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What are Higher and Degree Apprenticeships?

Higher and Degree apprenticeships offer the best of both worlds combining university study and workplace learning.

Whether it’s a new recruit or a current employee, organisations can enrol staff onto a Higher or Degree apprenticeship to gain new knowledge, new skills and new thinking whilst completing an undergraduate or masters degree.

By accessing levy payments or government funding, businesses can provide employees with a recognised and relevant qualification, with little extra cost to the organisation. Learning is based on real workplace activities and live projects to complement day-to-day operations.

Our extensive undergraduate and postgraduate apprenticeship portfolio provides opportunities for employees to upskill and gain new or further qualifications in a variety of programmes.To find out more simply check out our FAQs for:

 

 

A Degree Apprenticeship is a full-time job with an accompanying skills development programme, during which employees can achieve a full Bachelors or Masters degree as part of their apprenticeship.

Degree apprenticeships combine working with studying part-time at university. The job must have a productive purpose and should provide the apprentice with the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to achieve the apprenticeship.   

Through the degree apprenticeship, apprentices will gain the technical knowledge, practical experience and wider skills they need for their immediate job and future career. The apprentice gains this through a wide mix of learning in the workplace, formal off-the-job training and the opportunity to practice these new skills in a real work environment.  

Anyone who is in employment for 30 hours or more per week is eligible to apply for a degree apprenticeship. 

Students can be an existing member of staff or a new recruit and there is no age limit. 

Some courses do have standard entry requirements. Full details on Northumbria's entry requirements can be found within entry requirements section on the relevant course page

In partnership with your training provider, your organisation will support the learner at work to achieve their apprenticeship.

Whilst studying the apprentice will be required to work full-time (for at least 30 hours a week) in your workplace, and will be supported through learning at work, training and study to achieve the requirements of the apprenticeship standard.

At Northumbria University all assessments are work-based including student projects; they can be based on the context and activity of your organisation, leading to increased organisational understanding and performance by the apprentice whilst ensuring they develop new skills and enhance your productivity and business performance.

In order to complete the programme the learner will have to demonstrate that they have obtained the relevant skills and knowledge required during their workplace training. They will also have to take an end-point assessment in order to achieve their apprenticeship.

Northumbria’s Apprenticeship programme will build upon our innovative and work-based approach to learning, by designing a programme that integrates theory with practice. We will use work-based modules to connect the learning to practical experience.

If you would like to explore further how degree apprenticeships work complete the below enquiry form and a member of the team will be in touch.  

Our Higher and Degree Apprenticeships are shaped by world-leading research, and created in consultation with students, employers and professional, statutory and regulatory bodies.

In addition to this we offer more than a learning programme; we develop a partnership. We work with organisations to develop courses that meet the demands of their business.

Building upon the foundation of the apprentices’ existing abilities and experience, our academic qualifications ensure employees are empowered through increased skills, knowledge and self-awareness, so they can take on tomorrow’s challenges.

Our apprenticeships build upon our innovative and work-based approach to learning, by designing a programme that integrates theory with practice.

We use work-based modules to connect the learning to practical experience. Our apprentices think independently, understand and justify their own opinions, and recognise the need to challenge their thinking, and the thinking of others.

We work with organisations to build a workforce development portfolio which meets their needs, objectives and strategy. We also run closed programmes for larger cohorts which allows us to tailor the programmes content to a specific organisation.

If you would like to discuss further about working with Northumbria complete the below enquiry form. 

In April 2017 apprenticeship funding changes were introduced in England and the apprenticeship Levy was developed.

If you’re an employer in England with a salary bill over 3 million you’ll pay 0.5% apprenticeship levy into the Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS).

Organisations are able to access their levy to cover 100% of apprenticeship training and assessment fees over a 24-month period. Organisations who chose not to access their levy on apprenticeships would not be entitled to receive the money back from the DAS. Organisations who access their levy will also receive a 10% top-up to the levy funds from Government.

If you’re a business in England with a salary bill of less than £3 million you don’t pay a levy, however, you are eligible for a least 95% funding towards apprenticeships.

You can also get an extra £1000, if your apprentice is:

  • Under 19 at the start of their programme.
  • A care leaver aged 18 -24.
  • Has a local authority Education, Health and Care Plan.

If your apprentice falls into one of the above categories, and you have fewer than 50 employees you will receive 100% funding.

The apprenticeship process starts with a simple enquiry from the employer.

From then we will work in collaboration with your organisation to discuss your aims and objectives and design the best workforce development portfolio for your requirements.

We guide both employer and employees through the application and funding processes and will be on hand to assist you during the apprenticeship journey.

Step 1. 

Enquire - Contact our Business Development Team to discuss the development of your workforce.

Step 2. 

Application -  Once your development requirements are identified we will support you throughout the application process, guiding you every step of the way.

Step 3. 

