How to fit an Apprenticeship into your education journey and your career dreams!

Deciding what career you want to have in the future is a big decision, but figuring out how you’ll get there and which qualifications are right for you is just as important!

Because we offer Apprenticeships all the way from Intermediate to Degree-level, you can choose whether to train on the job from start to finish, or whether you want to move from a vocational qualification into a hands-on Apprenticeship role.

Keep reading to find out more about our different types of Apprenticeship and how you can fit these into your educational journey!

 

Intermediate Apprenticeships

Equivalent to 5 GCSEs (grade 4 to 9), Intermediate Apprenticeships are designed to give you the key knowledge and skills you need for your chosen career. This may be a good place to start if you’re new to the sector and want to get the basics down first!

Advanced Apprenticeships

Advanced Apprenticeships will build upon the skills and knowledge provided at an intermediate level, and are equivalent to 2 A Levels. Typical entry requirements for an Advanced Apprenticeship are 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, or to have completed an Intermediate Apprenticeship.

Higher Apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships work towards qualifications such as NVQ Level 4 and, in some cases, a knowledge-based qualification such as a Higher National Certificate or Diploma. They are at the equivalent level to a Foundation Degree.

Degree-level Apprenticeships

These programmes are developed by employers, universities and professional bodies working in partnership. They offer students the opportunity to achieve a full Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree as part of their Apprenticeship.

 

So how does this work alongside other types of qualification?

Let’s say your dream is to become a Software Developer.

If you know that you learn best in a hands-on environment and want to jump straight into working in the field, you could start with an Advanced Apprenticeship as an Information Communications Technician. Alternatively, if you want to learn in a classroom setting, you could join one of our full-time IT & Computing study programmes to develop your technical knowledge.

From either of those programmes, you could then progress on to the Software Developer Higher Apprenticeship Standard where you would further develop your technical knowledge and practical skills in a real-world setting, perfect for getting you ready to jump into full-time employment.

No matter what your career aspirations are, we can help you fit an Apprenticeship into your path!

 

Next steps

Explore our Apprenticeship programmes or speak to our Apprenticeship Recruitment Team today to find out more about the best path for you:

E: apprenticerecruitment@sheffcol.ac.uk

W: https://apprenticeships.sheffcol.ac.uk/