Apprenticeship glossary

Entry requirements

What does Entry requirements mean?

The grades, qualifications or experience an employer asks for before you can start a particular apprenticeship. They're set for each programme, not just each employer.

Find out more

Guide How to research an apprenticeship employer A practical checklist for looking into an employer before you apply, with real examples and figures that show how much programmes differ. Applies to: All of the UK
Commute
Your journey to and from work, and to your college or training provider. Check it's realistic before you apply, especially for factory or site-based roles.
Advanced Higher
A Scottish qualification usually taken in S6 after a Higher, at SCQF Level 7. Some employers, like KPMG, list Advanced Highers in their entry requirements.
Apprentice
Someone doing an apprenticeship: an employee who is paid to work and train towards a recognised qualification at the same time.
Apprenticeship
A real, paid job where you also train towards a recognised qualification. In England at least 20% of your normal working hours are spent training, and you don't pay tuition fees.
National 5
A Scottish qualification usually taken in S4, roughly comparable to a GCSE. Some employers, like Barclays and Rolls-Royce, accept National 5s in their entry requirements.
UCAS
The service you use to apply to university courses in the UK. Some degree apprenticeships are also listed there, and UCAS points are used in some entry requirements.

Definitions are our own plain-English summaries. Where we give figures, they come from the official sources listed on the linked guide or profile. Rules can change, so check the official source before you make decisions.