Demand for degree apprenticeships in England quadruples in three years

The demand for degree apprenticeships in England has surged fourfold in just the past three years, according to BBC research. These apprenticeships combine a paid university degree with a salary, gaining popularity as higher education costs have come under fire. Government data shows applications nearly tripled from 8,100 to 21,800 over the three-year period, while the number of available positions dropped nearly in half, from 7,300 to 3,700.

Aspirants cited fierce competition and employers' cutbacks due to high wages and economic uncertainty as reasons for applying to university as a backup. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) supports employers hiring apprentices.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has advocated for teenagers to pursue technical career routes comparable to traditional university degrees, amid concerns about university costs and calls to reform student loan repayments. University tuition fees in England are set to rise annually with inflation.

However, the competitiveness of degree apprenticeships is evident, with 11.3 applications per position this year, up from 2.8 in 2023-24. Employers are advertising fewer positions, despite platforms like Find An Apprenticeship recording a surge in searches for degree apprenticeships.

Some, like 22-year-old Kieran McRae, found university and apprenticeship routes similar but missed out on a degree apprenticeship place. Others, like 18-year-old Anna Helder, applied to numerous apprenticeships and secured a project management role in London, despite a lengthy and intense application process. Others, like 21-year-old Daniel Edwards, found university more straightforward, while others still, like 21-year-old Vicky Orsmond, noted the high competitiveness among applicants.

Businesses, such as Fives, a Yorkshire manufacturing company, express challenges in hiring apprentices due to rising training costs and evolving work demands. The British Chambers of Commerce also highlight the pressure on businesses' operating margins and uncertainties over apprenticeship funding.