Degree apprenticeships
Degree apprenticeships are a way for employers to support their staff to study for a university qualification. Apprentices spend part of their time at the university and the rest at their place of work, benefitting from on-the-job training enhanced by their university education.
Ofsted
The apprenticeship provision at the University of Huddersfield has been graded as OUTSTANDING. This is the highest possible grade that Ofsted can award.
Learn more about OfstedAward Outstanding provider
How to apply for an apprenticeship
Useful advice and guidance on becoming an apprentice
Employers
Useful information for employers looking for apprenticeships for your staff
Apprentices
Useful information for apprentices looking for an apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship Courses
Take a look at the degree apprenticeships available at Huddersfield
How much will it cost?
Find out how the Apprenticeship Levy supports the payment of apprenticeship learning
Get in touch
Get help and advice about degree apprenticeships
The University of Huddersfield is a current delivery partner of the Kirklees Apprenticeships for All project. This project is managed and delivered by Kirklees Council and part funded by the European Social Fund. The project aims to attract, support and grow apprenticeships across the Kirklees Metropolitan District. The project is receiving up to £1,750,000 of funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations. For more information on the Kirklees Apprenticeships for All project, please visit their website.
Apprenticeship Disclaimer
Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons:
Employers
Degree Apprenticeships add value and return on investment for employers as learners implement their learning and skills within the organisation. In addition, apprenticeships allow your organisation to:
- Address high-level skills gaps and specific business needs
- Develop future leaders for your business
- Increase motivation, productivity and performance of existing employees
- Recruit, support and retain high-calibre talent
What are degree apprenticeships?
Degree apprenticeships combine work with higher level learning . Apprentices spend most of their time at work, employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week while also attending University. You have to allow them to spend a minimum of 6 hours per week ‘off-the-job’ study or training.
At the University of Huddersfield, Higher and Degree Apprenticeships include qualifications from Level 5 (equivalent to a Foundation Degree) through to Level 7 (equivalent to a Master’s degree).
How does it work?
The course content will be similar to that of full-time study and apprentices will be part of a cohort group that benefit from each other’s experience and support. Apprenticess gain the knowledge and skills you would expect from a high quality degree while work based learning methods will help the apprentice maximise the impact on your organisation. Assessments may include reports, presentations and company projects to ensure academic study is integrated with on-the-job training. Off-the-job training will be agreed with the apprentice, the employer and the University and how to plan and support development during and after study.
When does an apprentice attend University?
Apprenticeships are primarily work based qualifications so training and assessment is in partnership with the employer. Any off-the-job training such as attending University must be undertaken in the apprentice’s paid employment hours. Attendance at University will be required for the academic award and will usually take place through day release or in some cases attendance blocks. This will vary according to specific courses.
How are apprenticeships assessed?
At the end of the apprenticeship, apprentices will complete an end point assessment (EPA). For some degree apprenticeships this will be part of the degree (integrated EPA) and others it will be a separate assessment following completion of the degree (non-integrated EPA). The assessment will be agreed between the University and the employer.
How long will it take?
The minimum length of an apprenticeship is one year but higher and degree level apprenticeships typically take between two and five years to complete.
What support is available?
All apprentices have access to the range of support services at University of Huddersfield. This includes areas such as academic skills support, Students’ Union, Computing and Library Services and Wellbeing and Disability Services.
Hiring an apprentice
An apprentice must work with experienced staff, must learn job specific skills and must study during their working week. There are several steps to taking on an apprentice.
Get in touch
We have specialist staff who can provide advice and guidance to employers about all aspects of the apprenticeship process.
For more information please email:
Education
If you would be interested in working with us to set up a new apprenticeship, please email the Director of Apprenticeships, Brian Culleton.
Apprentices
Degree Apprenticeships combine work with higher level learning and are designed to help you gain a university level qualification while still performing your role. Apprentices spend most of their time at work, employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week while also attending University, so you get to work, earn, learn, and progress at the same time. Your employer must commit to providing you with a minimum of 6 hours per week ‘off-the-job’ study or training.
At the University of Huddersfield, Higher and Degree Apprenticeships include qualifications from Level 5 (equivalent to a Foundation Degree) through to Level 7 (equivalent to a Master’s degree).
How does it work?
The course content will be similar to that of full-time study, and you will be part of a cohort group that benefit from each other’s experience and support. Apprenticeships will be taught a little differently, as well as being offered the knowledge and skills you’d expect from a high-quality degree, using work-based learning methods will help you maximise the impact from your study and work place. Assessments may include reports, presentations, and company projects to ensure you integrate your academic study with on-the-job training. Your employer will be required to allow you to undertake ‘off-the-job training’ for a minimum of 6 hours per week. This will be agreed with yourself, the employer, and the university and how to plan and support your development during and after your study.
When will you attend University?
