Apprenticeships in Wales

With the Welsh government looking to create 125,000 apprenticeships by 2026, there should be plenty of opportunities to kick-start your career and earn as you learn

According to quarterly statistics from the Welsh government, 4,545 apprentices started their learning programmes in the second quarter of 2022/23 (November 2022 to January 2023), an increase of 8% on the same quarter in 2021/22.

Most of these increases were at Level 3 or above, with higher apprenticeships experiencing a 5% increase on the same quarter for the previous year.

The two most popular broad sectors continue to be healthcare and public services, increasing by nearly a fifth (19%), while nearly two-thirds (61%) of all apprentices in Wales are female.

Welsh apprenticeship requirements

Combining work and study, apprenticeships give you the opportunity to gain valuable, on-the-job experience while studying towards an industry-recognised qualification.

On top of any course-specific entry criteria, to be eligible for an apprenticeship in Wales you'll need to be:

over the age of 16
living in Wales
not in full-time education.

There are four types of apprenticeship on offer in Wales corresponding to different levels of the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW):

Foundation (Level 2)
Apprenticeship/Standard (Level 3)
Higher (Levels 4-7)
Degree (Levels 6-7).

If you're aged under 19, or over 19 and in the first year of your apprenticeship, you'll be paid £6.40 per hour (from April 2024) - the current minimum hourly rate for apprentices in Wales. Otherwise, you can expect the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rate for your age.

For more information on Welsh apprenticeships and what you're entitled to, see GOV.WALES - Apprenticeships.

Foundation and standard apprenticeships

An increasingly popular entry into a career, foundation and standard apprenticeships in Wales offer on-the-job training and the chance to obtain an industry-recognised qualification equivalent to five GCSEs/Level 2 NVQ or two A-levels/Level 3 NVQ respectively.

From both the foundation and standard levels, apprentices can either enter the world of work or complete higher-level qualifications. For the latter, you'll get a deeper understanding of your field, gain the knowledge and skills required to enter a profession or you may choose to apply for university.

A foundation apprenticeship in Wales is the equivalent of an intermediate apprenticeship in England, a Level 2 in Northern Ireland and a foundation apprenticeship in Scotland.

On the other hand, the standard apprenticeship relates to the advanced (England), Level 3 (Northern Ireland) and modern (Scotland) apprenticeship.

You'll need to be between 16 and 24 years of age, a Welsh resident and already working 16 hours per week to apply for a foundation apprenticeship. Unlike most courses, there are no fixed entry requirements, and each employer will have different criteria.

For the standard apprenticeship, you'll typically require previous industry experience and possibly a related foundation apprenticeship, diploma or BTEC, or to hold three to five GCSEs (at grades 4-9).

Higher apprenticeships

Higher apprenticeships can be studied up to Masters level (CQFW Level 7), and are most commonly found in industries that require high levels of academia as well as practical capability, such as digital and technology solutions, laboratory-based roles or software development.

They can be studied from CQFW Level 4, meaning you'll only need a relevant Level 3 qualification to apply. This could be two or more AS-levels, subject-relevant NVQs or diplomas alongside good GCSE grades (or equivalent).

Higher apprenticeships are the equivalent of the first stages of higher education, such as a foundation degree.

Degree apprenticeships

The highest level of qualification, degree apprenticeships combine full-time work with studying towards the equivalent of a full Bachelors or Masters degree.

Degree apprenticeships are studied at CQFW Levels 6-7 and can take anywhere from one to six years to complete. They are in collaboration between employers and universities or colleges.

To enrol on a degree apprenticeship, you'll need to hold a relevant Level 5 qualification. This includes at least two A-levels (or equivalent) in role-specific subjects, although the exact entry requirements will be at the discretion of your employer.

For more information, see degree apprenticeships. You can also consider whether to go to university or do an apprenticeship.

How to apply

You can apply for apprenticeships of all levels in Wales in a number of ways:

Unlike applying for university through UCAS, where applications can be submitted up to a fixed deadline, it's best to apply for an apprenticeship as soon as possible.

Some employers close their applications early if they've received a sufficient number or quality of applicants.

Discover how to apply for an apprenticeship.

Find out more

Search apprenticeships in Wales.
Explore what is an apprenticeship?
Get an overview of the UK's further education sector.