Agreement - Once a formal offer is made to the applicant, we will work with you to complete all required paperwork from contract to enrolment.

Step 4. 

On Programme - We form a partnership with each employer in order to ensure you receive continued support throughout the apprenticeship programme and learning journey.

By accessing levy payments or government funding, businesses can provide new and existing employees with a recognised and relevant qualification, with little extra cost to the organisation.

Organisations invest in talent development and apprenticeships to:

  • Address skill gaps within the workforce
  • Upskill employees to deal with future challenges and drive productivity gains
  • Increase staff motivation and loyalty
  • Provide an attractive offer to recruit high calibre talent
  • Ensure staff meet regulatory standards and are up to date with sector knowledge
  • Enable internal workforce development ahead of costly external recruitment

To discuss the fees of our apprenticeships or to explore signing an agreement with the university please complete the form below and a member of the team will be in touch shortly.

Apprentices do not pay any tuition fees. 

All tuition fees for apprenticeships are covered by the employer, the total payment required depends on the organisations apprenticeship levy status.

As apprentices are in full-time employment they do not have student status and are not eligible to apply for student finance.

No, as an apprenticeship is a work-based programme all off-the-job training must take place within contracted hours.

Apprentices may choose to spend additional time training out of hours, but this is not a requirement. 

No, off-the-job training can be delivered in many ways.

Northumbria can provide teaching on campus within the classroom, or for some larger cohorts and closed programmes we can deliver the apprenticeship within the work-place or a suitable external location convenient for employees.

During the apprenticeship students must have 20% Off-the-job training.

This is normally for university study, however, it can be delivered flexibly. It must be away from the apprentice’s normal working duties and must teach new knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to their specific apprenticeship. 

A higher apprenticeship is a full-time job with an accompanying skills development programme, during which employees can achieve a Level 4, 5 or 7 qualification, equivalent to a higher education certificate, higher education diploma, foundation degree or a masters. 

Higher apprenticeships combine working with studying part-time. The job must have a productive purpose and should provide the apprentice with the opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to achieve the apprenticeship.   

Through the higher apprenticeship, apprentices will gain the technical knowledge, practical experience and wider skills they need for their immediate job and future career. The apprentice gains this through a wide mix of learning in the workplace, formal off-the-job training and the opportunity to practice these new skills in a real work environment.  

Anyone who is in employment for 30 hours or more per week is eligible to apply for a Higher Apprenticeship. 

Students can be an existing member of staff or a new recruit and there is no age limit. 

Some courses do have standard entry requirements. Full details on Northumbria's entry requirements can be found within entry requirements section on the relevant course page

In partnership with your training provider, your organisation will support the learner at work to achieve their apprenticeship.

Whilst studying the apprentice will be required to work full-time (for at least 30 hours a week) in your workplace, and will be supported through learning at work, training and study to achieve the requirements of the apprenticeship standard.

At Northumbria University all assessments are work-based including student projects; they can be based on the context and activity of your organisation, leading to increased organisational understanding and performance by the apprentice whilst ensuring they develop new skills and enhance your productivity and business performance.

In order to complete the programme the learner will have to demonstrate that they have obtained the relevant skills and knowledge required during their workplace training. They will also have to take an end-point assessment in order to achieve their apprenticeship.

Northumbria’s Apprenticeship programme will build upon our innovative and work-based approach to learning, by designing a programme that integrates theory with practice. We will use work-based modules to connect the learning to practical experience.

If you would like to explore further how higher apprenticeships work complete the below enquiry form and a member of the team will be in touch.  

The apprenticeship process starts with a simple enquiry from the employer.

From then we will work in collaboration with your organisation to discuss your aims and objectives and design the best workforce development portfolio for your requirements.

We guide both employer and employees through the application and funding processes and will be on hand to assist you during the apprenticeship journey.

Step 1. 

Enquire - Contact our Business Development Team to discuss the development of your workforce.

Step 2. 

Application -  Once your development requirements are identified we will support you throughout the application process, guiding you every step of the way.

Step 3. 

Agreement - Once a formal offer is made to the applicant, we will work with you to complete all required paperwork from contract to enrolment.

Step 4. 

On Programme - We form a partnership with each employer in order to ensure you receive continued support throughout the apprenticeship programme and learning journey.

By accessing levy payments or government funding, businesses can provide new and existing employees with a recognised and relevant qualification, with little extra cost to the organisation.

Organisations invest in talent development and apprenticeships to:

  • Address skill gaps within the workforce
  • Upskill employees to deal with future challenges and drive productivity gains
  • Increase staff motivation and loyalty
  • Provide an attractive offer to recruit high calibre talent
  • Ensure staff meet regulatory standards and are up to date with sector knowledge
  • Enable internal workforce development ahead of costly external recruitment

We offer Higher and Degree Apprenticeships within:


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