Teachers, Parents and Supporters

Undertaking a degree apprenticeship will earn you a full bachelors qualification without having to pay student fees.

• You can often gain a professional certificate/s alongside your degree meaning you’ll graduate with more than one qualification
• You will receive a paid wage from your employer throughout your degree apprenticeship
• Gain hands-on work experience in your chosen career, and gain a head start in that field of employment
• The amount of time you spend with your employer or at university will depend on the programme, however you will stay employed with your employer for the duration of the degree apprenticeship
• Training costs are funded by the employer and the Government

• Degree apprentices are paid and employed throughout the whole duration of their study
• Degree apprentices are more likely to stay with their chosen company after completing their degree programme
• Degree apprentices don’t have to pay student fees so graduate tuition debt free

The first step is to find employment with an employer who is supportive of degree apprenticeships. You can register your interest to find out about our current vacancies with a range of employment partners.

View our latest vacancies

Other employers and universities may also jointly advertise their vacancies online, so it is worth checking out their websites as well as visiting the Gov.uk pages for further opportunities.

If you are already working, you may be able to encourage your employer to support a degree apprenticeship within your current workplace. Head to our aspiring apprentices pages for more information.

University of Exeter Degree Apprenticeships are a mixture of employment, face to face teaching on campus, and e-learning. The amount of time spent on each will vary depending on the course you are studying. Please see our programme pages for more information on specific programmes.

On-campus teaching

Held at the University’s beautiful Streatham Campus in Exeter, this element of the degree apprenticeship is an opportunity for all apprentices from across the country to meet and learn from each other, as well as spend valuable time with their academic mentor.

The structure of the on-campus teaching varies according to which programme is being followed:

• Civil Engineering: Two weeks block four times a year
• Digital and Technology Solutions: One week block three times a year
• Financial Services Professional: One day masterclasses once a month

E-learning

Includes lectures, seminars and online collaborative work and is undertaken through the University’s electronic learning environment.

E-learning supplements and furthers the learning begun during the residential element of the apprenticeship and provides academic support for ongoing projects in the workplace.

As an apprentice you will undertake a wide variety of tasks, the exact nature of which will depend on your employer and your chosen programme. Some employers may even rotate your role between departments.

• You’ll be working as part of a team
• You will have real responsibility giving you hands-on, vocational training every day
• You will be supported by your line manager and mentor

Current apprentices are working on exciting projects such as:

• Helping to build Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station
• Supporting international investment portfolios at JP Morgan
• Supporting the UK’s weather predictions systems at the Met Office

Myth: Degree apprenticeships are easier programmes for people that cannot achieve a degree in the ‘usual’ way,

Reality: it is a tough programme! You will need to develop good time management skills in order to successfully balance your time between studying and working in employment.

Myth: Regular students get better support

Reality: We ensure University of Exeter degree apprentices get exactly the same support as those taking a degree via the more conventional route.

Myth: Degree apprentices have a less rounded uniiversity student experience

Reality: All degree apprentices have periods on campus where you can immerse yourself fully in university life. You also have access to the Students Guild and all of the University of Exeter on campus facilities available to regular students.

Myth: Mentor support is not available to degree apprentices

Reality: Students studying for a degree apprenticeship have access to an academic and an employer mentor who follow and support each student from day one to the end of their apprenticeship.

Myth: I am not going to learn enough

Reality: As a graduate of a degree apprenticeship programme you’ll be working in an exciting and relevant job from day one of your studies, meaning you’ll have the both the professional and academic experience sought after by employers. In fact you may be more attractive to future employers than students with a 'traditional' degree.

• UCAS: What are Degree Apprenticeships
• GOV.uk guide to higher and degree apprenticeships
• GOV.uk guide for teachers and advisors
• Hear from our apprentices in action