School Leaver Programmes help A Level qualified students earn and learn towards a qualification after school instead of going to university. Find out more.
What is a School Leaver Programme?
Some employers offer School Leaver Programmes and pay for you to study a degree in their business field. At the same time, you get a salary whilst working for them as an employee. Don’t worry – you don’t have to pay a penny, and they factor learning time into your job so you won’t struggle to juggle study, work and free time.
Example school leaver programmes can typically be found in these work areas:
- Accountancy
- ICT
- Construction
- Tax
- Audit
- Banking
A slightly different kind of school leaver programme called a Higher Apprenticeship is often available in the Hospitality, Media, Public Services, Science and Technology sectors, or work areas.
What are the benefits of doing a School Leaver Programme?
With many companies you can get a good salary, all your tuition fees paid for, and you’ll even be guaranteed a permanent position after you complete your degree.
You’ll get a degree at the end of your learning and you’ll have been earning a salary instead of building up student debt.
In some cases you might also get an additional professional qualification such as ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) to help you along with your career.
What do you need to know?
- The school leaver programme typically lasts from 12 months and five years, and you will be working for the same employer.
- You will work either full-time or part-time, depending on the programme.
- You will work towards a nationally recognised qualification. This could be a bachelors or foundation degree, a Higher National Certificate or a Higher National Diploma.
- You will earn a salary, and be paid for both your work and study time.
- In some cases an employer might pay 50-75% of your tuition fees but that’s still a big bite out of your student debt – and the rest is funded by the government.
- You will need to be professional while you are in the workplace.
- Applications for school leaver programmes can get quite competitive, so give it your best shot.
Where can you apply for School Leaver Programmes?
You can often apply directly on the websites of any employers offering school leaver programmes. You can find these employers with a quick internet search.
Employers may also call them school leaver apprenticeships.
What are the entry requirements?
Different programmes will have different entry requirements. They will usually be Level 2/Level 3 qualifications like GCSEs and A Levels, grades A*-C (a pass).
Others employers will ask for a minimum number of UCAS points. Make sure to check the requirements of the specific programmes you are looking at.
Whenever you see a school leaver programme you are thinking of applying for…
- Check the entry requirements
- Do your research on the employer, programme and area of business
- Consider if you are a good fit, and if you would enjoy it.
