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Key Takeaways
- Apprenticeships run from Level 2 up to Level 7 — degree and master's equivalent — not just entry-level trades.
- There is no upper age limit, and career changers in their thirties and forties are eligible.
- The employer funds the training, largely through the apprenticeship levy, so you pay nothing and earn a salary.
- Competition for degree apprenticeships at large employers is intense, comparable to graduate schemes.
- You are a real employee with a real contract, not a student on placement.
The word "apprenticeship" still makes most British professionals think of a sixteen-year-old learning a trade. That picture is roughly a decade out of date, and it costs people the single best-value retraining route available in the UK.
Apprenticeships now run to master's level, cover accountancy, software engineering, law, healthcare and management, carry no age limit, and are paid for by the employer while you draw a salary.
This guide covers the levels, who qualifies, and how to get one.
If you are applying alongside other routes, check your CV parses — the free ATS score checker.
The levels
Apprenticeships are graded by level, roughly mapping to established qualifications:
- Level 2 — GCSE equivalent
- Level 3 — A-level equivalent
- Levels 4-5 — higher education certificate and diploma equivalent
- Level 6 — degree apprenticeship, bachelor's equivalent
- Level 7 — master's level, including chartered professional qualifications
Levels 6 and 7 are the ones professionals miss. A Level 6 software engineering apprenticeship delivers a full degree, paid for, while you earn. A Level 7 accountancy or management apprenticeship can deliver a chartered qualification the same way.
Common professional apprenticeships include software engineering, data analysis, cyber security, accountancy leading to ACA or ACCA, chartered management, project management, HR through CIPD, nursing, and solicitor apprenticeships.
How the funding works
The apprenticeship levy. Larger UK employers pay a levy which they can draw on to fund apprenticeship training. Smaller employers access government co-funding.
What this means for you: the training and the qualification are paid for by the employer, not by you. No student loan, no course fees.
You earn a salary throughout. There is an apprentice minimum wage that applies in the first year and to under-19s, but employers hiring career changers into professional apprenticeships typically pay a normal role salary rather than the minimum — it is worth checking what a specific programme actually pays.
Compare that with self-funded retraining, where you pay thousands and earn nothing during the course. The difference over two or three years is substantial, which is why this route deserves far more attention than it gets — see the UK career change guide.
Who is eligible
No upper age limit. This is the single most misunderstood point. Apprenticeships are open to anyone aged 16 or over who is eligible to work in the UK.
You must not already hold a qualification at the same or higher level in that subject. You can generally do a Level 6 apprenticeship in software engineering holding a degree in history, but not holding a degree in software engineering. Rules on this have changed over time, so check the current position for your specific programme.
You must be employed — an apprenticeship is a job with structured training attached, not a course you enrol on independently.
Right to work applies as with any employment — see UK right to work explained.
Minimum duration is typically at least twelve months, with degree apprenticeships running three to four years.
What it is actually like
You are an employee, with a contract, holiday entitlement, pension and the same employment rights as any colleague — including through probation, as the UK probation period guide covers.
Typically 80% workplace, 20% training. Off-the-job training is a formal requirement, often delivered as one day a week at a college or university, or in blocks.
End-point assessment. Apprenticeships conclude with an independent assessment rather than only coursework.
It is demanding. You are doing a real job and a real qualification simultaneously. People underestimate this, particularly career changers used to studying without a full-time job attached.
Getting one
Competition at large employers is intense. Degree apprenticeships at well-known companies attract application volumes comparable to graduate schemes, and the process is similar — online application, aptitude tests, video interview, assessment centre. Prepare accordingly using the UK graduate scheme guide and UK interview tips.
Applications often open in autumn for September starts, though many employers recruit year-round.
Smaller employers are far less competitive and frequently advertise directly rather than through the national service.
Ask your current employer. If you already work somewhere that pays the levy, an internal apprenticeship is often the easiest route of all — the employer already knows you and the funding already exists. Many people are eligible for this and never ask.
Where to look: the government's Find an Apprenticeship service, employer career pages, and university websites for degree apprenticeship partnerships.
Common Mistakes
Assuming they are only for school leavers. There is no upper age limit, and Levels 6 and 7 deliver degree and master's qualifications.
Not asking your current employer. If they pay the levy, the funding already exists and they already know you — the easiest version of this route and the one people never raise.
Paying for a course when an apprenticeship covers the same qualification. The employer funds the training and you earn throughout, which over three years is a very large difference.
Underestimating the competition. Degree apprenticeships at large employers attract graduate-scheme-level volumes and run a comparable selection process.
Expecting apprentice minimum wage. Professional apprenticeships hiring experienced people frequently pay a normal salary; check what a specific programme actually offers rather than assuming the floor.
Not checking the prior qualification rule. You generally cannot do an apprenticeship at or below the level of a qualification you already hold in that subject.
Underestimating the workload. A real job plus a real qualification simultaneously is demanding, particularly alongside family commitments.
Only looking at large employers. Smaller organisations are far less competitive and often advertise directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an age limit for apprenticeships?
No. Anyone aged 16 or over who is eligible to work in the UK can apply, and career changers in their thirties and forties are common on higher-level programmes.
Do apprenticeships go up to degree level?
Yes — Level 6 is degree equivalent and Level 7 is master's level, including routes to chartered professional qualifications.
Who pays for the training?
The employer, largely through the apprenticeship levy, with government co-funding for smaller employers. You pay nothing and earn a salary throughout.
How much do apprentices earn?
There is an apprentice minimum wage for the first year and under-19s, but professional apprenticeships hiring experienced people frequently pay a normal role salary. Check the specific programme.
Can I do one if I already have a degree?
Usually yes, provided it is not at the same or higher level in the same subject. Rules have changed over time, so confirm for your specific programme.
Are apprenticeships competitive?
At large employers, very — comparable to graduate schemes, with similar aptitude tests and assessment centres. Smaller employers are considerably less competitive.
Can I ask my current employer for one?
Yes, and it is the most overlooked route. If they pay the levy the funding exists already, and they know you, which removes the hardest part.
Check your CV before applying. Check your ATS score free.
Make This Practical
Ask your current employer first, before looking anywhere else. If they pay the apprenticeship levy the funding already exists, they already trust you, and an internal Level 6 or 7 apprenticeship is the least competitive version of this route by a wide margin.
Then check the level that matches your goal rather than assuming apprenticeships mean entry level. Level 6 delivers a degree and Level 7 delivers master's-level and chartered qualifications, both employer-funded while you earn.
Finally, prepare as you would for a graduate scheme if you are targeting a large employer. Apply in autumn, practise aptitude tests, and prepare for an assessment centre — then widen the search to smaller employers who advertise directly and attract a fraction of the applications.
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