Apprenticeships are primarily work based qualifications so training and assessment is in partnership with your employer. Attendance at University will be required for the academic award and will usually take place through day release or in some cases attendance blocks. This will vary according to specific courses.
How will you be assessed?
At the end of your apprenticeship, you will complete an End Point Assessment, although for some degree apprenticeships this will be the same as for your degree. The assessment will be agreed between the University and your employer.
How long will it take?
The minimum length of an apprenticeship is one year but higher and degree level apprenticeships typically take between 2 and 5 years to complete.
What support is available?
All apprentices have access to the range of support services at University of Huddersfield. This includes areas such as academic skills support, Students’ Union, Computing and Library Services and Wellbeing and Disability Services.
Get in touch
We have specialist staff who can provide advice and guidance to those interested in study towards an apprenticeship. For more information, please email:
How to apply
Apprentices must be employed and have the support of their employer. As apprenticeships are work-based learning, being employed in a role that is relevant to your apprenticeship will allow you to apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the workplace.
Get in touch
Apprenticeships are funded through your employer. It is important that we speak with them directly to complete the right paperwork to enrol you on an apprenticeship programme at Huddersfield. Your employer will need to email the School offering the route you’re interested in:
How much will it cost?
Apprentices do not pay tuition fees. Employers use their Apprenticeship Levy to cover costs.
The Levy Explained
The Apprenticeship Levy was introduced in April 2017 to proactively increase the quantity and improve the quality of apprenticeships across the country. Employers in England can invest this money along with additional government funding in apprenticeships according to specific rules. The tax applies to all UK employers with an annual pay bill of more than £3 million who pay 0.5% of their pay bill towards the Levy.
How does the Levy work?
Eligible employers report and pay the levy to HMRC through the PAYE process and then use their individual apprenticeship service account to access funding, choose approved training providers and manage payments. The Government applies a top-up of 10% to the funds that enter the account each month. Funds will expire 24 months after they enter the account unless they are spent on apprenticeships.
For employers who don’t pay the Levy, support is still available. They pay 10% of the apprenticeship training costs and the Government will pay the rest (90%), up to a funding band maximum. This is known as ‘co-investment’.
Read detailed information about how the Levy works
What can you use the Levy for?
Apprenticeship training and End Point Assessment with a training provider on the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers. Training must last a minimum of one year and 20% of the apprentice’s time must be spend on ‘off-the-job training’. You can only use funds in the account to pay for apprenticeship training and assessment for apprentices that work at least 50% of the time in England, and only up to the funding bandmaximum for that apprenticeship.
What can the Levy not be used for?
Wages, statutory licences to practise, travel and subsidiary costs, work placement programmes and the cost of setting up an apprenticeship programme.
Get in touch
Supporting a degree apprenticeship can be a significant commitment, for the employer and the learner, but it is also an opportunity, and knowing exactly how to make the most of the funding will play a major role in how successful it is for your company.
We have specialist staff who can provide advice and guidance on the Levy and other financial aspects. For more information, please email apprenticeships@hud.ac.uk
Apprenticeship Courses
You can search all Degree Apprenticeship courses here
Get in touch
For more information about apprenticeships, please email:
Get in touch
We have specialist staff who can advise and guide employers and apprentices on all aspects of the apprenticeship process.
For more information, please email:
Apprenticeship Disclaimer
When you enrol as an apprentice learner of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and our disciplinary procedure. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as an apprentice. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to.
Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons:
Changes to a course you have applied for but not yet started
If we propose to make a major change to an apprenticeship course that you have applied for, then we will tell you and your employer as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.
Although we always try and run all the courses we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or delay your course start date if we consider this reasonably necessary, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you and your employer as soon as reasonably possible. In such instances, we will work with you and your employer to agree a deferred start date, or cancel your application and, if appropriate, provide information regarding other local apprenticeship providers.
Changes to your course after you enrol as an apprentice
We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that materially changes the services available to you, or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days, classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.
For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the requirements of an updated version of the apprenticeship standard relevant to your course; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.
In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you and your employer as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered or claiming an interim award and exiting the University.
If a major change affects your course, we will notify you and your employer as soon as possible and will carry out suitable consultation with affected apprentices. If you and your employer reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment we will work with both of you to try to find an appropriate solution. Where one cannot be found we will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring your remaining apprenticeship learning to another training provider if you and your employer wish to do so.
Termination of employment
As your employer is funding your apprenticeship course, you must remain in relevant employment for the duration of the course until you have completed your end point assessment. Under the apprenticeship rules, if you are made redundant and you have completed 75% of the practical period or have less than 6 months left, then you may complete the course. Otherwise, unless you find alternative relevant employment within 12 weeks of the date you are made redundant, then you will be withdrawn from the course.
The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University. The ESFA is the principal regulator for your apprenticeship course.