Degree apprenticeships are gaining increasing popularity among school leavers in England, as rising university costs and uncertain graduate employment prospects prompt many to seek alternative routes into the workforce. These programs combine paid employment with part-time degree study, allowing apprentices to earn a salary while completing an undergraduate qualification without incurring student debt.

Ridhka Kakkar, who turned down a place at Leeds University to pursue a degree apprenticeship with the Office for National Statistics, is among those embracing this pathway. Over four years, Kakkar has gained practical experience in data analysis and bulletin writing while studying economics at the University of Kent, mostly online with occasional in-person sessions. She says the apprenticeship provided a valuable balance of work and study and relieved her of the financial burden typically associated with full-time university education.

Degree apprenticeships, once considered less prestigious, are now drawing strong interest from middle-class families, employers, and school leavers. Applications to these programs have surged in recent years, with some high-profile employers receiving more applications for apprenticeships than prestigious universities do for their traditional degree courses. For example, JPMorgan Chase received over 9,000 applications for 100 apprenticeship spots in 2025, surpassing Oxford University’s 2024 figure of approximately 23,000 applicants competing for 3,300 undergraduate places.

Henry Smith, a participant in JPMorgan Chase’s program, declined a university offer at Manchester to join the apprenticeship scheme, studying fee-free at the University of Exeter while gaining hands-on experience in London. He describes the opportunity as a pivotal moment in his career trajectory.

Despite strong growth—20.4 percent increase in degree apprenticeships between 2023 and 2024 compared with a 2 percent rise in university entrants—degree apprenticeships still represent a small fraction of England’s higher education landscape. In 2024-25, about 60,350 people began a degree apprenticeship, compared with 668,000 starting undergraduate degrees. Large companies such as BAE Systems and On UK have expanded their apprenticeship offerings, with applications rising substantially. BAE Systems received 31,000 applications for 1,200 apprenticeship roles last year, and On UK saw applicants surge from 270 to 2,800 for just 17 posts over the same period.

However, opportunities remain concentrated among large employers equipped to invest heavily in training, often leaving smaller businesses less involved. The Federation of Small Businesses notes that most small firms prefer shorter, entry-level apprenticeships, reflecting their limited need for degree-level recruits.

Institutional challenges also persist. Some universities remain hesitant to embrace the flexible, vocational learning model degree apprenticeships require, which differs from traditional full-time study and campus life. The University of Exeter is among the few Russell Group institutions offering such programs; approximately 14 percent of its students are degree apprentices. University officials acknowledge the complexity and financial challenges but see apprenticeships as a way to diversify their education offerings.

Experts highlight that degree apprenticeships offer tangible benefits, including competitive starting salaries, which have grown by 51 percent since 2018, outpacing the 12 percent rise in graduate salaries during the same period. Graduates of degree apprenticeships often gain relevant workplace skills alongside academic credentials, positioning them well for early career advancement.

As demand continues to rise, the challenge remains to expand provision equitably and convince more employers and academic institutions to invest in and support degree apprenticeships as a viable alternative to traditional university education.