How to apply for an apprenticeship
All the information you need to apply
Are you employed?
To be eligible for an apprenticeship you must be employed in a suitable job role. For more information on what a suitable job role would be for your chosen apprenticeship please visit .
If you are not in a suitable employment for the apprenticeship, please visit to find employers local to you that may be recruiting. For those interested in a health-related apprenticeship, you may also wish to visit .
Requesting the application documents
Your employer that is supporting you on the apprenticeship should email apprenticeships.skillshub@plymouth.ac.uk to request the application documents, stating the apprenticeship standard you are applying for. These will only be issued to the employer as we require the confirmation of employer support to start the application process.
Meeting Apprenticeship Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for an apprenticeship you must:
- be contracted for 30 hours or more per week, in a role suitable for the apprenticeship.
- have lived in the UK/EEA for the last three years.
- spend at least 50% of the working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship.
- be older than 15 years and have legally left school on the start date of the apprenticeship. Please note some apprenticeships may require you to be 18 years of age. at the start of the apprenticeship – please refer to individual course pages for more information.
Your employer must:
- be able to financially support you for the full duration of the apprenticeship.
- support the minimum 6 hours per week off-the-job protected study time.
- attend and take part/provide input into progress reviews.
Meeting University Entry Requirements
In addition to meeting apprenticeship eligibility requirements, you must also meet the specified university entry requirements. These entry requirements vary depending on which apprenticeship you would like to study, please refer to individual course pages for more information on entry requirements.
Meeting entry requirements doesn’t guarantee you a place with us. Some courses require other conditions that you need to meet, such as interviews or Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
Application Deadlines
Please see individual course pages for the relevant application deadline for your chosen apprenticeship.
After you apply
Once you’ve submitted your application to study with us, there are a number of steps that then take place. You will be contacted throughout the application process to confirm your next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply at any time throughout the year?
No, there are set application windows for apprenticeships with the University of Plymouth. Most of our programmes recruit annually and start in the autumn so our application window usually runs from February to June each year. Please keep an eye on our website for when the next recruitment window opens.
I do not live in England, can I apply?
Apprenticeships delivered by the University of Plymouth are in line with the To be eligible you must have lived in the UK/EEA for the last three years. You need to spend at least 50% of your working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship, including any remote or hybrid working.
Please note all applications are subject to eligibility checks, please for further information.
Depending on where you live in the UK, apprenticeships will work differently. If you do not live in England to find out more about apprenticeships in your area, please follow the links below:
I am an international enquirer, am I eligible?
You must be eligible to work and study in the UK and have the appropriate and necessary visa’s. You must have lived in the UK/EEA for the last three years.
Please note all applications are subject to eligibility checks, please for further information.
Can I apply through UCAS?
You are unable to apply for an apprenticeship through UCAS, but you can sign up for Apprenticeship for apprenticeship vacancies that suit your needs.
If applications are closed, can I apply through clearing for an apprenticeship?
Unlike traditional University programmes an Apprenticeship does not go through a clearing process, there is an application window for our programmes which will usually be between January and June/July for programmes starting in Autumn each year.
Can I apply for a student loan?
You would not be entitled to a student loan as you are an apprentice and receiving a wage.
Can I defer my start date?
No, for an apprenticeship If you wish to defer your start date to the following year you will need to re-apply when applications open.