Did you know there's a way you can study for a degree and earn good money at the same time. Genius, huh? Here's all the info you need on degree apprenticeships.
Updated: 15 Apr 2025Degree apprenticeships are apprenticeships which also equip you with a full undergraduate or masters degree at the same time. According to the government, the scheme “bring[s] together the best of higher and vocational education.”
The subjects available are a lot more limited than standard degrees, as they focus on vocational subjects which also require a high level of academia. Most of the subjects are science and technology based, but there are some notable exceptions. Subjects you can study include:
Chartered Surveying
Aerospace Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
Electronic Systems Engineering
Aerospace Software Development
Defence Systems Engineering
Laboratory Science
Power Systems
Public Relations
Automotive Engineering
Banking Relationship Manager
Construction
Like a normal degree, a degree apprenticeship will last a minimum of three years, though some will be longer depending on the course.
When searching for a course, you might want to consider that some standard degrees will include a practical sandwich year in the middle of the course. This means your course could take around four years to complete in total.
Generally you should expect to split your time reasonably equally between studying and the workplace. You may be expected to be in the workplace more when it’s not term time, or you may only have your workplace element to attend during university or college holidays.
The qualifications you need will vary from course to course. However, you should expect to need GCSEs and/or A-levels (or equivalent) which are related to the subject matter - such as science, IT or maths for example.
Here’s what may be the most appealing fact about a degree apprenticeship - they’re completely free.
The cost of studying for this qualification is split between the employer who takes you on and government. You’ll also be paid a training fee while you’re in employment, so not only will you avoid tuition fees and tuition fee debt, you’ll also be earning real money for the full three years (or more) that you’re completing your degree apprenticeship.
So far, there are more than 100 companies working with 20 universities across England (the degree apprenticeship scheme is currently not available in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland). There’s a real mix of companies involved with the scheme, ranging from large scale organisations such as BT, Ford and GlaxoSmithKline down to SMEs with fewer employees.
You can search hundreds of degree apprenticeships on Best Apprenticeships. Each listing will tell you more information about the degree apprenticeship, as well as giving you information on the qualifications you will need to apply.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, but there are several benefits to studying for a degree apprenticeship.
Not only are the costs paid, but you’ll also be getting extremely valuable real-world experience that will help you find employment when you finish the course. You may also find that you’ll be able to carry on in the workplace that you complete your apprenticeship in, or make some fantastic contacts to help your future career.
On the downside, with a real workplace to attend, as well as your study time, you may miss out on some of the aspects of university life that many will experience. As long as you’re prepared for that before you start though, you should be fine.