A nursing degree apprenticeship gives you a different way to become a registered nurse. Instead of studying full time at university and relying mainly on student finance, you are employed, earn a salary and complete your nursing degree alongside your job.
Your employer pays you while you train, and you do not pay the eligible apprenticeship training costs yourself.
At the end of an approved programme, you can qualify for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, provided you meet all the academic and professional requirements.
This guide explains how nursing degree apprenticeships work in 2026, what you can earn, the entry requirements, how funding works and where to look for vacancies.
Important: Most of this guide focuses on England, because the Level 6 Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship and the funding rules discussed below are part of the English apprenticeship system. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different apprenticeship arrangements.
What Is a Nursing Degree Apprenticeship?
A nursing degree apprenticeship allows you to train as a registered nurse while working for an NHS organisation or another healthcare employer.
You are both an employee and a student. Your time is divided between your job, academic study and the clinical learning needed to meet professional nursing standards.
The current Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship in England is a Level 6 apprenticeship and normally takes around four years to complete.
Depending on the programme and employer, you may train in one of the main nursing fields:
- Adult nursing
- Children’s nursing
- Mental health nursing
- Learning disability nursing
The programme must meet the professional requirements for registered nurses. You can read the Nursing and Midwifery Council standards for nurses to see the standards nursing students are expected to meet before registration.
Nursing Degree Apprenticeship vs a Traditional Nursing Degree
Both routes can lead to registration as a nurse, but the way you study and fund your training is different.
| Nursing degree apprenticeship | Traditional nursing degree |
|---|---|
| You are employed while training | You are mainly a university student |
| You receive a salary | You do not receive an employee salary for studying |
| Eligible apprenticeship training costs are funded | Tuition is normally funded through student finance or other arrangements |
| You apply through an employer | Undergraduate applications are normally made through UCAS |
| Usually takes about four years | Usually takes about three years full time |
| Work and university study are combined | University study and clinical placements are combined |
| Leads towards NMC registration | Leads towards NMC registration |
The apprenticeship can suit you if you want to earn while studying and are comfortable balancing employment with university work.
The traditional university route may suit you better if you want a more conventional student experience or do not want to commit to an employer at the beginning of your training.
Nursing Degree Apprenticeship Entry Requirements in 2026
There is no single set of entry requirements used by every employer and university. You need to check the vacancy you are applying for because the employer and its partner university set the exact academic requirements.
You will commonly be asked for:
- GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C or above, or accepted equivalents
- A Level 3 qualification such as A levels, BTEC or another accepted qualification
- Evidence that you meet the university’s academic requirements
- The right to work in the UK for the required period
- Eligibility for apprenticeship funding
- Satisfactory occupational health checks
- A DBS check before working with patients
Some universities also use UCAS tariff points when setting academic entry requirements.
Meeting the university’s academic requirements does not automatically mean you are eligible for the apprenticeship. You must also meet the employer’s recruitment requirements and the apprenticeship funding rules.
Do You Apply Through UCAS?
Normally, no. This is one of the biggest differences between a nursing degree apprenticeship and a normal undergraduate nursing degree.
For a nursing degree apprenticeship, you generally apply for an apprenticeship job with an employer. The employer will already have an arrangement with a university or training provider.
If you are successful, the employer then supports your enrolment onto the degree apprenticeship. This means your first search should usually be for vacancies, not simply universities offering nursing courses.
Where to Find Nursing Degree Apprenticeship Vacancies
A good place to start is the official Find an Apprenticeship service.
Search terms such as:
- Registered nurse degree apprentice
- Nursing degree apprenticeship
- Student nurse apprentice
- Registered nurse apprentice
You should also check:
- NHS Jobs
- Individual NHS Trust career pages
- University apprenticeship pages
- Large private healthcare employers
- Your current employer, if you already work in healthcare
Do not depend on university websites alone.
A university may offer the programme academically but have no apprenticeship place available unless one of its partner employers is recruiting.
Universities Offering Nursing Degree Apprenticeships
A number of English universities work with NHS organisations and other employers to deliver registered nurse degree apprenticeships.
Examples include:
- University of Plymouth
- Bournemouth University
- Birmingham City University
- University of Sunderland
- University of Huddersfield
- Northumbria University
This is not a complete national list.
More importantly, seeing a nursing degree apprenticeship on a university website does not necessarily mean you can apply directly to the university. Look at the course page for information about partner employers, then check whether those employers are currently recruiting.
How Much Do Nursing Degree Apprentices Get Paid?
