Eligibility to apply for an apprenticeship

Find answers to frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

To be eligible to apply for an apprenticeship, you must have the following skills, experience and qualifications:

Be at least 16 years of age before you start your apprenticeship
Five GCSE at grades 4-9 (C- A*) or equal including English and Maths

Please refer to the eligibility criteria set out in the candidate application pack and vacancy for full details.

You must have the Right to Work in the UK for the duration of your apprenticeship and have lived in the UK/EEA for the past 3 years. See the government's website for more details.

For advanced level, we ask for:

Three A-levels at grade C (9 - 4) or above
or
a relevant level qualification/apprenticeship achieved by September in the year you are applying, ideally including a related subject

Do you accept equalivalent non-UK qualifications?: We can only accept proof that your qualifications are equal to GCSE and/or A level qualifications. You will need to show us a statement of comparability with your original certificates.

Can I apply while I’m still at school?

You can apply as long as you are 16 years old by the end of the summer holidays and not in full-time education.

We recruit apprentices during periodic timeframes, often to start in the autumn term, so would typically expect you to apply once you finish school or college, as you won’t be available to start work until then.

Can I apply if I have a degree?: You can apply for an apprenticeship at these levels as long as it is different to an apprenticeship you are applying for will allow you to get substantive new skills and the content of the training is materially different from any prior qualification or a previous apprenticeship.

We currently offer apprenticeships for new, entry-level positions at levels 3 (Advanced) and 4 (Higher) levels which are the equivalent to: A level passes and higher education certificate or higher education diploma or a foundation degree (the first year of a degree) qualifications.

What types of individuals are you looking for? Do I need work experience?

Our apprentices come from a range of backgrounds, ages and with different qualifications and experiences. You do not necessarily need experience in the area you are applying to. Throughout the apprenticeship, we will train you in our processes, systems, and knowledge specific to a role to help you succeed.

We would like to hear from candidates who are interested in working for us and in the apprenticeship area you are applying to. Here is an idea of some of the behaviours and skills we may look for in candidates:

A willingness to learn and dedication to personal and professional development and the apprenticeship
Committed to our values and delivering service excellence
Curious, enthusiastic
Good communicators who can bring a fresh perspective
Team players
Organised, creative and proactive
Flexible, punctual and reliable
Digitally proficient
Comfortable with working with numbers
Passionate about making a difference and helping UCL solve real-world issues through the work they do

Is an apprenticeship is the right route for me?

A good starting place when planning your future is to speak to people in your circle. For example, parents or carers, friends or teachers and tutors.

If you’re at school, access your careers advice service. We would recommend taking advance of this service to help you make a more informed decision about your career.
The National Careers Service also provides information and guidance if you are not sure if this route is for you.
You are also welcome to contact the vacancy contact listed on the UCL job advert for further details if you would like to find out more about the role before applying.

Where can I get help with my application?

Here are some useful starting points:

I have a disability, what reasonable adjustments can I expect?

If you require reasonable adjustments to allow you to complete the recruitment process, you’ll be able to discuss this when you apply and at the interview stage.

If we offer you an apprenticeship and disclose that you have a disability, your manager will discuss any changes you may need to support you in your role and the apprenticeship. Your training provider will also discuss this with you to support you with your training and study.

View our accessibility at UCL webpages for more information around the type of support available.

What qualifications do I need?

This depends on the apprenticeship that you are applying for. Please see the apprenticeship vacancy personal specification to confirm the exact requirements.

For most of our apprenticeships, you will need five GCSE’s Grade 4 - 9 (C – A*) or equivalent as a minimum and including English Language and Maths.

Do Level 2 Functional Skills in literacy and numeracy count as an equivalent to English Language and Maths GCSEs?: Yes. They are equivalent to a GCSE C/ Level 4.

Are provisional statement of results acceptable?: No. We can only accept the original certificates or a certified statement of results. If you do not have the original certificates you will need to go the examining board to reissue results.There may be a fee for this service.

I am completing my GCSE or A level exams and only have a statement of results or predicted grades. Can I still apply?: Yes, although any offers of employment will be conditional and we will only be able to offer an unconditional contract once you have completed exams and we have received results.