How to get a degree apprenticeship in 2027: the complete guide
A step by step guide to getting a UK degree apprenticeship for September 2027, from finding programmes and deadlines to online tests, video interviews and assessment centres.
The short answer
To get a degree apprenticeship for September 2027, shortlist programmes in the summer of Year 12, apply as soon as each one opens (most open between September and December, and many close early), pass the online tests, record a strong video interview and prepare real stories for the assessment centre. Strong applicants usually have predicted grades that meet the entry bar, a clear reason for choosing that firm, and three or four specific examples of teamwork, setbacks and initiative.
I'm a Year 13 student going through this exact process, and I built Intake because the information was scattered across fifty different careers sites. This is everything I wish someone had told me at the start of Year 12, in order.
Key takeaways
- Most September 2027 programmes open between September and December 2026, and plenty close early once they have enough applicants.
- The usual process is application, online tests, video interview, assessment centre, offer.
- Firms care most about why them, why an apprenticeship, and real examples of what you've done.
- Apply early. A rolling deadline means the window can shut weeks before the date on the website.
What is a degree apprenticeship?
A degree apprenticeship is a full time job where you also study for a university degree, and your employer pays for it. You earn a salary from day one, you don't pay tuition fees, and you finish with a bachelor's degree (Level 6) or sometimes a master's (Level 7), plus three to five years of real experience.
Part of your paid working week is set aside for study. Some firms do a day a week at university, others teach in blocks of a few weeks at a time. Big programmes partner with universities like Queen Mary University of London, Exeter, Warwick and Heriot-Watt.
If you're still weighing it up against a normal degree, read our honest comparison: degree apprenticeship vs university.
Who can apply?
Most degree apprenticeships are aimed at students finishing Year 13 or equivalent, and you have to be 16 or over. Typical requirements look like this:
| Requirement | What firms usually ask for |
|---|---|
| A levels | Often three A levels, with grades anywhere from around BBC up to AAB depending on the firm |
| GCSEs | Usually maths and English at grade 4 to 6 or above |
| Subjects | Some tech and engineering routes want maths or a science |
| Right to work | You need the right to work in the UK. A few roles (defence, GCHQ) need British nationality and security clearance |
| Age | 16 or over. There's no upper age limit on most programmes |
Requirements vary a lot between firms and even between programmes at the same firm, so always check the job advert. Predicted grades count when you apply, and offers are often conditional on your results.
When do degree apprenticeships open?
For a September 2027 start, the big programmes open from early September 2026 and keep opening through the winter. From what Intake's Radar has tracked so far this season:
- PwC opened its Flying Start degree programmes on 4 September 2026.
- Barclays opened on 9 September with a listed closing date of 25 September. That's a sixteen day window.
- KPMG opened on 16 September and Goldman Sachs on 23 September.
- Banks like HSBC and UBS opened in mid to late October last year, and the Bank of England in December.
We keep the full list, with confirmed and expected dates, in degree apprenticeship deadlines 2027.
The important bit: most firms recruit on a rolling basis. They review applications as they arrive and can close the moment they have enough strong candidates. Applying in the first week or two is one of the easiest advantages you can give yourself.
Step 1: Pick your tracks and build a shortlist
Start by choosing the kind of work you want, not just the brand names. Degree apprenticeships cover software engineering, cyber security, data, audit, tax, banking, consulting, civil engineering and plenty more. Intake groups these into 27 tracks so you can see every programme that fits.
Aim for a shortlist of roughly 8 to 15 programmes. Fewer than that is risky because competition is high. Many more and your answers get generic, which recruiters spot straight away.
For each one, note:
- the opening date and whether it's rolling
- the online test provider (SHL, Cappfinity, HireVue and so on)
- the written questions or cover letter it asks for
- the location and the university partner
You can do this in a spreadsheet. I did, and it got out of hand fast, which is literally why Intake exists. Radar tracks it all and tells you the day each programme opens.
Step 2: Write the application
Most applications ask for your grades, a CV and two or three written questions. The questions you'll see again and again are:
- Why do you want to join this firm?
- Why a degree apprenticeship rather than university?
- Why this area of work?
- Tell us about a time you showed teamwork, initiative or resilience.
