UCAS points for apprenticeships planned by the end of 2023

UCAS chief confirms team is working with Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education on plans.

UCAS chief confirms team is working with Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education on plans.

13 Mar 2023, 12:49

More from this author

The chief of the UK’s university admissions body says it is “doable” for apprenticeships to secure UCAS points by the end of 2023.

UCAS chief executive Clare Marchant told today’s ninth annual apprenticeship conference in Birmingham that a team is currently working on enabling apprenticeships to qualify for UCAS points, with hopes of an announcement at the end of the calendar year.

It follows the organisation’s announcement last month that it will expand its apprenticeship offering on the website from the summer, to enable prospective learners to see different routes into careers side-by-side, with students able to apply for apprenticeships on the site from autumn 2024.

Speaking to AAC delegates on Monday morning, Marchant said it was “doable” to get tariff points against apprenticeships by the end of the year.

She added: “We’ve got a team working at the moment to do exactly that. We want to do it right, so we’re expecting by the end of this year some progress to be announced.

“In fact we just met with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education just last week to talk about how to do this together.”

Marchant said it requires close working with government, regulators and IfATE, and explained that skills minister Robert Halfon had already written to UCAS expressing his support for the work.

UCAS points are ascribed to post-16 level 3 qualifications to help determine entry criteria for university courses.

Level 3 courses such as A-levels, T Levels, BTECs and Cambridge Technicals all carry UCAS points, but to date apprenticeships have not.

The plans represent another step on UCAS’ bid to give parity between apprenticeships and other post-16 study routes, however it is not yet clear how many points apprenticeships may be eligible for, or whether they will secure as many as other level 3 routes.

The Department for Education said that offering the ability to apply for apprenticeships through UCAS from 2024 is part of a wider ambition to develop a “one-stop-shop” for education and training options that it hopes will eventually include apprenticeships, T Levels, skills bootcamps, higher technical qualifications and degree apprenticeships.

More from this theme

Apprenticeships

IfATE slated for apprenticeship assessment reform confusion

Institute changes guidance AGAIN after sector outrage

Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

Apprentice minimum wage should be linked to age, says Low Pay Commission

Government advisory body finds evidence for scrapping apprentice rate but cites risks to labour market if removed

Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships, Higher education

Revealed: The 8 trainers that will pilot teacher degree apprenticeship

Government also reveals schools will get ‘financial incentives’ to cover trainees’ salaries while they train off the job

Freddie Whittaker
Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship funding rules 2024/25: Changes you need to know

Reforms to additional learning support, subcontracting, SEND FSQs and active learning are coming

Billy Camden
Apprenticeships, Politics, Skills reform

IfATE plans staff cuts after DfE orders cost-saving measures

Apprenticeships and technical education quango opens voluntary exit scheme to all staff

Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

Halfon threatens low achieving apprenticeship providers

Minister warns of growth limitations and market exits for providers showing 'insufficient improvement'

Billy Camden

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *