TLDR
- Competition for degree apprenticeships has quadrupled in three years, according to BBC research, with 11.3 applications per Level 6 position advertised through the government’s apprenticeship platform in England.
- Good grades are important, but they’re not enough on their own. Employers also want evidence of your skills, interests and potential.
- Work experience doesn’t need to be impressive to be useful. What matters is what you’ve learned and how you explain it.
- Personal projects can help you stand out, particularly if you have limited professional experience.
- Preparation matters at every stage, from tailoring your CV to practising online assessments and interviews.
Degree Apprenticeships Are Getting Harder to Secure
Degree apprenticeships have become an increasingly attractive alternative to traditional university.
You can earn a salary, gain real industry experience and work towards a degree without paying tuition fees yourself. For students concerned about university costs or wanting to start their careers earlier, it’s easy to see the appeal.
But there’s a problem.
As more young people pursue degree apprenticeships, competition for available places is becoming increasingly intense.
A BBC investigation published in August 2026 revealed that competition for degree apprenticeships in England has quadrupled over the past three years.
The figures highlight just how much the situation has changed:
- 11.3 applications per position: In the 2025/26 academic year, there were 11.3 applications for every Level 6 apprenticeship position advertised through the government’s Find an Apprenticeship service, compared with just 2.8 in 2023/24.
- More applicants: The number of people applying through the platform increased from approximately 8,100 to 21,800.
- Fewer vacancies: Over the same period, the number of advertised Level 6 positions fell from around 7,300 to 3,700.
These figures only cover opportunities advertised through the government’s platform in England. Many employers also recruit directly through their own websites and other services, so they don’t represent every degree apprenticeship application in the country.
However, they demonstrate the growing challenge facing applicants.
Demand is rising while the number of available positions on the platform has fallen. The BBC also reported that some employers were reducing recruitment because of higher employment costs and economic uncertainty.
And unlike a traditional university application, securing a degree apprenticeship often involves multiple recruitment stages, from written applications and online assessments to interviews and assessment centres.
So, how do you stand out?
The answer isn’t simply applying to as many companies as possible. It’s about giving employers convincing reasons to choose you.
1. Stop Relying on Good Grades Alone
One of the biggest mistakes students make is assuming that strong predicted grades will be enough to secure a degree apprenticeship.
While meeting the academic entry requirements is important, employers are recruiting someone to join their workforce, not just study for a qualification.
They want to understand what you could bring to their team.
For example, imagine two candidates applying for a technology degree apprenticeship.
Candidate A:
- Predicted A*AA at A-level
- Strong GCSE results
- Limited relevant experience
- Generic application explaining their interest in technology
Candidate B:
- Predicted ABB at A-level
- Meets the employer’s entry requirements
- Built a small programming project
- Completed virtual technology work experience
- Can explain why they’re interested in the company’s work
Candidate A has stronger academic results, but Candidate B has provided more evidence of their interest and initiative.
This doesn’t mean Candidate B is guaranteed to succeed. It shows why academic grades alone don’t tell an employer everything about an applicant.
With the BBC reporting 11.3 applications for every advertised Level 6 position on the government platform, demonstrating relevant skills and genuine interest is particularly important.
What you should do: Read the job description carefully. Identify the skills and qualities the employer wants, then find examples from your own experiences that demonstrate them.
2. Make Your Work Experience Count
You might think you need work experience at a major company to stand out.
You don’t.
Many students applying for degree apprenticeships haven’t had access to prestigious placements or professional connections.
Employers can still learn a lot from part-time jobs, volunteering, school activities and virtual work experience.
What matters is how you use those experiences in your application.
For example, simply writing:
Completed one week of work experience at an accounting firm.
Doesn’t tell an employer very much.
Instead, you could explain:
During my work experience at an accounting firm, I learned how financial information is organised and checked. This helped me understand the importance of accuracy and strengthened my interest in a career in finance.
The second example demonstrates learning, reflection and an interest in the industry.
Even experience unrelated to your chosen career can be valuable.
Working in retail might help you develop communication and problem-solving skills. Helping organise a school event could demonstrate teamwork and responsibility.
What you should do: Choose two or three experiences and write down what you did, what you learned and how those lessons relate to your chosen apprenticeship.
If you haven’t completed any work experience, explore virtual opportunities through platforms such as Springpod.
3. Build Something That Proves Your Interest
When employers receive applications from students with similar qualifications, having something different to discuss can help.
One way to achieve this is through a personal project.
A personal project is something you’ve independently researched, created or developed to explore an area that interests you.
It doesn’t need to be expensive, complicated or particularly impressive.
For example:
- Finance: Research a publicly traded company and create a report analysing its business model and financial performance.
- Technology: Build a simple website or application that solves an everyday problem.
- Consulting: Investigate a business challenge and prepare a short presentation explaining possible solutions.
