The straight answer: financially, a degree apprenticeship almost always wins for the first 5–7 years. Career-wise, it depends what you want.
The numbers (typical 2026 figures)
| Degree apprenticeship | University | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition cost | £0 | £9,250/yr |
| Salary year 1–4 | £22k–£30k | £0 |
| Student debt at 22 | £0 | £45k+ |
| Years to a degree | 4–6 | 3 |
When university still wins
- Medicine, dentistry, veterinary science
- Subjects with no apprenticeship route in your region
- If the campus experience itself is a goal
When the apprenticeship wins
- Anyone certain about a sector (engineering, IT, finance, law)
- Anyone who learns best by doing
- Anyone who can't afford to defer earning for 3 years
Explore live degree apprenticeships and UCAS-listed apprenticeships.