Apprenticeship glossary

Tuition fees

What does Tuition fees mean?

What a university or course charges for teaching. University students in England usually borrow them; apprentices don't pay them.

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Guide Apprenticeship vs university An honest side-by-side of an apprenticeship and a university degree in England: cost, debt, pay, qualifications and what each one suits, with the real numbers. Applies to: England
Student loan (Plan 5)
The loan system for new university students in England. You repay 9% of your income over £25,000 a year, and anything left is written off after 40 years. Apprentices don't need one, because they don't pay tuition fees.
Maintenance loan
A student loan in England to help with living costs at university. Apprentices don't need one, because they earn a wage.
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.
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Northern Ireland's apprenticeships from Level 4 to Level 7. They let you get qualifications up to Master's level without paying higher education tuition fees.
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.