Good news for students considering apprenticeships! UCAS has announced that apprenticeships will get UCAS points from September 2024.
This was shared by a UCAS representative during a national apprenticeship conference in Birmingham.
UCAS had announced similar plans this time last year. The plan was that points for apprenticeships would be rolled out by the end of 2023.
However, the process has faced some delays due to the UK’s devolved education system, which means that each of the four nations has its rules and regulations. UCAS has said they are talking to regulators and stakeholders involved to come up with a fair system.
Why add UCAS points to apprenticeships?
Adding points to apprenticeships is part of a larger plan by the government to make UCAS a place where students can find all kinds of education and training options. It follows UCAS’s recent move to list apprenticeship opportunities alongside college and university courses on its website.
A levels, T Levels, BTECs, and Cambridge Technicals already get UCAS points to help students qualify for university. Now, apprenticeships will join this system, giving students a clearer idea of how their apprenticeship experience can help them in their future.
How many UCAS points will apprenticeships get?
We don’t know yet how many points apprenticeships will get. While this change shows that apprenticeships are gaining more recognition as valuable educational pathways, Conroy also admitted that more than simply UCAS points are needed to make apprenticeships as respected as other post-16 options.
Plans for a public consultation
Students can expect this change to take effect by September 2024. UCAS will start talking to the public about it in April or May to get their thoughts.
Overall, this is a big step forward in acknowledging the importance of apprenticeships in education. By giving points to apprenticeships, UCAS hopes to help students make better choices about their future careers and education.
View apprenticeship opportunities available right here on the Apprenticeship Guide website.