What Is A Degree Apprenticeship?
Degree apprenticeships are a new type of programme that offer students the chance to achieve a degree as part of their apprenticeship. Find out more here.
Apprenticeships offer on-the-job training across a wide range of roles and disciplines within an organisation. The programmes are delivered at different levels:
Intermediate (Level 2) and Advanced (Level 3) apprenticeships are the introductions to work-based learning. They are equivalent to the educational level of GCSE and A-Level qualifications, respectively.
Higher apprenticeships build on the knowledge and skills developed during A-Level study, or Level 2 or 3 apprenticeships. They incorporate advanced skills and qualifications – some even to degree level.
Degree apprenticeships feature an undergraduate degree across selected apprenticeships. Each degree apprenticeship programme combines the benefits of working and earning a degree qualification simultaneously.
Degree apprenticeships are a relatively new type of academic programme that offer students the chance to achieve a full bachelor’s or master’s degree as part of their learning. The programmes combine a working placement with part-time university study. The time spent to complete them – generally between three and six years – is dependent on the course level and employer requirements.
At present, degree apprenticeships are only available in England and Wales, but applications may be made from students from all parts of the UK. As these programmes are still in their infancy, however, current vacancies are limited. Due to recent government investment in education, more opportunities are expected to become available in the near future.
Who is a degree apprenticeship for?
Degree apprenticeships are primarily targeted at 18- to 19-year old school leavers as an alternative to the traditional university route. They are an appealing pathway for students unsure about entering university due to student debt and other factors, such as preferring to join the workforce straight from school.
However, degree apprenticeships are also suitable for mature students, and those who already hold a degree, providing the subject is unrelated to the apprenticeship. In these cases, degree apprenticeships support the learner’s progression from technical roles into management, making them suitable for those who have completed a lower-level apprenticeship but wish to advance their career through further study. Moreover, if a student’s academic history makes them ineligible for a degree apprenticeship, they may be eligible for a higher apprenticeship.
How do degree apprenticeships work?
Apprentices will complete a final assessment at the end of the programme, which evaluates the apprentice’s academic learning and occupational competence.
Programmes are structured in one of two ways:
1. Universities, professional bodies, and employers co-design an integrated degree course specifically for apprentices.
This type tests both academic learning and occupational training competence. This structure is the preferred approach of many sectors, as the theoretical knowledge and on-the-job training complement one another. Separate professional competence tests are not required.
2. Some sectors, on the other hand, prefer to use existing degree courses to deliver the academic knowledge requirements of that profession.
This format combines additional training to meet the full apprenticeship criteria and requires a separate assessment for occupational competence at the end of the programme.
Regardless of the course type, qualifications earned by taking a degree apprenticeship will be of an equivalent standard to degrees studied via the full-time undergraduate route.
What degree apprenticeships does BPP offer?
BPP offers the following apprenticeship courses, which develop learners’ job-specific skills through on the job training and formal education.
Benefits of degree apprenticeships
Degree apprenticeships have several advantages, from financial freedom to a head start in a chosen profession. Apprentices will earn a full degree without paying the fees associated with university degrees as the training costs are co-funded by the government and the employer. Apprentices will also receive a wage from their employer while they receive on-the-job training that complements their academic learning, giving them a practical insight into their chosen industry.
How do degree apprenticeships differ from placements and sandwich degrees?
Work placements involve undertaking an industry placement during term time or the holidays, while sandwich degrees include a year spent working in industry as part of a full-time undergraduate degree. Degree apprenticeships build on these models, but differ in the following areas:
Degree apprentices are employed throughout the programme and are paid a wage from their first day on the job.
Degree apprentices often develop an attachment to their employer during the programme, which often leads to the company retaining the apprentice once the programme ends.
Universities often collaborate with employers to develop new degrees that reflect the needs of the industry. In such cases, apprentices will be gaining cutting-edge skills that are in demand.
To find out more about our apprenticeships: www.bpp.com/apprenticeships
