Do I need to pay for an apprenticeship?
Despite working towards a university degree during your programme, you may be pleased to hear that apprentices do not pay tuition fees, thanks largely to how the funding for apprenticeships works. The training and assessment costs are covered entirely by your employer, in most cases via government funding, and they are not allowed to ask you to contribute.
The Zero-Tuition Guarantee
The most fundamental aspect of paying for a degree apprenticeship is that you, as the apprentice, do not pay any tuition fees. By law, your employer and the government cover the full cost of your degree through the Growth and Skills Levy. This means you do not apply for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England, and you graduate with a full Bachelor’s or Master’s degree without the £27,000+ debt typical of a full-time university student. Training providers are strictly prohibited from asking you to contribute financially to the direct costs of your apprenticeship training or assessment.
Earning a Full-Time Salary
Unlike a traditional student who may work part-time to survive, you are a full-time employee from your first day. You receive a monthly salary that must meet at least the National Minimum Wage for apprentices, though most degree-level employers pay significantly more, often ranging from £18,000 to over £30,000 depending on the sector. This salary is your personal income to cover your own living costs, such as rent, food, and travel. Because you are an employee, you also pay Income Tax and National Insurance once you earn above the standard thresholds, but you are also entitled to paid holiday, sick pay, and a workplace pension.
Ineligibility for Student Loans
A critical distinction in the "payment" model is that apprentices are not eligible for traditional student finance. Since you are earning a full-time wage and your fees are covered, you cannot apply for a Maintenance Loan or a Tuition Fee Loan. If you were previously on a full-time university course and had a student loan, that loan must be terminated before your apprenticeship starts. For many, the lack of a Maintenance Loan is offset by their monthly salary, but it does mean you must be prepared to budget for your own lifestyle expenses using your earnings alone.
Support and Contingency Funding
While you pay no fees, there are specific "extras" you might be eligible for depending on your personal circumstances. For example, if you are a care leaver aged under 25, you are entitled to a one-off bursary (currently £3,000 as of 2026) to help with the transition into work and study. Furthermore, if you require additional learning support for a disability or a learning difficulty like dyslexia, the government provides extra funding directly to your training provider to pay for the necessary equipment or specialized tutoring you might need, ensuring you are not personally out of pocket for these essential adjustments.
Important Restrictions for Level 7 (Master's) in 2026
If you are pursuing a Level 7 (Master's) degree apprenticeship in early 2026, the payment model has a specific age-related catch. Government funding is now primarily reserved for apprentices who are aged 21 or under at the start of the course. If you are 22 or older, you still do not pay the fees yourself, but your employer must fund the entire programme commercially rather than using the government levy. For you as the apprentice, the result is the same—a free degree—but it may mean that finding a "sponsored" Level 7 place as an older learner is more competitive than finding a Level 6 (Bachelor’s) place, which remains fully funded for all ages.