The future growth of degree apprenticeships

Universities UK commissioned CFE Research to review the development of degree apprenticeships to date, and examine what needs to happen to ensure their future growth and success. The report finds that: degree apprenticeships are particularly attractive to non-traditional students, providing an opportunity for universities to support widening participation goals; universities can diversify their offer and promote alternatives to traditional full-time on-campus study by developing degree apprenticeships; and universities need to be involved in the development of policy around degree apprenticeships.

Key features of the degree apprenticeship are that: (1) they combine university study and workplace learning to enable apprentices to gain a full bachelor's or master's degree; (2) an apprentice has full-time employment status rather than student status, and receives at least an apprentice's minimum wage; (3) they are co-designed by employers ensuring that apprentices are equipped with the skills employers need and boost their employment prospects; (4) degree apprentices do not pay for training costs or student fees and are not eligible for student loans; (5) under the current funding model (for 2014-15 and 2015-16) two-thirds of the cost of degree apprenticeships is contributed by the government (up to a capped amount) and the remaining third by the employer; (6) from September 2015, places on the first degree apprenticeships became available in four key industries: digital; automotive engineering; banking relationship manager; and construction; and (7) degree apprenticeships in a further nine industrial areas have also been announced: chartered surveying; electronic systems engineering; aerospace engineering; aerospace software development; defence systems engineering; laboratory science; nuclear; power systems; and public relations.

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