Dropping out of uni to do an apprenticeship

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University is not working for ds (20). He's currently in his second year and is starting to consider alternatives. Still not fully decided what to do but he's looking at higher and degree apprenticeships.

I understand there are no fees with apprenticeships but I'm not clear whether these are covered by the employer or government so I'm wondering whether he will be eligible to apply having had 2 years student funding (or hopefully 1.5 years as I think he may only need to pay 50% for this year). I don't know much about apprenticeships (only what I've read in the last couple of weeks since the bombshell was dropped!) so am trying to get my head round how they work.

Grateful for any advice!

Apprenticeships are funded by the government, they give the employer funding to take on an apprentice.

Intermediate and advanced apprenticeships are levels two and three. Higher apprenticeships refer to apprenticeships that are level four and upwards. Degree apprenticeships start from level 4, and typically take 5 years to complete studying is part time. The first year of university is equivalent to a level 4, and so on. Level 7 is masters level and level 8 is PhD level. As your ds has completed 1.5 years, I think he may be able to start an apprenticeship from level 5, however it depends if it is a completely different subject to what he’s been studying, and is ultimately the employers decision.

I think apprenticeships are good as you’re earning money and gaining a qualification, and if you’re young it provides you with really valuable work experience that can put at a competitive advantage. However it depends what he wants to do/what field..

I completed a two year apprenticeship in business Administration, it was working in an office in the financial services sector. It provided me with really useful administration experience and I gained so much knowledge about finance, pensions and investments. However I realised that administration is not something I wanted to do long term so I decided to go to university, and I am now into my second year of studying towards a quantity surveying degree, but I had to go to college for one year to do a construction course.

As long as ds is under 24 he is eligible to complete an apprenticeship.

a334 - that's really helpful thank you. Some apprenticeships run for 4 years so I was worried that, with the loans he's already had for uni, he couldn't do one of those as it would mean him exceeding his quota of funding iyswim.

No it definitely wouldn't!

Hello! A really useful resource for apprenticeship information is careerhacker.ai/getting-there/apprenticeships

It depends on the size of the employer as to who funds the apprenticeship. If the employer has a pay bill of over £3million, then they pay into the apprenticeship levy fund, and that pays for the apprenticeship. If the employer is a non-levy payer AND the apprentice is under 19 when they start, then the government pay the full cost. If the employer is a non-levy payer, but the apprentice is over 19 when they start, then the employer pays 10% of the cost and the government pay the rest. Big spanner in the works is that currently the EU pay 50% of the cost of apprenticeships for non-levy payers, and that money stops of the 29th March if we crash out of the EU with no deal. Any apprenticeship that has started before 29th March - the government will make up the shortfall as it has been committed, but what happens for new apprenticeships that need government funding is anyone's guess.

Employers are looking NOW for degree apprenticeships to start in September, so he should start looking NOW.

This should also help: www.nus.org.uk/en/advice/money-and-funding/ive-undertaken-a-higher-education-course-before--can-i-get-funding-again/

Hi, I’m in that position at the moment too ☹

Has your son thought about other options? I’ve seen a post on Facebook about The F Factor which looks like it could be good for your son and I’m going to get mine involved. I guess it can open doors for them and teach them things that university can't do!

There’s a cash prize for the winner, and I think the company also offers apprenticeships. This is the post I saw, hope it helps: www.facebook.com/f.factor/videos/1987605298211578