Degree apprenticeships offer work-based courses in conjunction with part-time study at university. At the end of the programme apprentices will qualify with a bachelors or master’s degree in their specific field or area of expertise.  

Degree apprenticeships allow students to gain first-hand experience of a working environment whilst they are studying at university. This experience is invaluable and can act as a key differentiator when searching for full-time employment. Many long-term apprenticeships lead to full-time employment, with research suggesting that over 80% of apprenticeships offer a full-time contract following the initial apprenticeship period.

Students that undertake degree apprenticeships earn a wage, with some companies paying more than £300 per week throughout their first year of study. Most companies provide a starting salary which can rise throughout the course based on performance and meeting expectations. Salaries vary depending on the company and programme.

Unlike attending university full-time, degree apprentices don’t pay tuition fees but will still obtain a full degree qualification at the end of their programme. Moreover, this work experience equips students with certain soft skills such as team working, communication skills and commercial awareness, all of which are sought after in most professions.

Companies partner with universities to design a course structure, ensuring that training and study is completed alongside their work. There are currently around 25 apprenticeship programmes available at this level, ranging from construction and engineering to aerospace development and dentistry. Some of the companies that offer courses include BT, Airbus, Experian and Jaguar.

Launching in 2015, degree apprenticeships are still a relatively new concept. The initiative currently has around 1000 apprentices, significantly lower than the 500,000 students who start a university course each year. The programmes are highly sought after, with employers often looking for skilled candidates who are committed to their work and studies.

A degree apprenticeship could be a good choice for students who wish to gain experience in a specific industry or field, but still wish to obtain an academic qualification. However, due to the limited number of degree apprenticeships available, the competition is tough, with employers often only considering extremely high performing candidates to be suitable for their roles.