If you’re finishing school, thinking about changing careers, or want to avoid university debt, an apprenticeship could be a great option. You get to learn on the job, earn a wage, and gain real qualifications. And with recent changes in 2025, apprenticeships are now shorter, more flexible, and easier to get into.
Level 2 – Intermediate Apprenticeship
Intermediate (or level 2) apprenticeships are designed to cover entry-level roles and provide the basic skills and knowledge required to begin a career. If you’re aged 16 and over, they represent the ideal opportunity for you to embark on further training outside of the classroom. Typically, over a 12-month period, you’ll work towards obtaining qualifications equivalent to GCSEs, usually in the form of a diploma relevant to the area you’re working in.
Entry requirements will vary from one or more GCSEs to no formal qualifications or experience, and employers are encouraged to make their apprenticeships as accessible as possible, so relevant experience and skills will be considered. On completion of an intermediate apprenticeship, you’ll be able to seek advancement at your current employer, undertake an advanced qualification at your current employer or elsewhere, or move into further education at a higher level than when you left school.
Some of the intermediate apprenticeships on offer can be found across sectors such as agriculture, environmental, animal care, construction, business, administration, vehicles, transport, engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, science and hospitality.
Summary:
This is the first step in the apprenticeship ladder. It’s a good option if you’re aged 16 or over and want to start learning a skill while working.
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Takes about: 12 months
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What you get: A qualification equal to GCSEs
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Subjects include: Construction, animal care, business, healthcare, hospitality, transport and more
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What’s new in 2025:
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A new type called a Foundation Apprenticeship was introduced.
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It’s for people aged 16–21 (or up to 24 if you have additional needs).
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Employers get money if you complete it and move up to the next level.
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You don’t always need GCSEs to get in. Employers now look at your skills and experience too.
Level 3 – Advanced Apprenticeship
Advanced (or level 3) apprenticeships are the next step on the apprenticeship ladder, offering an alternative to A-levels, with which they’re considered equivalent, and are suitable if you have skills, experience or qualifications in a sector already and are looking to progress. Typically taking place over an 18-month to 24-month period, you’ll delve into more technical detail and gain greater expertise in your chosen sector.
Entry requirements are stricter for advanced apprenticeships, with many often requiring up to five GCSEs, including maths and English. At this level and depending on the apprenticeship, you may achieve professional recognition upon completion by the relevant professional organisation or institute.
Summary:
This is the next level up. It’s like doing A-levels, but while working.
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Takes about: 18 to 24 months
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What you get: A qualification equal to A-levels
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Subjects include: More technical roles like IT, healthcare, construction, engineering, and business
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Entry requirements: Usually 5 GCSEs (including English and maths)
This level is good if you already have some knowledge or skills and want to go further in a career.
Level 4 & 5 – Higher Apprenticeships
Higher (or level 4 or 5) apprenticeships are designed to offer degree-equivalent qualifications and experience while doing the job. They typically take between 12 and 60 months to complete, with a significant proportion of that time spent with a training provider, college or university, to develop knowledge and skills.
Employers offering higher apprenticeships will usually expect some form of previous experience or subject knowledge.
The entry requirements are tougher, with five GCSEs and level 3 qualifications such as A-levels tending to be prerequisites to entry. As ever, equivalent experience is acceptable, and higher apprenticeships tend to be the level at which those already in work or leaving higher education such as university will apply, so expect competition to be that much more intense.
Summary:
These are for people who want a job with more responsibility or want to learn at a higher level.
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Takes about: 1 to 5 years
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What you get: A qualification equal to the first years of university (like an HNC or foundation degree)
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Where you learn: You’ll split your time between a training provider (like a college or university) and your job
You’ll usually need A-levels or a Level 3 apprenticeship to get in.
Level 6 & 7 – Degree Apprenticeships
A degree apprenticeship is like a higher apprenticeship, but apprentices will also work toward a bachelor’s degree at level 6 or a master’s degree at level 7.
Degree apprenticeships are a popular alternative to the traditional route of obtaining a degree directly from a university, because the employer will cover the cost. Going to university to study a three-year bachelor’s degree as an individual student, for example, will set you back thousands of pounds. Degree apprenticeships are entirely funded by the employer. As an apprentice, you’ll also be paid a salary while you study, and be entitled to holiday.
Where degree apprenticeships and traditional degrees differ is the method of learning. Work placements will often come in the final year of a degree, with studying on campus taking up the majority of your time.
On a degree apprenticeship, you’ll mix learning with working, so you’ll split your time between a training provider, increasingly one of England’s many universities, and an employer, meaning you’ll be able to put your knowledge and skills into immediate practice, and take away those burning questions that you want to pose to your teachers.
Degree apprenticeships are still relatively new, but employers, higher education providers such as universities, and professional bodies are waking up to their potential, with dozens now available in England. These apprenticeships range from aerospace software development engineer apprenticeships to diagnostic radiographer apprenticeships; from psychological wellbeing practitioner apprenticeships to senior leader apprenticeships.
Summary:
These apprenticeships let you get a university degree while working and earning money.
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Takes about: 3 to 5 years
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What you get: A bachelor’s degree (Level 6) or a master’s degree (Level 7)
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What’s different:
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You don’t pay tuition fees – your employer covers the cost
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You spend time at both work and university
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You get paid a salary while you learn
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Important change for 2026: If you’re aged 22 or older, some Level 7 (master’s) apprenticeships may not be funded by the government anymore – unless you’re a care leaver or have special needs.
Big changes to all apprenticeships (in 2025)
Here are the most important updates:
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Shorter courses – Apprenticeships can now last as little as 8 months, instead of 12.
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Simpler training hours – You don’t have to spend exactly 20% of your time in off-the-job training anymore. Each apprenticeship now has a set number of training hours.
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Easier English & maths rules – If you’re aged 19 or older, you don’t have to pass English and maths to finish your apprenticeship (unless your job needs it). But you still need to work on your skills.
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New assessment system – You’ll now be tested throughout the apprenticeship, not just at the end.
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Levy changes – Big companies must now spend at least half their training funds on apprenticeships. The rest can go to short courses like Skills Bootcamps.
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New organisation – A new body called Skills England now looks after apprenticeships and training across the country.
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