Young people
What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are an attractive option as you can "earn while you learn" and you'll be in full-time employment, getting hands-on with your job while studying for a qualification. Reducing the financial burden and increasing the prospect of a secure job at the end of your apprenticeship makes the apprenticeship route a solid choice. Apprenticeships are open to 16 year-olds and 18 year-olds and older. An alternative is the university route to study chemical engineering from 18 years of age, and some students are choosing from a growing range of degree apprenticeships.
Depending on your previous experience and qualifications, there are different levels of apprenticeship.
Advanced apprenticeships take, on average, two years complete and you'll spend some time studying alongside your employment. How studying takes place can vary; attending a college on set days, completing study online or meeting with a trainer. At the end of successfully completing your advanced apprenticeship, you'll have achieved the equivalent of two A-levels and you can then go on to a higher apprenticeship or degree in the future if you want to.
Higher apprenticeships take around three to five years to complete and are usually at level 4 or 5, equivalent to the first two years of an undergraduate university degree course or a foundation degree course.
Degree apprenticeships take three to six years to complete and involve spending 80% of your time working and 20% on your university studies. This might be one or two days per week, or in short blocks, such as a week at a time.
You can find advanced, higher and degree apprenticeships in chemical engineering. It's worth noting that the actual job title or title of the apprenticeship may be called something else, like process or plant engineer.
Return to list