Business degree apprenticeships: how they work, who offers them and how to apply
Compare pay, entry requirements and 2027 deadlines with a full-time business management degree
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A business degree apprenticeship is a paid job where you also study for a full bachelor's degree in business or management, and you pay no tuition fees. Until 2026 the most common route was the level 6 Chartered Manager degree apprenticeship. The government stopped funding new starts on that standard from 1 September 2026, so it now runs only where an employer pays the full cost itself. For 2027, look for vacancies on other level 6 standards, such as project management or accounting and finance, which still lead to a full bachelor's degree and typically take four years. You apply to an employer, not through UCAS, so you can apply for as many as you like on top of your five university choices. Some vacancies for 2027 are open now, and a few close in November 2026.
What is a business degree apprenticeship?
A degree apprenticeship combines a job with a university degree. From day one you're an employee, with a contract, a salary and holiday pay. A university teaches the degree part. The government's apprenticeship guide lists degree apprenticeships as levels 6 and 7, the same as a bachelor's or master's degree. It also says at least 20% of your normal working hours go on training and study.
Your employer covers the course fees. Large employers pay through the apprenticeship levy. For smaller employers, the government pays most of the cost of an apprenticeship that is approved for funding. Queen Mary University of London puts it simply on its 2027 course page: "Your employer will pay all of your Queen Mary tuition fees."
To start one in England, you need to be 16 or over, living in England and not in full-time education. Scotland runs its own scheme, called Graduate Apprenticeships.
Which business degree apprenticeships can you do?
Until September 2026 most business degree apprenticeships followed the Chartered Manager standard. New starts on it are no longer government funded (apprentices who started before 1 September 2026 are funded to completion), so check which apprenticeship standard a vacancy uses before you apply. On a business degree apprenticeship you cover the core of a business degree and apply it to live projects at work, with a skills coach and a workplace supervisor checking your progress.
When you finish, you get an honours degree. The Chartered Manager route also led to eligibility for Chartered Manager status from the Chartered Management Institute. Other standards have their own professional recognition, so check what a vacancy offers.
Course names vary by university. You'll see Business Management, Business Leadership and Management, and Applied Business Management. Some employers also run level 6 routes in related areas such as accounting and finance or retail and business management, so search by job area as well as by "business".
Who offers business degree apprenticeships for 2027?
Employers hire the apprentices, and each employer partners with a university for the teaching. Universities often list the course too, but you still need a job offer to start. These are examples we checked on 13 November 2026. Queen Mary's programme was set up under the Chartered Manager standard, so ask the employer how the 2027 intake is funded.
| Employer or university | Degree | Start | Status on 13 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBDA (aerospace and defence) | BSc (Hons) Project Management (University of Hertfordshire) | September 2027 | Closing date 20 November 2026, or earlier if filled; £23,000 plus £3,000 joining bonus |
| Queen Mary University of London | BSc (Hons) Business Management (Social Change), 4 years | August 2027 | Apply through an employer vacancy; salary at least £22,000 |
| Manchester Metropolitan University | BA (Hons) Business Management Professional, 4 years | No future cohort | 2026 cohort closed; Manchester Met says it can't take enquiries for future cohorts because of changes in government funding |
Source: Gradcracker, Queen Mary, Manchester Met. Last checked: 13 November 2026.
For more, search the government's Find an apprenticeship service and filter by business and degree level. UCAS also has an apprenticeship search that shows each vacancy's closing date.
Entry requirements: degree apprenticeship vs full-time business degree
The university sets a minimum for the degree, and employers often add their own. For its Chartered Manager cohorts up to 2026, Manchester Met asked for 104 UCAS points, which is BCC at A-Level, or an equivalent such as a BTEC, a T Level or an earlier apprenticeship. It also considered applicants with relevant work experience who didn't meet that. MBDA asks for 120 points for 2027, including a business-related A-Level, with no grade below C.
You'll usually need GCSE English and maths at grade 4 or above too. Some providers accept Level 2 Functional Skills instead, and can let you take them during the apprenticeship.
The bigger step is getting the job. Employers shortlist from written applications, then often use online tests, interviews and assessment centres. Treat it like any job application: research the company, and have examples ready from school, part-time work or clubs.
Full-time business management offers vary much more. Some universities ask for grades close to these, and the most selective business schools ask for top A-Level grades. Our UCAS points table shows what your predicted grades are worth, and the GCSE grades guide covers the GCSE side.
