Competition for UK degree apprenticeships quadruples as university costs deter students

The number of applicants competing for degree apprenticeships in England has nearly tripled in three years, while the number of available places has almost halved, leaving students facing fierce competition for a coveted debt-free route into the workplace.

Freedom of Information data obtained by the BBC shows applicants through the government's central platform rose from 8,100 to 21,800 over three years, while positions fell from 7,300 to 3,700. There are now 11.3 applications for every Level 6 apprenticeship position, compared with 2.8 in 2023-24.

The surge in demand reflects growing concerns about the immediate and long-term costs of university. Tuition fees in England now rise annually with inflation, and more students are choosing to stay at home rather than move away for university to save money.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last month he wanted to ensure teenagers had technical routes into careers that could rival the path of a traditional university degree.

Kieran McRae, 22, applied for a degree apprenticeship but was "devastated" to miss out. He went on to study computer science at the University of Birmingham alongside apprentices on the same programme. "There was always a bit of jealousy," he said. "Not to say that I wasn't happy for them... but I knew that I was not getting that same free degree or the same salary."

Anna Helder, 18, applied for 35 apprenticeships before landing a project management role in London. Daniel Edwards, 21, applied for 11 before securing an engineering degree apprenticeship, describing the process as similar to "applying for a real job".

Employers have been cutting back on hiring because of high employment costs and economic uncertainty. The Department for Work and Pensions said it was "backing employers who take on young apprentices".