Overview
If you're considering applying for an apprenticeship in the UK, it's essential to understand the eligibility requirements set by the UK government. Apprenticeships are government-backed training programmes designed to help individuals gain practical skills while working towards a qualification. To ensure you are eligible, certain criteria related to your right to work, employment contract, prior learning, your role, and qualifications in maths and English must be met.
Eligibility Requirements
1. Right to Work
To be eligible for an apprenticeship, you must:
Be a UK citizen or have proof of your right to work in the UK.
Have lived in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) for the last 3 years or more.
If you are not a UK or EEA citizen, you must have resided in the UK for the last 3 years.
2. Contract of Employment
Your employment contract must align with the apprenticeship guidelines:
You must spend at least 50% of your working hours in England.
You are required to work a minimum of 28 hours per week if applying for a full-time apprenticeship.
Your employment contract must be longer than the time required to complete the apprenticeship.
3. Prior Learning
The apprenticeship programme is designed for individuals who do not possess extensive experience in the relevant learning areas. Specifically:
You should not have significant knowledge obtained through:
An academic setting (e.g., an undergraduate degree).
A professional environment (e.g., relevant prior work experience).
4. Your Role
Each programme has a set of duties that your role must cover, so that you can apply what you learn at work. Enough of the duties for your programme must be confirmed, between your own answers in the programme matcher and, where we ask, your manager's. If your role does not cover enough of them, we will suggest a programme that fits your role better.
If You Work in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
To use government apprenticeship funding, you must spend at least 50% of your working hours in England.
If you spend more than half your working hours in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you are not eligible for government apprenticeship funding. You can still join a programme if your employer has agreed commercial funding with Multiverse.
If you are not sure whether your employer has agreed commercial funding, ask your manager. Our team can also check with your employer’s account team.
Frequently Asked Questions
I work shifts; is this OK?
Most shift patterns can be accommodated. You will need to provide details of your shift pattern during your application. However, if you work night shifts, you may miss daytime Multiverse-led sessions and meetings with your coach. If your employer can offer flexibility to adjust your schedule, you might still be eligible. See Applying as a Shift Worker.
What right-to-work document should I provide?
For UK or Irish citizens, no proof is needed in your application, but you will need to provide your passport or birth certificate and National Insurance number once you begin the apprenticeship.
For non-UK or Irish citizens, the easiest proof is through a share code (obtainable online) starting with 'W'. You may also provide a valid letter from the Home Office or your work visa. Note: A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) alone is not acceptable for this purpose.
Does living in the UK for a specific period matter if I have the right to work?
Yes, aside from the right to work, you must have lived in the UK or EEA for the past 3 years. Non-UK or EEA citizens must also have resided in the UK for this duration to qualify.
Please note, if you have spent time in a non-UK (or EEA for UK and EEA citizens) country for the past 3 years, then there is a chance you will not be eligible, no matter your nationality. As a general rule, absences of more than a few months are not usually accepted, although some exceptions apply, such as gap years. You can check the latest regulations in the current apprenticeship funding rules on GOV.UK, under the eligibility criteria.
My right-to-work document has a 'No Recourse to Public Funds' condition; can I still apply?
Absolutely! The apprenticeship counts as educational funding and is not affected by the 'No Recourse to Public Funds' condition. You remain eligible to claim these funds.
What if my manager is asked about my duties?
In some cases we email your manager to confirm the duties you marked as No or Not sure. They do not need to log in. If they do not reply, you can still be finalised. See When will Multiverse contact my manager?