Can you get an apprenticeship without GCSEs?

Short answer: yes. Not having GCSEs, or not getting the grades you hoped for, doesn’t rule you out of an apprenticeship. Lots of apprenticeships are designed for people starting out, and some don’t ask for any qualifications at all.

Apprenticeships that don’t ask for grades

Foundation apprenticeships (England). These Level 2 apprenticeships started in August 2025 for 16 to 21 year olds (and some 22 to 24 year olds). You don’t need any grades or qualifications to apply. Our England guide has the details.

Level 2 apprenticeships everywhere in the UK. Many intermediate (Level 2) apprenticeships have low or no grade requirements. Some examples:

Employer	Apprenticeship	What they ask for
Balfour Beatty	Intermediate apprenticeships	No formal qualifications (some trade roles have aptitude tests)
Sky	Level 2 customer sales	Two GCSEs (or equivalent)
Laing O’Rourke	Trade apprenticeships	Three GCSEs, or six months’ construction experience instead

In Northern Ireland, some Level 2 frameworks have no specific entry requirements, although employers can set their own. In Scotland you can apply for a Modern Apprenticeship once you’re over school-leaving age, and in Wales apprenticeships are open to anyone 16 or over. Each job will say what it asks for.

What about English and maths?

This depends on your age and where you live.

In England, if you’re 16 to 18 when you start, you’ll work towards English and maths as part of your apprenticeship if you don’t already have them. It’s built into your training, so you don’t need to have passed them before you apply.

If you’re 19 or over in England, English and maths have been optional since 11 February 2025. You and your employer can still choose to include them, and your apprenticeship will still test the English and maths you need for the job itself.

Some employers accept Functional Skills Level 2 in English and maths instead of GCSEs. Network Rail listed this as an equivalent for an earlier engineering intake.

Use one apprenticeship to get the next

If you don’t have the grades for the apprenticeship you really want, a Level 2 apprenticeship can get you there. Lots of employers accept a finished lower-level apprenticeship instead of grades. Balfour Beatty, for example, accepts a finished Level 2 apprenticeship for its advanced apprenticeships, and a finished Level 3 for its higher and degree routes. Our guide to apprenticeship levels explains how the levels fit together.

Tips if you don’t have GCSEs

• Read the entry requirements for each job. They’re different for every programme, even at the same employer.
• Show what you can do in other ways. Part-time jobs, volunteering, looking after family, clubs and projects all count. Our CV guide shows how to make the most of them.
• If you’re a grade or two short, apply anyway and explain. Some employers, like KPMG, encourage people who are slightly below their requirements to apply and explain their circumstances.
• Ask about support. If you find English or maths hard, ask what help is available during the apprenticeship.

Didn’t get the results you expected this summer? Read what to do if you didn’t get the grades.