Apprenticeships in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland runs its own apprenticeships through the Department for the Economy, with official information on nidirect. There are two programmes: ApprenticeshipsNI at Levels 2 and 3, and Higher Level Apprenticeships from Level 4 up to Level 7 (Master’s level).

The levels

Programme	Levels	How long	Good to know
ApprenticeshipsNI	Level 2	Up to two years	Where most new apprentices start
ApprenticeshipsNI	Level 3	Up to two years (up to four if you do Level 2 first)	You can start here if you have the right qualifications
Higher Level Apprenticeships	Levels 4–7	At least two years	Most are Level 5, like a foundation degree

There are over 100 Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships and almost 100 Higher Level Apprenticeships, in areas like agri-food manufacturing, computer science, motor vehicles, mechanical engineering, retail, construction and accountancy. If an apprenticeship isn’t on the official lists, it isn’t currently offered through the programme.

Who can apply

For ApprenticeshipsNI at Levels 2 and 3, you need to be 16 or over and have a job, or have found an employer willing to take you on as an apprentice. Some frameworks have minimum entry requirements, such as GCSEs, and employers can add their own. Your training provider can tell you what applies.

For Higher Level Apprenticeships, the minimum rules are:

• You’re employed, or about to start a permanent paid job as an apprentice, with a Northern Ireland-based company.
• You work at least 21 hours a week, including your off-the-job training.
• You have the entry qualifications for that sector and pass any entry tests.
• You’re at least the minimum school-leaving age in Northern Ireland.
• You have the right to live and work in the UK. Republic of Ireland nationals are eligible under the Common Travel Area arrangements.

Higher Level Apprenticeships

These are Northern Ireland’s answer to degree apprenticeships. You work and earn while you study, and you get professional-level qualifications without paying higher education tuition fees. They’re delivered by:

• Further education colleges: Belfast Met, Northern Regional, North West Regional, Southern Regional, South Eastern Regional and South West College
• Universities: Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast
• CAFRE, the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise

Sector	Levels
Accounting	5–7
Advanced manufacturing and engineering	4–7
Built environment	4–7
Civil engineering	4–7
ICT	5–7
Business and professional services	5–7
Life and health sciences	5–7
Hospitality and tourism	5–6
Agri-food manufacturing	5–6
Health and social care	4–5

Other sectors include childcare and youth work, hair and beauty, leisure and wellbeing, sales and marketing, and transport and logistics. For details of a specific course, contact the college or university that runs it.

Apprenticeships in Northern Ireland in numbers

The Department for the Economy recorded 7,309 ApprenticeshipsNI starts in 2024/25, split almost evenly: 48% at Level 2 and 48% at Level 3. Higher Level Apprenticeships are counted separately. See how this compares with the rest of the UK in our UK comparison guide.

Employers we’ve researched with Northern Ireland routes

• Deloitte runs apprenticeships in Belfast, with degree routes in business technology, computer systems, and accounting and management.
• Amazon lists some apprenticeship programmes with separate versions for Northern Ireland.
• Network Rail publishes entry requirements for its Level 3 engineering apprenticeship that cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

How to find one

nidirect has an official search for apprenticeship opportunities, including Higher Level Apprenticeships, and the Careers Service can give you free, impartial advice. Once you’ve found something, our guides on how to apply and writing a cover letter will help you stand out.