There is no single national nursing degree apprentice salary. Your employer decides your salary, and NHS employers may advertise apprenticeships at different pay levels.
That is why you should check the salary stated on the individual vacancy instead of relying on a general figure from another NHS Trust. There is, however, a legal minimum.
From 1 April 2026, the National Minimum Wage apprentice rate is £8.00 per hour. This applies to apprentices under 19 and to apprentices aged 19 or over who are still in the first year of their apprenticeship.
If you are aged 19 or over and have completed the first year of your apprenticeship, you become entitled to the minimum wage rate for your age.
Employers can, and often do, pay more than the legal minimum. You must also be paid for the training or study time that forms part of your apprenticeship, and apprentices receive normal employment rights including paid holiday.
What Do You Earn After Qualifying?
Once you qualify, register with the NMC and take up a newly qualified nursing post in the NHS in England, you would normally enter Band 5.
For 2026/27, the NHS England Band 5 basic pay scale starts at £32,073. London and some surrounding areas may have additional payments.
Your apprenticeship salary should therefore not be confused with your salary once you become a registered nurse.
Who Pays the Tuition Fees?
You do not pay the eligible training and assessment costs of an apprenticeship yourself.
The Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship is a Level 6 apprenticeship with funding arranged between the government, employer and training provider.
The exact funding arrangement depends on factors such as whether the employer pays the Growth and Skills Levy, the apprentice’s age and the employer’s available funds. The important point for you as an applicant is simple:
you should not be asked to pay towards the eligible apprenticeship training costs yourself.
What Changed With the Growth and Skills Levy in 2026?
The Apprenticeship Levy is being developed into the Growth and Skills Levy.
From August 2026, new funds entering an employer’s apprenticeship service account expire after 12 months if they are not used. Funds already in accounts before August 2026 continue under the previous arrangements.
This is mainly something employers need to manage. As an applicant, you do not need to understand every part of the levy system before applying. What matters to you is whether an employer has a funded apprenticeship vacancy available.
How to Apply for a Nursing Degree Apprenticeship
The application process is closer to applying for a job than applying for a normal university course. For that reason, it helps to prepare in the same way you would for a competitive healthcare vacancy.
For a wider view of employment conditions, read our guide to The 2026 Job Market: Where the Real Opportunities Are in Europe and North America.
1. Check that you meet the basic requirements
Before applying, check your qualifications and make sure you meet the academic requirements listed in the vacancy. Do not assume every programme accepts exactly the same qualifications.
2. Search for live vacancies
Use the government’s apprenticeship service, NHS Jobs and NHS Trust career pages. Check regularly because some vacancies stay open for only a short time. In addition, employers may close applications early if they receive enough suitable candidates.
3. Read the employer requirements carefully
Check:
- Salary
- Location
- Working hours
- Nursing field
- Academic requirements
- Partner university
- Start date
- Apprenticeship funding eligibility
- Whether previous healthcare experience is required
4. Tailor your application
Do not send the same supporting statement to every NHS Trust. Use examples showing why you want to become a nurse and how your experience relates to the role.
Healthcare experience can help, but it does not have to come from a hospital. For example, support work, care homes, volunteering, community work or caring responsibilities can all give you useful examples to discuss.
What matters most is how clearly you explain the skills you developed.
5. Prepare for the interview
Nursing apprenticeship interviews may explore:
- Why you want to become a nurse
- Why you chose that nursing field
- What you understand about the apprenticeship
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Safeguarding
- Equality and dignity
- Dealing with difficult situations
- How you will balance work and study
Use examples rather than giving general answers. If you say you work well in a team, explain a situation where you actually did it.
6. Complete pre-employment checks
If you receive an offer, you may need to complete:
- DBS checks
- Occupational health screening
- References
- Right-to-work checks
- Qualification checks
The employer and university will then complete the apprenticeship enrolment process with you.
Documents to Prepare Before Applying
It is worth getting these ready before vacancies appear:
- CV
- GCSE or equivalent certificates
- Level 3 certificates
- Photo identification
- Evidence of your right to work
- Employment history
- References
- Supporting statement
- Details of any healthcare or care experience
Keep digital copies in one folder. This makes it much easier to apply quickly when a vacancy has a short closing date.
Can You Apply If You Already Work for the NHS?
Yes, and this can be an important route into nursing. Some NHS employers use apprenticeships to help existing healthcare assistants, support workers and nursing associates progress towards registered nursing.
If you already work for an NHS Trust, speak to your line manager, learning and development team or apprenticeship team.
