Information for apprentices
If you're already in employment, you can combine your job with a higher or degree-level apprenticeship to upskill or retrain.
As well as studying and gaining new knowledge as an apprentice you’ll be putting what you learn straight into practice, without paying any tuition fees. If you're interested in undertaking one of our apprenticeships you should speak to your employer.
You can apply for an apprenticeship if you’re:
- 16 or older
- Living in England or being a citizen of EEA countries.
- A non-EEA citizen legally resident in the UK for at least the past three years, with the right to work in England for the duration of the apprenticeship.
- Employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week on an open contract or a fixed contract with an end date after the end date of the apprenticeship.
- Employed in a role that’s relevant to the apprenticeship that you’re interested in undertaking and spending at least 50 percent of your working hours in England for the duration of your apprenticeship programme.
- Not already in full time education or on an apprenticeship programme when the apprenticeship starts.
Studying for a Higher or Degree Apprenticeship with the University of York means you get access to all of the same support enjoyed by our students studying full-time and living on campus. This includes a range of learner support and wellbeing services for confidential, impartial help and advice on a variety of issues related to studying, achieving a successful work-life balance and staying safe.
As part of your apprenticeship you will be allocated a personal supervisor, who is a member of staff in the department. Your supervisor is there to provide you with general pastoral guidance as well as advice on and support for your academic progress and personal development. They are a great first point of contact for any questions or problems you may have.
You can access all of our guidance, support and training face-to-face or online, which means it can be flexible to suit your needs and timetable.
- Writing and Language Skills Centre: You can access a variety of in-person and online help and support to improve your academic writing skill. You also have the opportunity to receive personalised advice and guidance on your written work. Study coaching sessions are offered to help increase your study confidence and work through any challenges you’re facing.
- Maths Skills Centre: Free service for all learners. Appointments, workshops and resources are available on campus (on the first floor of the Harry Fairhurst Building) or online.
- Careers and Placements: The Careers and Placements team offers a range of advice and resources for work and career planning which are available to all students, including apprentice learners. You can access their drop-in sessions or book one-to-one appointments.
There are many ways you can access help and support during your time at the University of York.
- Reporting Issues: We take seriously our obligation to keep you safe from incidents of bullying, prejudice or discriminatory behaviour. We have produced resources to help you to navigate our services to ensure you receive the necessary support and guidance on how to identify and report issues, concerns and dangers - including an Incident Reporting Form at the bottom of the page. Misconduct can include peer-on-peer abuse, sexual violence or online bullying.
- Safeguarding: The University takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of our apprenticeship learners. Find out more about the University's Safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Together York: As an apprentice, you have joined a community to develop as an individual and you will be supported to achieve and thrive. Effective communities are built on shared values. Together York is a declaration that has been developed collaboratively by students and staff to describe the foundations and aspirations of our community.
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: The University is proactive in supporting its diverse student community and ensuring that no learner is disadvantaged as a consequence of disability, race, sexuality, age or belief. To find out more you may wish to read the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
- Health and Wellbeing: We offer a range of advice, tips and guidance for health and wellbeing and want to ensure you know how to access the right support when you need it. You can find help and support from your department, personal supervisor, academic assessor, and your practice assessor.
- The Student Hub: The Student Hub has a team of advisors to assist with any concerns you may have. This includes advice for distance learners, commuting students, care leavers, mature students, carers and students with children, which you may find helpful. The Student Hub is a good starting point if you’re uncertain where to go for something.
- The University of York Students’ Union (also known as York Students’ Union, York SU or YorkSU). The York SU Advice & Support is part of the York Students’ Union and provides free, independent and confidential advice and guidance to students on a range of issues, including: University policies and processes, academic issues, wellbeing and personal matters. They also work with University services and local support providers to provide a range of information and resources, help signpost or refer you on to more specific or appropriate support, as necessary.
- Disability Services can recommend or arrange assessments, academic support and adjustments if you have additional learning needs, a disability or long-term health condition that impacts your ability to study or progress. You can contact Disability Services at any stage of your programme to explore your learning needs and support options. Disability Services will work with your department to put the right measures and adjustments in place for you.
- Open Door is a team of Mental Health Practitioners at the University providing support to learners experiencing psychological or mental health difficulties. You may use an online referral or be signposted by other support services.
If you need to take a break from your studies you can apply for a Break in Learning. A Break in Learning is an authorised break in training where you are not continuing with your apprenticeship but you have agreed with your employer that you intend to resume your apprenticeship in the future.
Apprenticeships are all about learning as you work - find out more about how it works.
- Understanding your rights as an employee: As you will be in paid employment during your apprenticeship, it is important to familiarise yourself with your apprenticeship agreement and your employee rights, responsibilities and entitlements, ie payslips, equal pay and paid leave per year. For more details please visit gov.uk.
- Personal development plan: Enhancing and managing your professional and personal development is an ongoing process. During your time as an apprentice, you will be provided with opportunities to reflect on your learning, performance and achievement and to think about what you need to improve and develop. Personal Development Planning (PDP) provides the structure for you to identify your goals and plan your personal, academic and career management.
- Tripartite reviews are distinct to apprenticeships and are three-way meetings between you, your employer reviewer and University reviewer. The purpose of the tripartite review is to discuss and monitor your progress on your apprenticeship programme. This includes consideration of: work-based off-the-job learning, campus-based off-the-job learning, and personal and professional development.
- Break in learning: A break in learning is a process whereby an apprentice, with the consent of their employer, can stop their learning temporarily and then re-join their apprenticeship programme at a more appropriate time and at the same point in their apprenticeship programme. A break in learning is usually only implemented when an apprentice is going to be absent from all learning (including off-the-job learning) on their apprenticeship programme for more than four weeks.
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End Point Assessment (EPA): All apprenticeship standards involve an end-point assessment, which is a synoptic test of your knowledge, skills and behaviours gained through your programme and work-based experience. It requires you to demonstrate what you have learned and how you can apply it in the real world, before you receive your apprenticeship certificate. Your programme team will share more details about the arrangements for your EPA.
If you are not in employment, or not in an appropriate role, there are some government websites to help with your search: