Degree apprenticeship competition quadruples as university costs rise

New figures show competition for degree apprenticeships in England has quadrupled in recent years, as the cost of going to university continues to climb and students look for alternative routes into higher education and employment.

Data obtained by the BBC suggests that demand for level 6 degree apprenticeships, which combine paid work with a funded university degree, has more than doubled since 2023 through the government's find an apprenticeship service. Over the same period, the number of positions on offer has almost halved, leaving far more applicants chasing fewer places.

The personal impact of this squeeze is clear. Kieran, who was turned down for a degree apprenticeship, started studying computer science at university instead. He said the main appeal had been avoiding the £9,250 annual student debt and earning a salary. He later found himself learning alongside apprentices on the same programme. "We all went to the same lectures and we had the same labs, the same tutorials and that was, I think, always a bit of jealousy," he said. "I knew that I was not getting that same free degree or the same salary at the same time."

Others who have succeeded describe a gruelling process. Anna and Daniel, both now on degree apprenticeships, said they applied for dozens of roles. Anna applied for 35 and spent about 500 hours over eight months on applications. Daniel said university was more straightforward because it relies on one personal statement, whereas degree apprenticeships require a CV, cover letter and a tailored pitch for each company.

Business groups are also raising concerns. The British Chambers of Commerce said worries about the future of apprenticeship funding, along with high employment costs and economic uncertainty, were putting firms off hiring apprentices. At the manufacturing firm Thieves in West Yorkshire, there is frustration that apprenticeship courses are not flexible enough to keep pace with changes in the world of work, particularly around artificial intelligence.

The government says it is backing employers who take on young apprentices, with up to £8,000 in financial support available and free training for eligible under-25s. Meanwhile, universities are adapting: Kieran, now in hindsight, said he would have taken a degree apprenticeship if offered one at 18. "I got very, very lucky and I had a very good experience, but if I was 18 and offered a degree apprenticeship, 100% I would have taken it."