Good answers are specific. "I'm passionate about technology" says nothing. "I built a revision quiz app for my year group in Python and 60 people used it before mocks" says a lot. Mention something real about the firm too: a team, a recent project, a conversation you had at an insight day.
A few rules that help:
- Keep each answer focused on one example rather than listing five.
- Use the STAR shape (situation, task, action, result) for experience questions.
- Write about what you did, not what "we" did.
- Never copy and paste the same "why this firm" answer between firms.
Two guides that go deeper: how to answer "why this firm" and what to put on your CV at 17. No work experience yet? That's fine.
Intake drafts these answers from things you've actually done and shows where every line came from, so you can edit fast without inventing anything.
Step 3: Pass the online tests
Most big firms use timed online assessments straight after you apply. These include numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, logical reasoning, situational judgement tests and game based assessments. Which ones you get depends on the provider the firm uses.
The fastest way to improve is practice under real timing, then reviewing every mistake. Our guide to apprenticeship online tests breaks down each provider and which firms use them. Intake's practice tests are free.
Step 4: Record the video interview
Next is usually a recorded video interview, often on HireVue. A question appears on screen, you get a short time to think, and then you record your answer with no one on the other end. It feels awkward, and that's normal.
Practise out loud. Talking through your answers is a different skill to writing them. Aim for answers of around one to two minutes, with a clear structure and a real example. Our list of degree apprenticeship interview questions covers the ones that come up most.
Step 5: Ace the assessment centre
The final stage is an assessment centre, sometimes called a superday. It can be in person or online, and usually mixes:
- a group exercise, where they watch how you work with others
- a case study or written task
- a final interview, often with a manager or partner
- sometimes a short presentation
In the group task, the strongest candidates aren't the loudest. They listen, build on other people's ideas, keep track of time and help the group reach a decision. In the final interview, expect deeper follow up questions on your stories, so know them well.
Step 6: Handle offers (and rejections)
Offers usually arrive within a few weeks of the assessment centre. Many are conditional on your A level grades. You can hold a university offer through UCAS at the same time, and lots of students do, so you're never stuck choosing too early.
Rejections are part of it. Plenty of successful apprentices were turned down by other firms first. Here's what to do after a rejection. Ask for feedback when you can, and carry what you learn into the next application.
A simple timeline for Year 12 and Year 13
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Year 12, spring | Go to insight days and open days. Start a list of firms you like |
| Year 12, summer | Do work experience if you can. Write your CV. Draft your core stories |
| Year 13, September | Apply the week programmes open. Practise online tests |
| Year 13, October to December | Video interviews and assessment centres. Keep applying as new programmes open |
| Year 13, January to March | Later programmes open. Offers arrive. Keep a UCAS backup |
| Year 13, summer | Results day confirms conditional offers. Start in September |
Mistakes that cost people offers
- Applying late to rolling programmes.
- Generic answers that could be about any firm.
- Not practising tests under real timing.
- Making things up. Interviewers ask follow ups, and invented stories fall apart.
- Not reading the role. Applying to audit with an answer about coding is an instant no.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need A levels for a degree apprenticeship?
Usually, yes. Most Level 6 degree apprenticeships ask for A levels or an equivalent like a BTEC or T level, typically somewhere between BBC and AAB. Some firms use UCAS points instead. Check each advert, because requirements vary between programmes.
How competitive are degree apprenticeships?
Very. Places at well known firms are limited and attract a lot of applicants, so it's sensible to apply to 8 to 15 programmes rather than two or three, and to apply as early as you can because many close on a rolling basis.
Can I apply to university and degree apprenticeships at the same time?
Yes. You can apply through UCAS and to apprenticeships in the same year. Plenty of students hold a university offer as a backup until an apprenticeship offer is confirmed.
Do degree apprentices pay tuition fees?
No. In England your employer and the government cover the cost of the degree, and you're paid a salary while you study. You don't take out a tuition fee loan.
How long does a degree apprenticeship take?
Usually three to five years, depending on the programme. Many of the programmes Intake tracks run for 36 to 48 months, and some run up to 60.
What is the best way to prepare?
Shortlist early, apply in the first week each programme opens, practise online tests under real timing, and rehearse your interview stories out loud. Intake does all four with you, and you start with 100 free credits.