Want to be an apprentice?

Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. An apprentice works alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills, earning a wage and holiday pay. Apprentice employers are required to release their apprentice for role-related study (the equivalent of one day a week).

Apprenticeships are designed by employers, for employers, meaning that you will be receiving training in the skills needed in your chosen industry. They allow you to earn a wage whilst setting yourself up for the future, or to further progress your career up to masters-level whilst staying with your employer.

The University of Brighton offers Higher and Degree Apprenticeships:

• Intermediate Apprenticeships are equivalent to 5 GCSE passes  (Level 2)
• Advanced Apprenticeships are equivalent to 2 A-level passes (Level 3)  
• Higher Apprenticeships incorporate qualifications that are equivalent to foundation degrees (Levels 4 and 5) 
• Degree Apprenticeships see the apprentice achieving a full bachelors or masters degree* upon completion (Levels 6 and 7)

Entry requirements for apprenticeships differ depending on the qualification, please check individual programme pages.

Applicants should work a minimum of 30 hours per week in a relevant job role to apply for the apprenticeship. If the working hours are less than 30 then applicants may still be accepted but this will require an additional individual assessment by the course team and the duration of the apprenticeship will need to be amended to reflect this. The time spent on off-the-job training should be at least 20% and should be included as part of working hours. The employer must allow time to complete the apprenticeship within the working hours.

You can search an apply for vacancies on Find an Apprenticeship. Once registered, email and text alerts can be set up about new apprenticeship vacancies which may be of interest. Alternatively, if you are already employed and an apprenticeship would be beneficial to your role you could discuss this with your employer, and see if they are able to pay for costs through their apprenticeship levy.

If you meet the criteria and have the full support of your employer you can use our Online Applications service. For further guidance on applying please contact the Apprenticeships Team at apprenticeships@brighton.ac.uk.

All apprentices enrolled with the university receive the same benefits as the rest of our students, including access to online learning and library facilities.

Additional financial support is available for care leavers starting apprenticeships. A £1,000 bursary is available to support care leavers who are aged 16-24, this will be paid directly to them in the first year of the apprenticeships.

The training provider has a key role to play in providing off-the-job training, assessing progress towards achieving their qualifications and supporting you generally during their apprenticeship. They work very closely with the employer to ensure that the apprentice receives:

• An induction programme on starting
• A detailed training plan (including on-the-job training)
• Regular progress reviews
• Opportunities to put into practice off-the-job learning so that they can achieve their qualifications/requirements of the apprenticeship
• Mentoring and general support throughout the apprenticeship

This will all be documented in a commitment statement that is part of the Apprenticeship Agreement. This is an individual learning plan that the provider, the employer and apprentice will all sign up to.

In the unfortunate event that your employer is making you redundant before the end of your apprenticeship, we can offer support and guidance to help you seek employment for the remaining duration of your apprenticeship programme. As your training provider we may still be able to offer training in the short term whilst our Careers team support you to find a new employer. Find out more.