What questions are asked at a degree apprenticeship interview?

Mostly motivation questions (why this route, why this employer, why this role) and questions asking for examples of teamwork, problem-solving, resilience and learning. Technology and engineering roles often add a problem-solving or technical question.

How do I answer "why a degree apprenticeship and not university?"

Give reasons that are genuinely yours: learning by doing, getting into the industry early, or applying what you study straight away. Don't make it only about avoiding debt, and don't criticise university. Show you have thought about what the route involves, including the workload.

What if I don't have any work experience?

That's expected. Use examples from school, clubs, sport, volunteering, caring responsibilities or personal projects. Interviewers are judging how you think and act, not where it happened.

What should I wear to an apprenticeship interview?

Something smart, whether it is in person or on video. If the employer gives a dress code, follow it; if not, smart business wear is the safe choice.

Degree apprenticeship interview questions and prep

Expect to be asked why you want this route, why this employer, and for examples of things you have done. Nobody expects professional experience. Interviewers are judging your motivation, your potential, and whether you can talk specifically about your own examples.

✦ Try it on a real role

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The briefing covers the likely interview format, what happens on the day, questions to prepare, any assessments to expect, what this employer looks for in apprentices, and a few tips. It works from the listing and won't invent names, dates or details it can't infer. For a saved application it is generated once and kept, so it is still there when you come back.

The usual formats

Competency-based. Questions that start "Tell me about a time when…". They want a real example and what you personally did in it.
Strengths-based. What you enjoy and what comes naturally to you. The questions come quicker, and interviewers are listening for genuine enthusiasm.
Recorded video interview. Questions on screen, a short time to prepare, and a set time to answer. Nobody is on the call, so practise talking to a camera.
Assessment centre interview. One part of a longer day that may include a group exercise, a presentation or a written task.
Technical or case questions. Common for engineering, technology and finance roles. They test how you approach a problem, not whether you already know the job.

Questions to prepare

Motivation

Why a degree apprenticeship rather than university?
Why do you want to work for us?
What do you know about what we do?
Why this role in particular?
Where do you see yourself at the end of the programme?

Examples

Tell me about a time you worked well in a team.
Tell me about something that went wrong, and what you did about it.
Tell me about a time you had to learn something quickly.
Tell me about a time you had several deadlines at once.
Tell me about a time you took the lead.

The route itself

How will you balance work with studying for a degree?
How do you feel about working alongside experienced colleagues from day one?
What do you do outside school or work?

Answering with examples

For example questions, use a simple structure: the situation, what needed doing, what you actually did, and what happened as a result. Most of the answer should be about what you did. Examples from school, part-time work, sport, clubs, volunteering or personal projects all count; what matters is that you can talk about them in detail.

Prepare four or five examples you know well. Most questions can be answered with one of them, told from a slightly different angle.

On the day

Re-read the listing and your application beforehand. Anything you wrote is fair game.
For a video interview, test your camera, microphone and connection first, and sit somewhere quiet with a plain background.
Have two or three questions ready for the end, about the training, the team, or what past apprentices have gone on to do.
If you don't understand a question, ask for it to be repeated. That is completely fine.
Afterwards, write down the questions you were asked. They help with the next interview.

If you are still waiting to hear back, what happens after you apply covers the stages before this one, and the guide to getting a degree apprenticeship covers assessment centres in more detail.