Degree apprenticeship interview questions (and how to answer them)
The most common degree apprenticeship interview questions from 136 firm interview playbooks, with example answers, the STAR method and tips for HireVue video interviews and assessment centres.
The short answer
The three questions that come up in almost every degree apprenticeship interview are "Why a degree apprenticeship rather than university?", "Why this firm?" and "What first got you interested in this area of work?". After that, expect competency questions about teamwork, setbacks and initiative. Answer them with one specific, real example each, using the STAR structure (situation, task, action, result), and keep spoken answers to about one to two minutes.
Intake runs voice mock interviews shaped on each firm, so we keep an interview playbook for every programme we track: the stages, the firm's values and the questions its interviewers actually ask. Across 136 firm playbooks, the same handful of questions come up again and again. Here they are, with how to answer each one.
Key takeaways
- Three questions appear in nearly every playbook: why an apprenticeship, why this firm and why this area of work.
- The top competency questions are about teamwork, setbacks and initiative.
- Prepare four or five real stories and you can answer almost anything.
- Practise out loud. Writing a good answer and saying one are different skills.
The three questions you will almost certainly get
These appear in nearly every one of our playbooks, across banking, tech, accountancy and engineering.
1. "Why have you chosen a degree apprenticeship rather than going to university full time?"
They want to know it's a real decision, not a fallback. A strong answer covers how you learn, what you want to do and why now.
Example: "I've done most of my learning by building things. I taught myself Python to make a revision app for my year group, and I learned more from people actually using it than from any lesson. A degree apprenticeship means I get that every day while studying for a degree. I also know I want to work in software, so starting at 18 with a team I can learn from makes more sense to me than three years of theory first."
Avoid leading with money. "I don't want debt" is true for everyone and says nothing about you.
2. "Why do you want to join this firm in particular?"
The most important question, and the one where generic answers fail. Mention two specific things: something about the work or a team, and something about how they develop apprentices. Then link it to you.
Good sources: the programme page, a recent news story about the firm, an insight day or virtual experience, or a conversation with a current apprentice. "You're a global leader" is not a reason.
3. "What first got you interested in this area of work?"
Tell a short, true story. A moment, a project, a person. The best answers are specific and a little personal, then show how you've followed that interest since.
Competency questions
After motivation, interviewers test the behaviours in the firm's values. These are the most common in our playbooks:
| Question | What they're testing |
|---|---|
| Tell me about a time you worked in a team to achieve something difficult | Teamwork, communication |
| Describe a time you faced a setback. What did you do and what did you learn? | Resilience, self awareness |
| Give me an example of when you took the initiative to improve something | Initiative, ownership |
| Tell me about a time you had several deadlines at once. How did you prioritise? | Organisation |
| Tell me about a time you were in an unfamiliar situation | Adaptability |
| Tell me about a time you demonstrated ethical standards | Integrity |
| What do you naturally do well? | Self awareness, strengths |
How to answer with STAR
Use STAR: situation, task, action, result.
- Situation: one or two sentences of context.
- Task: what you needed to achieve.
- Action: what you did. This should be most of your answer. Say "I", not "we".
- Result: what happened, ideally with a number, and what you learned.
Interviewers often follow up with "What was your part, specifically?" or "What would you do differently next time?" Know your stories well enough to go one level deeper.
Technical and commercial questions
Depending on the track, you might also get:
Technology routes
- Tell us about a coding or technical project you've built. What was your role?
- What's your approach to debugging or troubleshooting?
- Have you used any programming languages or data tools, like Python, SQL or Excel?
Banking and finance routes
- What does an investment bank do for its clients?
- Walk us through a financial or business story in the news that interested you.
- What do you think are the biggest risks facing the firm today?
Accountancy and audit
- What do you understand by audit and why is it important?
- Why audit, or why tax, rather than another service line?
You're not expected to be an expert at 17. They want curiosity and a sensible way of thinking things through out loud.
Video interviews (HireVue and similar)
Firms like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, BlackRock and Bank of America use recorded video interviews. You see a question, get a short time to prepare, then record your answer with no one on the call.
- Look at the camera, not your own face.
- Have your stories ready but don't read a script. It shows.
- Aim for one to two minutes per answer.
- Use a plain background and good light. Sit facing a window if you can.
- Do a practice question if the platform offers one.
Assessment centre interviews
The final interview is often with a manager, director or partner and goes deeper than the video stage. Expect follow ups on anything you've written in your application, so reread it the night before. Prepare two or three questions of your own about the team, the programme or something you've read about the firm.
How to prepare in a week
- Day 1: Write down five real stories: a team project, a setback, something you started, a time you led, a time you learned something hard.
- Day 2: Map each story to the competency questions above.
- Day 3: Research the firm. Write your "why this firm" in three sentences.
- Days 4 to 6: Practise out loud, ideally recorded. Cut anything vague.
- Day 7: One full mock interview, then rest.
Intake's mock interviews use the real question bank and values for each firm, ask follow ups like a real interviewer, and give you feedback on every answer.
Frequently asked questions
What questions are asked in a degree apprenticeship interview?
Almost always "Why a degree apprenticeship rather than university?", "Why this firm?" and "What got you interested in this area?", followed by competency questions about teamwork, setbacks, initiative and prioritising. Technical routes add questions about projects you've built, and finance routes ask about the firm and the news.
How do you answer "why do you want to do a degree apprenticeship"?
Explain how you learn best, what kind of work you want to do, and why starting it now suits you, with one real example. Avoid making money or debt the main reason, because it doesn't tell the interviewer anything about you.
How long should interview answers be?
Around one to two minutes for most spoken answers. Long enough to cover situation, task, action and result, short enough that the interviewer stays with you.
What is the STAR method?
STAR stands for situation, task, action and result. It's a simple structure for answering "tell me about a time" questions so your answer has context, focuses on what you did and ends with a clear outcome.
How do I practise for a HireVue interview?
Record yourself answering real questions with a short prep timer, watch it back and cut anything vague. Intake's voice mock interviews let you practise with questions from each firm's playbook and get feedback straight away.