- Engineering: Design a product concept and explain the technical decisions behind it.
These projects help demonstrate that your interest extends beyond wanting a job at a well-known company.
They also provide examples you can discuss in written applications and interviews.
Imagine being asked:
“Why are you interested in working in finance?”
Instead of giving a general answer about enjoying maths, you could discuss a company you researched, what you discovered about its financial performance and how that strengthened your interest.
That gives the interviewer something specific to explore.
What you should do: Pick one area of your intended career that genuinely interests you. Spend a few weeks building a small project around it, document your progress and be prepared to explain what you learned.
You don’t need years of experience to demonstrate potential. You need genuine examples that show your willingness to learn.
4. Tailor Your Applications Instead of Sending the Same CV Everywhere
When you’re applying to several degree apprenticeships, it’s tempting to reuse the same CV and cover letter.
It saves time, but it can also make your application less convincing.
Different companies look for different qualities, even when recruiting for similar roles.
A technology apprenticeship at a bank might involve different responsibilities from one at a software company.
Your application should reflect those differences.
Before applying, spend time researching:
- The role: What would you actually be doing day to day?
- The company: What products, services or industries does it work in?
- The requirements: Which skills and behaviours appear in the job description?
- Your evidence: Which experiences best demonstrate those qualities?
For example, rather than writing:
I want to work for your company because it is a leading organisation with excellent career opportunities.
You could write:
I’m particularly interested in how your technology teams develop digital banking services. Building my own budgeting application introduced me to the challenges of designing simple, user-friendly software, and I’d like to develop those skills in a professional environment.
This is more specific and connects the applicant’s experience to the employer’s work.
Of course, you don’t need to rewrite everything for every application.
Keep a strong master CV, then adjust the relevant sections to suit each opportunity.
5. Prepare for Recruitment Stages Before You Reach Them
Getting through the initial application is only part of the challenge.
Depending on the employer, you might encounter:
- Online numerical or verbal reasoning tests
- Situational judgement assessments
- Recorded video interviews
- Group exercises
- Individual interviews
Not every company uses every stage, and the order can vary.
However, leaving preparation until you receive an invitation can create unnecessary pressure, particularly when you’re also managing schoolwork and exams.
Start by understanding the types of assessments you might face.
If you’re applying for finance or business roles, you could practise interpreting charts, percentages and numerical information.
For recorded interviews, practise answering questions such as:
Why have you chosen a degree apprenticeship instead of traditional university?
What interests you about this particular role?
Tell us about a time you overcame a challenge.
Record yourself answering these questions, then watch your responses.
Are you actually answering the question? Have you given a specific example? Is your explanation clear?
For group assessments, practise contributing ideas while also listening, asking useful questions and involving others.
Remember, dominating a discussion doesn’t automatically demonstrate good teamwork.
What you should do: Set aside short, regular preparation sessions before applications open. Building familiarity with assessments gradually is more manageable than trying to learn everything the day before.
Competition Is Increasing, but Don’t Overcomplicate Your Application
With increasing competition, it’s easy to feel that you need an exceptional CV, impressive internships and several personal projects just to have a chance.
But trying to do everything can leave you with plenty of activities and very little understanding of what you’ve actually gained from them.
Focus on building a smaller number of meaningful experiences.
One well-explained personal project can be more useful than several unfinished ones.
A part-time job where you developed communication skills can give you stronger interview examples than work experience you struggle to describe.
And a carefully researched application is more convincing than a generic one sent without understanding the role.
The BBC’s reporting also shows how demanding the application process can become. One student, Anna Helder, applied for 35 apprenticeships, while another applicant, Daniel Edwards, applied for 11 before securing an engineering degree apprenticeship.
Their experiences highlight an important point: even committed applicants may need to pursue several opportunities before receiving an offer.
But applying to more companies doesn’t automatically increase your chances if the quality of your applications suffers.
There are also factors you can’t control, including how many vacancies an employer offers and how other candidates perform.
That’s why it’s sensible to apply to multiple suitable opportunities, keep track of deadlines and consider alternative routes alongside degree apprenticeships.
You can search for opportunities through GOV.UK’s Find an apprenticeship service or explore apprenticeship opportunities through UCAS.
You can also apply for traditional university courses at the same time.
In fact, the BBC reported that some students were applying to university as a backup because of how difficult securing an apprenticeship had become.
Keeping your options open is a practical decision, not a lack of commitment.
Final thought
Degree apprenticeships becoming harder to secure doesn’t mean they’re out of reach.
But with competition for advertised Level 6 positions on the government’s platform quadrupling in just three years, preparation has become increasingly important.
You don’t have to be the most experienced applicant or have the longest CV.
Focus on understanding the role, developing relevant skills and learning how to communicate your experiences.
The goal isn’t to look impressive on paper. It’s to give an employer a clear reason to believe you can succeed in the role.