By Clarissa Ducie

Launched in the UK in 2015, degree apprenticeships allow you to gain a degree alongside working. A Level 6 apprenticeship qualifies you with a full bachelor’s degree, while a Level 7 qualifies you with a master’s degree.

The apprenticeship combines working with part-time university studies, which can either take the form of one day a week or a block of days each month. The apprenticeship takes between three and six years to complete.

Why should I consider a degree apprenticeship?

Degree apprenticeships are especially helpful if you’re stuck choosing between an apprenticeship and going to university as they combine the best of both worlds.

Who can do a degree apprenticeship?

Degree apprenticeships tend to be targeted at 18-19-year-old school leavers or lower level apprentices moving upwards. If you already have a degree, you can enrol onto some degree apprenticeships, so long as your degree is in a different field to the one you’re applying to.

How do degree apprenticeships work?

The government pays two-thirds of the cost of your degree, and your employer pays the other third, meaning you can leave your apprenticeship debt free.

Apprentices work full-time throughout the year, with 21 days paid holiday plus bank holidays off.

A degree level apprenticeship allows you to earn while you learn. Salary varies depending on your apprenticeship, age, company, sector and the location you’re working in. The UK Apprentice minimum wage is £3.90 an hour, but some companies pay more than double that amount. For example, Jaguar Land Rover’s engineering apprentices have a starting salary of £18,500 a year.

Find more information regarding apprentice salary at Gov.UK.

What areas can you do the degree in?

Degree apprenticeship fields are narrower than traditional apprenticeships and are only available in areas that require ‘high levels of academia’, including:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Business & Administration
• Construction
• Digital
• Health & Science

Apprenticeships are available at a wide variety of companies including both big names such as BT and Mondelez, and also smaller companies.

What university do you get the degree from?

The university depends on which sector you’re working in and which degree apprenticeship you’re completing. Quite often you won’t be studying at the actual university due to distance, with classes being held online or at an institution close to where you work.

Where can I find a degree apprenticeship?

Use Apprenticeship Finder’s search tool to find more information about vacancies and their entry requirements.  

Benefits of a degree apprenticeship

• The main benefit of doing a degree apprenticeship compared to the traditional university route is that the degree is paid for by your company, so you leave with a degree and zero student debt
• You’re also employed full-time throughout the degree and earn a salary
• Degree apprenticeships allow you to get a head start in your profession over students leaving university without the same level of work experience you have
• Apprentices also develop ‘soft skills’ from working, which employers love, such as communication skills, the ability to work under pressure to deadlines, teamwork and problem-solving
• You get mentoring and support from your employer
• You can put what you learn at university straight into practice, helping develop your understanding of the material
• By the time your apprenticeship ends you’ll have at least three years of networking experience and have made contacts that’ll help you later on in your career
• Degree apprentices are technically students, so you still get all the student discount perks
• Most apprentice programs will have a guaranteed job at the end of it, with lots of opportunities for progression within the company

Entry requirements

Degree apprenticeships are extremely competitive and there aren’t many available in the country. Most employers will ask for formal qualifications including at least 5 GCSEs (A*-C or 9-4), and Level 3 apprenticeship qualifications including BTECs. Often employers will expect applicants to have qualifications relevant to the apprenticeship already.

By Steph Ryan

The UCAS Tariff Point is used by universities and colleges in the UK to work out the value of your qualifications and compare them to other applicants. This is done by assigning you one easy figure, following calculations using a universal scale.

UCAS points measure the relative value of all post-16 qualifications in the UK, including BTEC and A-Level.

Do all universities use the UCAS Tariff Point System?

Not all institutions use the Tariff Point System. Some universities are quite specific about applicants receiving particular grades in certain subjects. For example, many engineering applicants must have achieved an A* in either maths or physics to be accepted.

However, if you’ve applied to a university or college that does use the system, your application will be treated with much greater flexibility than if it was only being assessed on grades.

For example, rather than having to get BBB in your A-Levels, you can do better in one subject and worse in another, receiving grades of ABC, and still get the same number of UCAS points.

As a result, UCAS points allow for much greater diversity when universities are selecting students for enrolment.

Calculating your UCAS points

Each qualification, for example an A-Level or Scottish Higher, is allocated a size band value from one to four, based on the number of learning hours.

