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.
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
Median starting salary £24,100, rising to £33,630 on completion (IDR, 2025 survey of large employers).
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
Health, construction and digital are the biggest sectors for degree apprenticeship starts (Education Policy Institute, 2025).
Levels 6 & 7
Bachelor's-level (Level 6) and master's-level (Level 7) routes available.
How much do degree apprentices earn?
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Degree apprentice median starting salary (Sept 2025 intake) | £24,100 | Incomes Data Research |
| Degree apprentice median hourly rate, first year | £12.60 | Incomes Data Research (via Netbox) |
| Degree apprentice median salary on completion | £33,630 | Incomes Data Research (via Netbox) |
| Graduate trainee median starting salary, for comparison | £31,000 | Incomes Data Research |
| School and college leaver hires, median start → after 3 years | £23,000 → £31,500 | Institute of Student Employers, 2025 |
These surveys mostly cover large employers, which tend to pay more than small firms. Treat them as a guide, and check the salary on each advert.
Which degree apprenticeships can you do?
A few examples of approved degree apprenticeship standards. Each employer sets its own salary, shown on the vacancy. By law it can never be below the apprentice minimum wage.
| Sector | Example standard | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Digital and tech | Digital and technology solutions professional | 6 |
| Data | Data scientist (integrated degree) | 6 |
| Engineering | Civil engineer (degree) | 6 |
| Business | Chartered manager (degree) | 6 |
| Health | Registered nurse (degree) | 6 |
| Construction and property | Chartered surveyor (degree) | 6 |
| Law | Solicitor | 7 |
Source: official apprenticeship standards search, where you can see every approved standard and its typical length.
How do you apply for a degree apprenticeship?
- 1
Start looking in Year 12 or the first year of college
Large employers open applications from around September to January for starts the following autumn. Smaller employers advertise all year round.
- 2
Check entry requirements for each role
Each employer sets its own requirements, usually A levels or equivalent such as a T Level or BTEC, plus GCSE maths and English.
- 3
Apply directly to the employer
You apply for the job, not a university place. Expect an online form, often an online test, then a video or in-person interview or assessment centre.
- 4
Keep a university or college back-up
Places are competitive, so many applicants apply to UCAS at the same time and decide once offers arrive.
Official vacancy search: gov.uk Find an apprenticeship. You can also add apprenticeships alongside university choices through UCAS.
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?
- A 2025 survey of 71 mostly large UK employers by Incomes Data Research found a median starting salary of £24,100 for degree apprentices (about £12.60 an hour) and a median of £33,630 on completion. Pay varies by employer, sector and region, and smaller employers may pay less. The legal floor is the apprentice minimum wage.
- 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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Part of Shine's apprenticeship guide series, plain-English answers, updated regularly.
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