Page 8 - UCAS Apprenticeships and More

8
Apprenticeships, Degree Apprenticeships
and Sponsored Degrees
Apprentices are employed by companies
and spend around 80% of their time
at work and 20% studying. There are
different levels of apprenticeship, with
schemes lasting a minimum of a year
and up to five or six years for some
degree apprenticeships. To find out
more about the benefits, download and
share the
UCAS Guide to Apprenticeships.
Sponsored Degrees
Sponsored degrees share some
characteristics with degree
apprenticeships, but there can be
significant differences; notably, those on
sponsored degrees do not have to be
employed by the sponsoring company.
In addition, the specific package on offer
can vary from employer to employer: full-
time study or part-time study; bursary,
salary or course fees paid. UCAS has a
free guide to sponsored degrees that
explains more about this route and the
different options.
School-Leaver Schemes
There are school-leaver schemes, too, which
are typically run by employers. These offer
professional qualifications rather than academic
ones. Such schemes are quite common
in finance, professional services and retail
management.
To confuse matters, you will find the different
terms used interchangeably. Students should
focus on the detail of their chosen scheme to
ensure they know exactly what they are getting.
Top tip: Students can apply for both university
and work-related schemes if they want to keep
their options open.
Finding the Right Option
Applicants to all programmes will need to
balance work and study, show that they are
ready for the workplace and consider how they
will adjust to longer hours and shorter holidays
than those at university.
When deciding which is right for them,
students should consider:
•
How will time be split between work
and study?
•
What qualifications are on offer?
•
How long is the scheme?
•
Will they be paid?
•
Will they be employed?
•
Who will they pay for any course fees?
•
What happens after the scheme?