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Live UK degree apprenticeships

Degree apprenticeships

Get a full bachelor's or master's degree, get paid, and graduate debt-free with years of real career experience. The same university degree, without the tuition fees.

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What is a degree apprenticeship?

A degree apprenticeship is a Level 6 or 7 job where you earn a full bachelor's or master's degree while employed. Your employer and the government cover tuition, so you graduate debt-free with several years of experience. Entry usually needs A levels, a Level 3 apprenticeship or equivalent qualifications.

Last reviewed by the Shine careers team.

Why a degree apprenticeship

Paid from day one

Salaries typically £20,000–£35,000+ in year one, rising every year.

No tuition fees

Employer and government cover 100% of the degree cost. Zero student debt.

Real career head-start

3–5 years' full-time work experience by the time you graduate.

Same degree

Awarded by accredited UK universities. Identical to a campus-based degree.

Top employers

PwC, Rolls-Royce, BAE, GSK, IBM, BT, NHS, JLR, the Big 4 and many more.

Levels 6 & 7

Bachelor's-level (Level 6) and master's-level (Level 7) routes available.

Degree apprenticeship FAQs

Honest answers to the questions UK applicants and parents ask most.

What is a degree apprenticeship?
A degree apprenticeship is a Level 6 (bachelor's) or Level 7 (master's) apprenticeship where you work full-time for an employer, get paid a salary, and study part-time at a partnered UK university. You graduate with the same full degree as a traditional student, but with 3–5 years of real work experience and no tuition fee debt.
Do degree apprentices get a real degree?
Yes. Degree apprenticeships are awarded by accredited UK universities (Warwick, Aston, Manchester Met, UWE, Northumbria and many others) and are identical in standing to a degree earned full-time on campus.
How much do degree apprentices earn?
Most degree apprentices start on £20,000–£28,000, and large employers (PwC, Deloitte, IBM, Rolls-Royce, BAE, GSK, JLR, BT, the NHS, Big 4 banks) often pay £25,000–£35,000+ in year one, rising each year.
Who pays for the degree?
Your employer and the UK government pay 100% of the tuition through the Apprenticeship Levy. You never pay tuition fees and you don't take on a student loan for the course.
What entry requirements do degree apprenticeships need?
Most ask for at least three A levels (or equivalent, T Levels, BTECs, Access courses) at grades typically between BBB and AAB depending on the employer, plus GCSE maths and English at grade 4/C or above. STEM routes often require maths and a science.

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Related guides

Part of Shine's apprenticeship guide series, plain-English answers, updated regularly.