The University of Huddersfield has been named University of the Year for Degree Apprenticeships 2027 in the new Daily Mail University Guide.
It is the first time the guide, the latest edition of which is published online today, has presented an award for Degree Apprenticeships, making Huddersfield the first recipient.
Organisers of the guide highlighted Huddersfield’s degree apprenticeship success rate in this year’s Department for Education figures as a key factor in the award, alongside the scale of the University’s apprenticeship operation and its Outstanding Ofsted rating.
They were also impressed by the potential of the University’s National Health Innovation Campus to make a positive impact not only for apprentices but also as a community resource and a facility that benefits students across a range of programmes.
Alastair McCall, Editor of the Daily Mail University Guide, commented that the University had made a huge impact in the sector.
He added: “Huddersfield offers exceptional degree apprenticeship opportunities to students. No other university delivers such exceptional outcomes for its apprentices on the same scale as Huddersfield – last year 88% achieved their apprenticeships across provision that spans 11 programmes and around 800 students.
“The Daily Mail’s new award for University of the Year for Degree Apprenticeships was introduced to recognise the contribution made by these earn-while-you-learn degrees in opening up higher education to the widest audience, offering a debt free route to a university degree, income while studying, and a job at the end of it all.”
He continued: “The new National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC) will be home to a swathe of degree apprentices across several healthcare programmes, from podiatrists to paramedics, from nursing associates to advanced clinical practitioners. This facility – with all its treatment benefits for the local community, too – speaks to the wider ambition of the University for the region it serves.
“Huddersfield’s exemplary record on degree apprenticeships shows that ambition extends to all its students at whatever level they are studying, and we are delighted to recognise that contribution.”
Earlier this year, it was revealed that the University of Huddersfield had among the highest apprenticeship Qualification Achievement Rate (QAR) for Higher Education Institutions in England with more than 100 apprentices for the second consecutive year.
The data from the Department for Education showed a 2024/25 QAR of 88 per cent, which, coupled with the University’s apprenticeship provision being awarded the highest possible grade of Outstanding by Ofsted, demonstrates the excellent learning experience for apprentices and their employers at Huddersfield.
Brian Culleton, Director of the Academy of Teaching, Learning and Skills (ATLaS) at the University of Huddersfield, commented on the award: “Being the inaugural recipient of this award reflects years of hard work in a model we believe in. Degree apprenticeships widen access to higher education and give employers a direct route to the skills they need. This recognition is owed to our apprentices, our employer partners, and the colleagues and mentors who support them, and it strengthens our commitment to meeting the skills needs of our region.”
Professor Bob Cryan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, added: “To be recognised in this way is a testament to the University’s enduring success in helping students achieve their career ambitions and realise their potential. At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to equipping students with the knowledge, experience and ambition to make a positive impact in their professions and communities. This award reflects our wider contribution to transforming lives through education, supporting economic growth and inspiring professionals who go on to make an impact locally, nationally and globally.”
The University offers a number of degree apprenticeships, which are a way to gain a full university degree while earning a salary and developing valuable skills through workplace experience.
Huddersfield is also the largest provider of apprenticeships in nursing and allied health in Yorkshire and the Humber, with more than 800 apprentices across all courses.