Ask whether the organisation has:
- Registered nurse degree apprenticeship places
- Internal application rounds
- Entry requirements for existing staff
- Nursing associate to registered nurse progression routes
Internal opportunities may not always appear in the same places as vacancies advertised to the public.
Nursing Associate or Nursing Degree Apprenticeship?
They are different roles. A nursing associate apprenticeship is normally a Level 5 route. A registered nurse degree apprenticeship is Level 6 and leads towards registered nurse status.
The nursing associate role can be a career in its own right, but some people later progress from nursing associate to registered nurse training.
If your long-term aim is to become a registered nurse, check whether the employer you are considering supports that progression before choosing your route.
Can International Students Apply?
- Some international applicants may be eligible, but having permission to work in the UK does not automatically make someone eligible for apprenticeship funding.
- Eligibility depends on the current funding rules, including the applicant’s immigration status, residency history, right to work and ability to complete the apprenticeship. If you are in the UK on a visa, ask the employer or training provider to confirm your eligibility before applying.
- Do not assume that a student visa, Graduate visa or another form of work permission automatically gives you access to funded apprenticeship training.
Current apprenticeship funding rules apply only in England and contain separate right-to-work and residency requirements. GOV.UK apprenticeship funding rules
If you are planning your longer-term work options in the UK, our Graduate Visa and Work Visa Updates 2026 guide explains the main post-study work routes.
Nursing Degree Apprenticeship Application Checklist
Before applying:
- Check the vacancy’s academic requirements
- Confirm that you meet apprenticeship funding eligibility
- Update your CV
- Prepare copies of your qualifications
- Write a strong supporting statement
- Research the NHS Trust or healthcare employer
- Research the partner university
- Prepare examples for competency-based interview questions
- Check the salary and working hours
- Submit your application before the deadline
Do not wait until the closing date if you have everything ready. Employers can close recruitment early if they receive enough suitable applications.
Pros and Cons of a Nursing Degree Apprenticeship
Advantages
You earn while you learn.
Because you are employed throughout the apprenticeship, you receive a salary while completing your nursing degree.
There are no eligible tuition costs for you to pay.
Your apprenticeship training is funded through the employer and apprenticeship system, which can remove a major financial barrier.
You build experience from the beginning.
Rather than waiting until graduation to enter the workplace, you gain practical healthcare experience throughout your training.
The professional outcome is the same.
Once you successfully complete an approved programme and meet the NMC requirements, you can qualify for registration as a nurse.
Things to Consider
It takes longer than the traditional route.
A nursing degree apprenticeship normally takes around four years, compared with about three years for a full-time nursing degree.
Balancing work and study can be demanding.
You are not only completing university work. At the same time, you have responsibilities as an employee.
You need to secure an employer first.
Simply finding a university that offers the course is not enough because an employer must take you on as an apprentice.
Places can be limited.
Availability depends on how many apprenticeship positions individual healthcare employers are able to fund and support.
Changing location may also be harder.
Because your degree is linked to your employment, moving to another employer or area is not always straightforward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a nursing degree apprenticeship free?
You should not pay the eligible apprenticeship training and assessment costs yourself. Funding is arranged between the government, employer and training provider.
How long does a nursing degree apprenticeship take?
The Level 6 Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship normally takes around four years. Individual programmes may vary.
Do nursing degree apprentices get paid?
Yes. You are an employee and must receive at least the legal minimum wage that applies to you. Many healthcare employers pay more than the minimum.
What will I earn after qualifying?
A newly qualified nurse entering NHS Band 5 in England starts at £32,073 under the 2026/27 pay scale.
Do I need previous healthcare experience?
Not always. Some employers welcome applicants without previous paid healthcare experience, while others prefer people already working in health or social care. Read the individual vacancy carefully.
Can I apply to several employers?
Yes. You are applying for jobs, so you can apply to several suitable apprenticeship vacancies at the same time.
Is there an upper age limit?
There is no general upper age limit for becoming an apprentice. However, you must still meet the employer’s requirements and the current apprenticeship funding and residency rules.
Is a Nursing Degree Apprenticeship Worth It?
A nursing degree apprenticeship can be a good route if you want to become a registered nurse while earning a salary. However, it is worth looking at both the benefits and the workload before deciding.
The biggest advantage is simple: you gain a degree, build real healthcare experience and earn at the same time.
At the same time, it is not an easier version of a nursing degree. You still have academic work, clinical responsibilities and professional standards to meet while working as an employee.
If that balance suits you, start by searching for live employer vacancies rather than looking only at universities. The official Find an Apprenticeship service is a good place to begin.