Apprenticeships

Whether you’re looking to develop new or current employees, The Open University offers a range of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships in England, Graduate Apprenticeships in Scotland and Degree Apprenticeships in Wales that are designed around employers' needs.

Open University apprenticeships are delivered flexibly to fit around your organisation’s demands, scalable for consistent training across multiple sites and provide high quality work-based learning for real organisational impact.

How our programmes help your organisation

Apprenticeships unlock the potential of your people. Learn how apprenticeships can energise your organisation, delivering new skills and expertise to future-proof your workforce.

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a job with training. Apprentices spend approximately 80% of their time on their day-to-day role and 20% completing learning activities. 

It develops employees’ professional knowledge and skills whilst they’re working in your organisation, enhancing their performance and expertise. Find out how apprenticeships can benefit your organisation. 

Apprenticeships are delivered by the employer, in partnership with an approved apprenticeship provider like The Open University.

They’re available from Level 2 to Level 8. The Apprenticeships we offer at The Open University in England and Wales are Level 5 to Level 7. This is equivalent to Foundation Degree, degree level and Masters level study.

The Open University offers Higher and Degree programmes  in healthcare, policing, social work, digital, management and leadership in England. Digital and IT programmes are offered in Scotland and Wales.

Why choose The Open University for apprenticeships?

• Flexible - Online and blended learning means apprentices can study at a pace and place that suits them, reducing disruption for staff and business, and making learners more likely to succeed.
• Supported - Students excel with in-person support alongside online and in-work learning. Practice tutors support apprentices in the workplace and module tutors hold regular tutorials.
• Accessible - Our ‘inclusive-by-design’ apprenticeships are accessible to everyone. This helps you attract and advance staff regardless of prior attainment, widening participation and expanding your talent pool.
• Local - Wherever you are in the UK, our accessible online learning and nationwide network of tutors make us your local university.
• Scalable - Our unrivalled national reach enables consistent educational programmes to be delivered at scale, across geographically dispersed workforces, from individual learners to whole cohorts.
• Integrated - Our apprenticeships build knowledge and practical experience in tandem, delivering integrated learning that delivers immediate benefits to your organisation.
• Relevant - Outstanding partnerships with employers let us co-create apprenticeship programmes to meets your business needs – as well as the requirements of the Apprenticeship Standard.
• Experienced - We are the largest provider of degree apprenticeships in England (based on 2019/20 starts), working with 750 employers to deliver 2,700+ apprentices. 

Find out how IBM upskilled its staff with The Open University.  

Our experienced account management team can help you work out the best way to get up and running with apprenticeships. Get in touch or call 0300 303 0122.

Discover our higher and degree apprenticeship programmes.

Find out more about Apprenticeships funding.