Everything you need to know about apprenticeships in England, including what they are, entry requirements, and more.
Taking an apprenticeship in England
There are apprenticeships available for thousands of different jobs in a range of industries. From something hands-on like engineering, nursing or construction, to a career in marketing, law or project management, to name a few.
With an apprenticeship, most of your learning is through on-the-job training and you’ll work towards a qualification at the same time. You get paid a salary just like a normal employee, and you get dedicated study time throughout the week too.
To be considered for an apprenticeship programme in England, you need to be:
- aged 16 or over
- living in England,the British Overseas Territories, or Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and Isle of Man)
- not in full-time education
Care-experienced students
If you're in care, or have experience of being in care,Amazing Apprenticeships Care Leavers Guidegives infoabout apprenticeships and what help is available if you're considering an apprenticeship in England, including financial assistance.
A day in the life of a Sales Apprentice
Please accept marketing cookies to watch this video.
Change your cookie settings
Intermediate apprenticeships (Level 2)
Level 2 apprenticeships are equivalent to GCSE standard.
Advanced apprenticeships (Level 3)
Level 3 apprenticeships are equivalent to two A Level passes.
Higher apprenticeships (Level 4 and 5)
Higher apprenticeships are equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree or a foundation degree.
Degree apprenticeships (Level 6 and 7)
A degree apprenticeship is equivalent to an undergraduate or a master's degree.
Discover which industry might suit you
Interested in an apprenticeship but not sure what you want to do?Get to know the different industries offering apprenticeships, from marketing to architecture and business management to engineering.
Explore industries
Entry requirements for apprenticeships in England
An apprenticeship is a real job, so you’ll also need to meet any other criteria set out by the employer. Entry requirements are different depending on the employer and the role, and will vary per vacancy.Make sure you read the vacancy carefully and get in touch with the employer if you have any questions.
Remember, it’s not all about qualifications. Employers will be looking for willingness to learn, passion, and transferrable skills you could bring to the role.
"When we’re looking for our apprentices, there really isn’t a specific type of person, or specific skill set we’re looking for. Instead, it’s about recognising people with ambition and a determination to succeed."
Looking for jobs and apprenticeships? We can match you to potential employers.
Just create a UCAS account and fill in a quick form to tell us what you are interested in, where you live, and how far you want to travel.