Whichever route you choose, your A-Level grades still decide a lot. Medly AI covers A-Level courses for AQA, Edexcel, OCR and other boards, and Medly's free plan includes 5 marked questions a day, so you can practise exam answers and see where the next mark comes from.
How to apply for a degree apprenticeship in 2027, alongside UCAS
UCAS says you can apply for as many apprenticeships as you like alongside university applications, and they don't count towards your five choices. Each employer sets its own deadline, and start dates can fall at any time of year. Here's a plan for a September 2027 start:
- From now to December 2026, apply to the large employers first. Some close early: MBDA's business programme closes on 20 November 2026 (or earlier if it fills).
- Send your UCAS application by 18:00 on 13 January 2027, the equal consideration date for most courses. This keeps the university route open while you wait to hear from employers.
- From January to summer 2027, keep checking Find an apprenticeship, because new vacancies appear across the year. Practise online tests and prepare for assessment centres.
- If you get an apprenticeship offer, compare it with your university offers before you reply. If you accept the apprenticeship, decline your university places so they go to someone else.
- Keep revising. Many employer offers depend on your results in summer 2027.
For every university deadline month by month, see our UCAS 2027 guide.
Degree apprenticeship vs university: pay, workload and trade-offs
| Business degree apprenticeship | Full-time business degree | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Paid by your employer and the government | Paid by you, usually with a student loan |
| Income while studying | A salary from day one | Maintenance loan and any part-time work |
| Length | Typically 4 years | Usually 3 years, or 4 with a placement |
| How you apply | To each employer, as many as you like | Through UCAS, up to five choices |
| Typical entry | Set by the employer and university (MBDA asks for 120 points for 2027), plus GCSE English and maths, and passing the employer's selection | Set by each university, from similar grades to top grades |
| Study pattern | University days and online learning around full-time work | Full-time lectures, seminars and independent study |
Source: GOV.UK, Find apprenticeship training, UCAS, Manchester Met. Last checked: 13 November 2026.
On pay, the legal floor is the apprentice rate of £8.00 an hour, rising to £8.31 from 1 April 2027. It applies if you're under 19, or 19 or over and in your first year. Degree apprenticeship employers usually pay well above that. Queen Mary says its 2027 apprentices earn at least £22,000, or £26,000 if they're over 21. Across large employers, the Institute of Student Employers found a median starting salary of £24,000 for school and college leavers in 2025.
The gap narrows by the end. Income Data Research found in March 2026 that the median completion salary for degree apprentices was £33,630, about 7% below the £36,000 typical for people finishing traditional graduate-entry roles. Its sample was mostly large private employers.
The workload is real. You work full time, and the study sits on top. At Manchester Met, for cohorts up to 2026, year one included 18 university days, and each later year had 12 plus online webinars. The rest happens at work and in your own time.
What you gain:
- No tuition fee debt, and a salary from the start
- Four years of work experience by graduation
- Professional recognition on some routes, as well as the degree
What you give up:
- The employer chooses the university, so you have less say over where you study
- Fewer places, with a job-style selection process
- Less of the traditional student life, and assignments that can land in busy work weeks
Frequently asked questions
Do you pay for a business degree apprenticeship?
No. Your employer pays the course fees, with government funding, and you earn a salary while you study.
Is a degree apprenticeship a real degree?
Yes. A-Level 6 degree apprenticeship leads to a bachelor's degree, such as a BA or BSc (Hons), awarded by the university that teaches it.
Can you apply for degree apprenticeships and university at the same time?
Yes. UCAS says apprenticeship applications sit alongside your university application and don't use any of your five choices.
What A-Levels do you need for a business degree apprenticeship?
It varies by employer. Manchester Met asked for 104 points (BCC) for its Chartered Manager cohorts up to 2026, while MBDA asks for 120 points for 2027, including a business-related A-Level. Most also want GCSE English and maths at grade 4 or a Level 2 equivalent.
How much do business degree apprentices earn?
It depends on the employer. Queen Mary's 2027 apprentices earn at least £22,000, and the legal minimum for first-year apprentices is £8.00 an hour, rising to £8.31 from 1 April 2027.
When do degree apprenticeship applications open?
There's no single date. Large employers often open in September or October for the following September and can close from November. Others advertise from January to summer, so keep checking Find an apprenticeship.
Are degree apprenticeships only in England?
No. The rules in this guide cover England. Scotland offers Graduate Apprenticeships, including in business management.