Accessing the apprenticeship levy as an employee of the University

Finding the right programme

Apprenticeships:

  • Follow an approved Apprenticeship Standard
  • Last for at least a year
  • Must involve 6 hours off-the-job (OTJ) learning each week
  • Must be relevant to the learner's current job role to demonstrate learning at work

    • There are various levels of apprenticeships available:

    Name

    Level

    Equivalent educational level

    Intermediate

    2

    GCSE 

    Advanced

    3

    A level

    Higher

    4, 5, 6 and 7

    Foundation degree and above

    Degree

    6 and 7

    Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

    Please note: Levy funding for Level 7 standards is only available to young people aged 16 to 21, and for care leavers or those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) who are under 25 at the start of their apprenticeship in England.

    • Any apprentice who started a Level 7 apprenticeship before 1 January 2026 will continue to be funded through to completion.

    More information can be found at Changes to funding for level 7 apprenticeships on GOV.UK.

    There is a wide range of Apprenticeship Standards (programmes), many of which align to University roles. To be eligible for the funding, you need to select one that is relevant for your current role. You can browse the range of available programmes online.

    It is vital that you seek your manager's support: they need to confirm approval from senior leadership and give permission for you to spend a proportion of your work time studying for your qualification. They may also need to select the training provider based on their method of delivery, to ensure it meets the needs of the wider team.

    As long as your programme aligns to your current role and you are eligible for the funding, you will remain on your current terms and conditions (pay, holiday entitlement, pension arrangements etc.)