Each qualification is then also allocated a grade band point from three to 14. These two numbers are multiplied together to produce the number of UCAS points.

Here’s a table showing the value of A-Level and BTEC grades.

If you want to work out your own UCAS points, there are many online calculators which are easy to use.

How many UCAS points do I need?

You can find out this information on university and college websites. It may also be of interest to look at the average UCAS points of successful applicants.

Whether you receive an offer that is grade based or determined by Tariff Points, it’s important you work as hard as you can to ensure the best grades possible in each of your qualifications. Even if you think you have enough Tariff Points, your university offer might also require a minimum grade in a particular subject so it’s essential you fully understand the conditions of your offer.

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 103^rd

Known as the ‘Steel City’ for its strong industrial heritage, Sheffield, located in South Yorkshire in England, is a new entry in this year’s Best Student Cities index at 103^rd.

Sheffield is known for the numerous technological innovations and inventions brought on during the Industrial Revolution, and is still considered a city of innovation today. Its economy went through a decline in the latter half of the 20^th century, but is now going through a strong revival, with Sheffield crowned the best UK city for startups in 2019 by Paymentsense.

Sheffield gets its best score in the Student Mix indicator of the Best Student Cities index, with 22 percent of its 53,600 students coming from outside the UK. It’s a hugely student-friendly city, with a welcoming atmosphere and a cost of living that’s well below the national average, particularly in terms of rent. Students also love Sheffield for the vibrant mix of entertainment and nightlife options, from club nights to gigs, theater and sport events,  and festivals such as the annual Tramlines music festival.

Fans of the great outdoors will be pleased to learn that Sheffield is one of the greenest cities in the UK, with the Peak District making up more than a third of the city’s boundaries – only one other UK city can claim to have a national park within its borders.

Interested in studying in Sheffield? Tell us why.

Internationally ranked universities in Sheffield

More about Sheffield

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 101^st

The capital and largest city of Lebanon, Beirut is a new entry in the Best Student Cities this year and is home to two universities ranked among the world’s best in the QS World University Rankings®.

Beirut is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back more than 5,000 years, and is steeped in history. The National Museum of Beirut is a must-visit, with an impressive collection of 1,300 artifacts dating as far back as prehistoric times. 

Two decades on from a tumultuous civil war, Beirut is now almost completely rebuilt and is becoming a hotspot for nightlife in the Middle East – with a relaxed attitude towards drinking and a wide range of cocktail bars and nightclubs to party in. Much of Beirut’s commercial and clubbing scene can be found on Hamra street in the heart of the city, conveniently close to many of the city’s universities.

Beirut is also undoubtedly one of the most picturesque cities in the region, with a scenic Mediterranean coast (which also keeps temperatures from getting too high) and a number of stunning sights, from the Raouche Rocks, the upscale and artsy Saifi Village, the Corniche seaside promenade (perfect for taking a stroll or going for a run), the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque and many more.

Got your sights set on Beirut? Tell us why.

Internationally ranked universities in Beirut

More about Beirut

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

QS Best Student Cities ranking

A new entry in this year’s Best Student Cities ranking, Bristol is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the UK, and is home to two universities ranked among the world’s top 800: the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England.

Known as the home town of the mysterious Banksy, Bristol is steadily growing a reputation as a creative hub – you won’t walk far without seeing lively murals, and there are numerous live music venues, art spaces and festivals to enjoy, such as the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta every August, the biggest hot air balloon event in Europe.

Bristol was named the best city to live in in the UK in 2017 by the Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide and best city in the UK for under-26-year-olds according to BBC’s Newsbeat. The median age of Bristolians is 33, and people there love it for the diversity of its culture, with at least 91 main languages spoken in the city, as well as its friendliness.

Bristol also wins high praise for its excellent links to the sea and countryside, without feeling cut off from the rest of the country. Cyclists and nature walkers can enjoy the 13-mile-long Bristol And Bath Railway Path, and the Avon Gorge offers great climbing opportunities. And in terms of  nightlife, the city has an excellent selection of clubs and bars and a flourishing LGBT scene, with the Park Street and The Triangle area home to the main student favorites.

Have you studied in Bristol? Share your thoughts.

