Apprenticeship glossary

Skills Development Scotland (SDS)

What does Skills Development Scotland (SDS) mean?

Scotland's national skills body, which runs Apprenticeships.scot and publishes Scotland's Modern Apprenticeship statistics.

Find out more

Guide Apprenticeships in Scotland Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships explained: who can apply, what SCQF levels mean, how long each one takes and what you get paid in Scotland. Applies to: Scotland
Apprenticeships.scot
Scotland's official apprenticeships website, run by Skills Development Scotland, with information on Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships.
Modern Apprenticeship
Scotland's main apprenticeship: a paid job with training, from SCQF Level 4/5 up to Level 11. There are over 100 types and most take one to four years.
Core Skills
Skills like communication, numeracy and working with others that are built into every Modern Apprenticeship in Scotland.
Graduate Apprenticeship
Scotland's version of a degree apprenticeship. You work and study part-time at university for a degree from SCQF Level 9 (Ordinary degree) to Level 11 (Master's), over two to five years.
Higher (Scotland)
The main qualification Scottish pupils take in S5 and S6, at SCQF Level 6. Many employers accept Highers in place of A levels.
ICAS
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, which awards the CA qualification. Deloitte and KPMG both offer routes to it in Scotland.

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.