For Parents

Everything you need to know about degree apprenticeships

Your child could graduate debt-free with a full degree and three or four years of professional experience. Here's how to evaluate whether it's the right choice.

£0
tuition fees for your child
£0
student debt on graduation
£18–30k
typical annual salary
3–5 yrs
to a full degree with experience
How it works

Work and study at the same time

A degree apprenticeship combines full-time employment with part-time university study. Your child works for an employer (typically four days per week) and studies at a partner university (one day per week, or in blocks). The employer pays their salary and funds the degree through the government's Apprenticeship Levy — your child pays nothing.

At the end of the programme (typically 3–5 years), they graduate with a full Bachelor's or Master's degree and have years of professional experience in their CV. Most employers offer their apprentices a permanent role on completion.

The comparison

University vs degree apprenticeship

Traditional university

✗£9,250/yr tuition fees (England)
✗£27,750+ total debt on graduation
✗Living costs of ~£12,000/yr
✗No income during study
✗~3 years full-time
✗Work experience varies (placements not always available)

Degree apprenticeship

✓£0 tuition fees — funded by employer + government
✓£0 debt on graduation
✓Salary of £18,000–£30,000/yr
✓Full income throughout the programme
✓3–5 years (part-time study)
✓3–5 years of professional experience on graduation
Try our cost calculator →
Common questions

Concerns parents often raise

Is a degree apprenticeship as respected as a traditional degree?

Yes. Degree apprentices graduate with a full Bachelor's or Master's degree from a UK university — the same qualification as any other student. The degree is awarded by the university and appears on their CV without any distinction from a 'standard' degree. Many employers who offer degree apprenticeships (KPMG, PwC, Google, NHS, Rolls-Royce) actively prefer candidates they've trained themselves.

Will my child have a normal university experience?

It will be different, not lesser. Degree apprentices typically attend university one or two days per week, or in block-release periods. They'll still interact with peers, access university facilities, and graduate with the same cohort. Many apprentices say they value having real work experience to contextualise their studies — something most traditional students lack.

What if the employer goes out of business or makes them redundant?

This is rare, but if it does happen, the apprentice can transfer to another employer or pause their studies. The degree credits they've earned remain valid and portable. Apprentices employed by large blue-chip firms face very low redundancy risk — these are often multi-year programmes with strong talent pipelines.

Can they still apply to traditional universities at the same time?

Absolutely. Your child can apply through UCAS for university places and to employers directly for degree apprenticeships simultaneously. Many students hold both options open until results day. Apprenticeship offers are typically made directly by employers, not through a central clearing system, so there's no conflict.

Who pays for the degree?

The employer and the government fund the degree through the Apprenticeship Levy — your child pays nothing towards tuition fees. They also receive a salary throughout the programme, typically £18,000–£30,000 per year depending on the employer and sector.

Are these programmes only for certain subjects?

No. Degree apprenticeships now span technology, finance, engineering, healthcare, law, business management, data science, project management, and more. The range of available subjects has expanded significantly since 2015 and continues to grow.

How to support your child's application

1
Start early
Most programmes open applications in September–November for the following year. Encourage your child to research and shortlist roles from September onwards.
2
Treat it like a job application
Degree apprenticeship applications involve CVs, cover letters, online tests, and often assessment centres. Support them in preparing these — the same way you'd help them with a UCAS personal statement.
3
Apply to both routes simultaneously
There's no rule against applying to both UCAS and apprenticeships at the same time. Keeping options open until results day is a perfectly sensible strategy.
4
Help them research the employer
The employer is as important as the programme. Research the company's culture, training reputation, and what previous apprentices say about their experience.

Ready to explore the options?

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