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No tuition fees

Students doing degree apprenticeships won't pay tuition fees. These are paid by the employer and the government, meaning that their degree is completely free. 

This makes degree apprenticeships a potentially great fit for students who might be worried about being in student debt after university.

They'll also get paid a salary as they work and study. And will have access to all the perks of being an employee at a company – such as paid holiday, health support, a pension scheme and the option to join a worker’s union.

Breakdown of study and work

Degree apprenticeships combine work and study. This often means four days working and one day studying in a typical week, but can also mean a few weeks working and a week studying. Apprentices are likely to have assignments alongside their work, as well as having to attend lectures and complete any reading set.

It’s worth noting that this makes degree apprenticeships much more demanding than a full-time degree course, so it’s really important that students choosing this option are organised and can manage their time well.

The benefits of degree apprenticeships

Because they're not paying tuition fees and are being paid a salary, degree apprentices won't have any loans to pay back. As well as getting paid while they study, students on degree apprenticeships will get years of relevant experience before they graduate.

This'll improve their employability and give them a better chance at finding work than graduates who studied full time. Although working, degree apprentices will still have access to perks of being a student, such as student discounts and living in university halls.

Longer than full-time undergrad degrees

Your students should bear in mind that degree apprenticeships are often longer than full-time degrees.

And as they're getting paid a salary, they're not eligible to take out a student loan to support their living costs.

Limited options

They may also have less choice over where they get to work and study since there are significantly fewer degree apprenticeships offered than full-time degrees.

If your students are really excited about the freedom to manage their own time that being a university student gives, degree apprenticeships may not be for them.

Highly competitive

Degree apprenticeships are very competitive. The appeal of no student debt and better job prospects draws lots of students to apply for degree apprenticeships.

Because they're so popular, the number of applications received far outweighs the number of available spaces.

So it's good to encourage your students to apply for a full-time degree as a backup option in case they don't get onto a degree apprenticeship.

A different student experience

Although degree apprentices get access to the same benefits as full-time students, they're likely to have a very different student experience.

As they're working full time alongside their studies, they may have less free time and fewer holidays than full-time students.

This can make it hard to join societies – most of which hold their activities on Wednesday afternoons – and means they might have less opportunity to join in with nightlife, especially during the week.

Finding degree apprenticeships

If your students don't mind where they're located but have a field of work in mind, the is the best place to start.

Or, if students know they want to live in a certain area, they can look at university websites to see what degree apprenticeships they offer.

However, it's useful to remember that since degree apprenticeships are employer-led, what apprenticeships one university has on offer may change year-on-year.

If your students are passionate about digital and technology solutions, they can search for degree apprenticeships on .

Students can also find degree apprenticeships advertised by employers as they're looking for apprentices for a particular job role. Some larger employers may also have specific web pages dedicated to apprenticeships, so encourage students to go searching.

How to apply for degree apprenticeships

Unlike applying to a full-time degree, degree apprenticeships have no fixed cycle for applying. Some organisations will advertise a year in advance, some in January or February for a September start, and some will wait until Spring.

If your students are keen to apply, they should start looking during the autumn before they plan to start and keep checking back throughout the year.

Students will need to meet the requirements of the university as well as apply for the role through the company. The application process will vary depending on the company the degree apprenticeship is with but is likely to include:

• Application form or CV
• Pre-interview questionnaires or competency checks
• Interview – or multiple interviews in some cases

Students may also need:

• Relevant work experience
• Portfolio

Like with any other type of employment, students may have to apply for multiple apprenticeships.