Are Degree Apprenticeships Really 11 Times Oversubscribed?

What the BBC found

In August 2026 the BBC reported that competition for degree apprenticeships in England has quadrupled in three years. Using Freedom of Information data, it found:

• Applicants nearly tripled, from about 8,100 to 21,800, over three years.
• Positions almost halved, from about 7,300 to 3,700.
• 11.3 applications for every Level 6 position this academic year, up from 2.8 in 2023-24.
• Across Levels 4 to 6 combined, 10.6 applications per position, up from 3.6.

The students it spoke to described applying to dozens of roles, waiting weeks with no news and then getting an assessment centre invite at a week's notice. Employers, via the British Chambers of Commerce, pointed to higher employment costs and economic uncertainty as reasons for hiring fewer apprentices.

None of that is wrong. But it's worth being clear about what the numbers actually measure before you decide degree apprenticeships are out of reach.

Why the numbers don't tell the whole story

It's one website, not the whole market

The data only covers vacancies advertised on Find an Apprenticeship, the government's apprenticeship service for England. The BBC says this itself, deeper in the article: employers also advertise on their own sites and on other platforms.

That matters a lot for degree apprenticeships specifically. The large employers that run most of them (accountancy firms, banks, engineering and defence companies, tech firms) usually recruit through their own careers sites, with their own application forms and tests. Many never post on the government service at all.

We see this in our own data. As of 9 November 2026, EarlyBird has 213 live Level 6 (degree) apprenticeship listings. 186 of them came straight from employers' own careers sites, which is where we find most of our listings. The government feed is a useful source, especially for smaller employers, but it's a slice of the market, not all of it.

So "positions halved" means positions on that website halved. That could be fewer apprenticeships overall, employers advertising elsewhere, or both. The data can't tell you which.

Applications are not applicants

"11.3 applications per position" is easy to read as "11 people chasing every place". It isn't. Almost everyone applies to more than one role. One student in the BBC piece applied to 35 apprenticeships; another applied to 11. Each of those counts separately.

So the number of different people you're competing with for any one place is lower than the headline. That's not a reason to relax, but it's a reason not to panic.

Some of the rise is good news

More people applying is partly because more people now know degree apprenticeships exist and see them as a serious alternative to university, especially with tuition fees rising with inflation. Higherin, a careers platform quoted by the BBC, said searches for degree apprenticeships rose by more than 80% this year and employers are advertising more with them, even if demand is growing faster.

So how competitive is it really?

Honestly: competitive. Degree apprenticeships pay you a salary and cover your degree, so they're always going to attract a lot of interest. Popular schemes at big-name employers can be harder to get onto than many university courses, and a careers adviser in the BBC piece tells students exactly that.

But "competitive" varies a lot:

• Big-name schemes in London get the most applicants.
• Regional employers, smaller firms and less glamorous sectors (manufacturing, construction, utilities, the public sector) often get far fewer.
• Level 3 and Level 4 apprenticeships are less contested and can lead to a degree-level role later.

The useful question isn't "can I get a degree apprenticeship?" It's "where am I most likely to get one, and how do I make each application count?"

Seven practical ways to improve your chances

1. Look beyond one job board

If you only search Find an Apprenticeship, you're missing most degree apprenticeships. Check employers' own careers sites, or use a service that pulls them together. That's exactly what EarlyBird does: we collect early-careers roles from employers' own sites plus the government feed, so you see them in one place.

2. Apply early

Many degree apprenticeships close as soon as they have enough applicants, well before the advertised deadline. Accountancy, law, banking and defence employers often open between September and November for the following September; engineering and tech often open from January. Our 2027 degree apprenticeship timeline breaks it down month by month. To hear the moment new ones open, set up free EarlyBird alerts.

3. Apply widely, but not blindly

There's no limit on how many apprenticeships you can apply for. Aim for a spread: a few dream employers, plenty of realistic ones, and some regional or smaller firms. But quality beats quantity. Ten tailored applications will usually do better than 40 copy-and-pasted ones.

4. Tailor every application

One student in the BBC piece put it well: a degree apprenticeship application is like applying for a real job, not writing one personal statement for everyone. Employers want to know why them. Mention something specific about the company, the programme and the work you'd be doing. Our guides to online application forms and cover letters walk you through it.

5. Prepare for the tests and interviews

Most big employers use online tests, then a video interview, then an assessment centre. Lots of applicants drop out at the tests stage simply because they didn't practise. A few hours on psychometric tests, situational judgement tests and video interviews goes a long way.

6. Don't rule out Level 3 and 4

A Level 3 or Level 4 apprenticeship still pays you, still gets you qualifications and experience, and many employers let strong apprentices progress onto a degree apprenticeship later. It's a stepping stone, not a step down. See apprenticeship levels explained for how the levels fit together.

7. Keep university as a backup

Applying through UCAS at the same time is sensible, and lots of successful apprentices did exactly that. You can hold university offers while you wait to hear from employers, then decide. If you end up at university, look for courses with placement years or industry links: you'll still graduate with real work experience. Our degree apprenticeship vs university guide helps you compare.

Bonus: expect silence, and keep going

Employers can go weeks without contacting you, then move fast. Keep a simple list of where you've applied, deadlines and what stage you're at, check your junk folder, and don't stop applying elsewhere while you wait.

FAQ

• Is it harder to get a degree apprenticeship than a place at university?↓

  Is it harder to get a degree apprenticeship than a place at university?

  For many popular schemes, yes. Universities offer thousands of places through one system; employers offer a handful each and assess you like a job candidate. But it depends heavily on the employer, sector and location.

• Does the BBC data cover all degree apprenticeships?↓

  Does the BBC data cover all degree apprenticeships?

  No. It only covers vacancies on the government's Find an Apprenticeship service in England. Many employers advertise on their own careers sites or other platforms, and those aren't included.

• How many degree apprenticeships should I apply for?↓

  How many degree apprenticeships should I apply for?

  There's no limit and no magic number. A spread of around 10 to 20 tailored applications across different employers and levels is a reasonable aim for most people, but quality matters more than volume.

• Should I still apply to university?↓

  Should I still apply to university?

  If you're unsure you'll get an apprenticeship offer, yes. You can apply through UCAS and to apprenticeships at the same time, then choose once you know your options.

• When do degree apprenticeships open for 2027?↓

  When do degree apprenticeships open for 2027?

  The earliest open in September to November 2026, with many more from January to March 2027. See our 2027 timeline.

Ready to get started?

Create a free EarlyBird account to see degree apprenticeships from employers' own careers sites in one feed, get alerts when new ones open, and track your applications.

Sign up for EarlyBird or browse our Company Directory to get started!