21 Aug 2023
There are many apprenticeships spread across a multitude of different subject areas that largely correspond to the job roles that the apprentices will take on when they are working with their company. What is less well understood is that there are also different “types” of apprenticeship based on the academic level of them.
This is based on the current educational system and fits in with the numerical system used in much of the UK in order to understand the relevant merits of different qualifications and how they all fit together in the grand scheme of things.
Understanding Apprenticeship “Levels”
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there are different qualification levels that are numbered 1-8 and apprenticeships largely correspond to this.
Apprenticeships start at Level 2 and this is known as an “Intermediate Apprenticeship”. On completing an intermediate level apprenticeship successfully, the apprentice will have achieved the equivalent of a GCSE grade A, B or C, or a level 2 National Vocational Qualification.
The next level up is Level 3 and this is called an “Advanced Apprenticeship” and these are the most popular apprenticeships. These are equivalent to an international baccalaureate level, A levels, or a Level 3 NVQ.
Levels 4 and 5 are collectively referred to as “Higher Apprenticeships” and level 4 corresponds to a Certificate of Higher Education or a Higher National Certificate (HNC) while level 5 corresponds to a Diploma of Higher Education or a Higher National Diploma (HND).
Levels 6 and 7 are referred to as a Degree Apprenticeship and this is because Level 6 corresponds to an undergraduate degree such as a bachelor of arts with honours. Level 7 corresponds to a Masters Degree and or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. (PGCE)
Entrance Requirements
All of these apprenticeship types will be available but they may have different entry requirements in terms of academic success. This is because the academic aspect of each will still need to be completed successfully in order for the apprenticeship to be successfully completed. It is worth looking into the entrance requirements for the apprenticeship level you are interested in following.
The difficulty of the entrance requirements will also correspond directly to the amount of responsibility that the apprentice will be offered during their apprenticeship. The job role they are working in will be more senior if they are working on one of the apprenticeships which is pitched at a higher educational level.
For this reason, many of the higher and degree level apprenticeships can be quite competitive to get into and it may take several attempts to find one where the entrance requirements and level of competition are set at a level that it is possible to apply for.
It is important that you don’t take on an apprenticeship that is too difficult for you and you should discuss this thoroughly with a careers adviser or someone you trust to give such advice as you may have to leave the apprenticeship unfinished and this is something that you should avoid doing if at all possible.
