FAQs about apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes that are designed to help employers train their staff for specific job roles. At the same time, apprentices get a paying job with valuable training for 20 percent of their time, while they work towards a nationally recognised apprenticeship standard.

Degree Apprenticeships are training programmes that enable you to achieve an undergraduate or post graduate degree from a UK university.

Yes, they are exactly the same. They are just delivered in a different way and usually over a longer period of time. However, the big difference is the employer pays your tuition fees so you can gain debt-free degrees in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Digital Marketing, Solicitor, Leadership & Management, Paramedic, Data Science and many other topics whilst working as an apprentice.

• You must be working in a company with an office address in England.
• You must spend at least 50% of their working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship. This also applies to remote and hybrid workers.
• You ideally should work more than 30 hours per week. If you are working fewer hours than this, please contact the Apprenticeship team for further guidance.
• You must have a valid and eligible residency status and the right to work in England.
• You must be aged 16 or above. There is no upper age limit.

If you are an existing employee looking to start an apprenticeship, then the criteria will depend on what your current role is and matching it with the most appropriate apprenticeship standard. For all programmes, we must demonstrate that the learner has gaps in their knowledge and skills before we can enrol them onto an apprenticeship.

No, existing employees starting an apprenticeship should continue to be paid their normal salary.

You will be entitled to the same employment terms and conditions as other employees working at similar grades or in similar roles including paid annual leave, sick pay, and company benefits.

Yes, as long as it’s a different subject or above undergraduate degree level.  A degree is a Level 6 qualification. As such, a graduate can study a suitable Level 7 apprenticeship or take a Level 2-6 apprenticeship as long as they are learning 'substantive new skills'. For example, an English Literature Graduate could start a Level 3 Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship. Whereas it's unlikely that a Mechanical Engineering Graduate could.

You can start your employment at any point during the year.  However, your practical training programme with the university will start at specific points during the year. Please refer to the course pages for specific start dates.

All apprentices must have a contract of employment which is long enough for them to complete the apprenticeship programme. They must also have a job role (or roles) that provides them with the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to achieve their apprenticeship.

Employment can be offered either on a fixed-term or permanent basis, however the apprenticeship must last a minimum of 12 months and a day, regardless of age or prior experience.

The minimum duration of 12-months and a day is based on an apprentice working at least 30 hours per week, including any off-the-job training they undertake. If the apprentice works fewer than 30 hours per week, or where a part-time working pattern is needed, you must agree with the training provider to extend the apprenticeship accordingly.

No. Employers can take on as many apprentices as they can fund and support.

Apprenticeships allow for flexible learning alongside your job, with each course being taught differently. Some of our courses require you to attend sessions on campus in either block sessions or on a day release basis, whilst others are predominately distant learning with you undertaking your study online. Your time studying is considered ‘off-the-job’ training, examples of these off-the-job elements include independent study, taught block sessions, workplace mentor meetings, and online learning.

The duration of an apprenticeship differs from course to course. A typical degree apprenticeship can take anywhere between two and seven years. You can find details of the length of individual courses on each dedicated course page.

Apprentices must be employed to continue their learning. However, it is easy to transfer the learning from one employer to another (as long as the new employer agrees to do this and pay any applicable fees).