Internationally ranked universities in Bristol

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 88^th

Abu Dhabi is the capital and second-largest city of the United Arab Emirates and a new entry in the Best Student Cities index this year at 88^th, gaining its best score in the affordability category (59^th). Located off on an island off the Persian Gulf, the city boasts more than 400 kilometers of stunning coastline, including 10 kilometers of pristine public beaches. There’s also an abundance of breath-taking architecture in the city to explore in your spare time, with the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the largest in the country, a particular must-see.

As well as its affordability, one of the most appealing aspects of life in Abu Dhabi is its multiculturalism – Emirati citizens represent 20 percent of the city’s population, with people from other, diverse nationalities making up the remaining 80 percent. And of its student population, almost half (46 percent) come from outside the UAE.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai have both been rated among the best places to live in the Middle East, thanks to the overall tolerant and progressive lifestyle of the UAE, excellent job opportunities thanks to the fast-growing economy, and high quality of living. And in terms of universities, there are around 16 to choose from, including branch campuses of excellent overseas institutions such as INSEAD, New York University and Sorbonne University.

If you want to study in Abu Dhabi, it’s important to remember that the UAE is a Muslim country and you should be respectful of local laws and customs at all times. Abu Dhabi is generally slightly more conservative than Dubai, so it’s advisable to cover up with long, loose clothing – this will also help with the heat! You should be especially respectful during Ramadan and when visiting religious sites.

Would you choose Abu Dhabi? Share your thoughts.

Internationally ranked universities in Abu Dhabi

More about Abu Dhabi

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 81st

The highest-ranked new entry in the Best Student Cities ranking this year, Bangalore (officially known as Bengaluru) is the capital of the state of Karnataka in southern India, and is one of the most modern and progressive cities in the country.

Bangalore is the third-largest city in India, home to more than 10 million people, and is known as the country’s tech hub, giving it the nickname ‘The Silicon Valley of India’. It’s a leading technology exporter, is a hotspot for start-ups, and is home to a number of highly reputed research institutions and universities, including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore) (IIMB).

If you’re interested in studying in Bangalore, you’ll be pleased to learn that it’s one of the most affordable locations in the Best Student Cities index, coming seventh for the affordability indicator thanks to its low cost of living and tuition fees. According to Numbeo, a meal can cost as little as 150 rupees (~US$2.17), and a one-way ticket on public transport only costs 30 rupees (about 43 US cents).

In terms of unwinding after lectures, there’s plenty to sight-see in your spare time, including the beautiful Lalbagh Botanical Garden (which dates back to 1760), the majestic Bangalore Palace and the Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum, amongst many other museums, parks, temples and gardens.

Although there’s a local curfew on bars and nightclubs, Bangalore nonetheless has an exciting nightlife, with a highly concentration of pubs in the commercial business district and a thriving rock and roll music scene.

Would Bangalore get your vote? Tell us why.

Internationally ranked universities in Bangalore

More about Bangalore

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.

QS Best Student Cities ranking: 104^th  

As the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland, Krakow was the official capital of Poland until 1596. Today, it’s still a thriving hub of academic, economic and artistic activity, so it’s no surprise that Krakow is a new entry this year in the QS Best Student Cities ranking, coming in 104^th place.

Often called the prettiest of Poland’s cities, Krakow is situated on the Vistula river in the Lesser Poland area and dates back to the seventh century. Emerging from World War II as the only major Polish city to not suffer serious damage, Krakow is uniquely steeped in history, with incredible architecture everywhere you look. The city’s Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.

If you’re looking to explore this stunning city, visit the Wawel Royal Castle – an iconic landmark which was home to three dynasties of Poland's monarchs. Or, take a walk inside St Mary’s Basilica, known for its impressive altarpiece and awe-inspiring stained-glass windows.

You can even combine historical sight-seeing with some retail therapy by visiting the Cloth Hall, the world’s oldest shopping center, dating back over 700 years. Wherever you choose to go, you will be surrounded by galleries, cafes, museums and restaurants.   

Krakow possesses three world renowned universities, all of which are featured in the QS World University Rankings®. These are Jagiellonian University, Cracow University of Technology and AGH University of Science and Technology. Of the three, Jagiellonian University earns the distinction of being the top university in Poland, having been ranked 338^th in the world.

Do you think Krakow deserves to be the Best Student City? Let us know your thoughts.

Internationally ranked universities in Krakow

More about Krakow

To find out how each of the above categories is calculated, view the methodology.