requirements).

You can also move up to a higher or degree apprenticeship, which will give you all the perks of university without the debt.

What GCSEs do you need for a Level 3 apprenticeship?

If you want to do a Level 3 apprenticeship, you’ll need to:

• Be 16 and over

• Not in full-time education

When it comes to GCSEs, you’ll need five GCSEs graded 9 to 4 (A* to C) or have completed a Level 2 apprenticeship. If you don’t already have GCSEs in maths or english, you’ll work towards a functional skills qualification during your apprenticeship.

An apprenticeship is all about gaining skills. That doesn’t mean that you don’t already have some of the skills employers want. Captain of a sports team? Leadership skills. Damn good at chess? Attention to detail skills right there.

Do you get paid for a level 3 apprenticeship?

Yup! An apprenticeship is a real full-time job, so you’ll be paid for the work you do. How much you earn depends on your employer, the apprenticeship level and your location. So it’s 200% worth having a look around.

As a basis, every apprentice will be paid the current National Apprenticeship Wage. Loads of employers pay way above this.

According to our apprentice-written reviews, the average Level 3 apprenticeship salary is over £20,900 per year.

Read our article on the Highest Paid Apprenticeships to learn more.

Which companies offer Level 3 apprenticeships?

Apprenticeships are super popular. 119,900 people started a Level 3 apprenticeship in 2024.

A lot of the UK’s biggest companies are looking for talented school leavers and beyond to join their ranks early. You are spoilt for choice as there are opportunities available in companies across a wide range of industries, including:

• Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care

• Arts, Media and Publishing

• Business, Administration and Law

• Construction, Property and Surveying

• Education and Training

• Engineering and Manufacturing

• Retail and Commercial Enterprise

• Health, Public Services and Care

• Information and Communication Technology

• Leisure, Travel and Tourism

So, who’s hiring? Let’s see:

Want to know about the best places to work? Check out our Top Apprenticeship Employers, in conjunction with the Department for Education. We ask apprentices what they think of their work experience, they leave reviews, and we get the Top 100.

Read what a Level 3 apprentice working in the creative industry thought about their scheme:

Read more of our job reviews, written by previous apprentices.

How to apply

All good applications start with a CV and cover letter. It’s likely your first time applying for a job... eek!

But that’s okay. We have lots and lots of application and interview advice, resources, and tips to help you boss the application process.