Degree apprenticeships in 2026: change, opportunity, and the future of skills

National Apprenticeship Week is always a moment to celebrate the transformational power of work‑based learning. In 2026, it comes at a time of significant change, particularly for degree apprenticeships. As funding priorities and skills policy continue to evolve, universities, employers and learners are adapting to a landscape that is increasingly focused on long‑term workforce resilience and skills for life.

Degree apprenticeships have played a vital role in supporting both early‑career entrants and experienced professionals to develop advanced skills while remaining in employment. As reforms take effect, the challenge for the sector is to preserve that flexibility while aligning provision more closely with national skills priorities.

Before exploring what’s changing, it is worth reaffirming OneAdvanced’s commitment to apprenticeship delivery. Our market‑leading products are trusted by over 100 UK universities, and our Apprenticeship Management system – a fully cloud‑based, integrated solution combining Assessment and Learning, ePortfolio and LMS, all underpinned by UK sovereign AI – is designed to help providers deliver high‑quality programmes at scale. We are proud to support institutions as they navigate one of the most significant shifts in the apprenticeships system in a decade.

The big change: Level 7 funding withdrawn for most adults

As of January 2026, government funding has been withdrawn for Level 7 degree apprenticeships for the majority of learners aged 22 and above. Only apprentices aged 21 and under, care leavers, or those with an Education, Health and Care Plan remain eligible for public funding.

The policy is intended to redirect investment towards earlier‑career learners and lower‑level provision, where the government believes funding can have the greatest long‑term impact. However, it also represents a significant shift for postgraduate‑level apprenticeships, which have historically supported experienced professionals to upskill, retrain or progress into leadership roles.

For many universities and employers, the effects are already being felt. Level 7 apprenticeships have been widely used in sectors such as health, management, digital and planning, where advanced skills are critical to workforce capacity and service delivery. Concerns have been raised across the sector that restricting access may limit opportunities for later‑career development and reduce established routes for building high‑level skills for life.

Why the funding shift happened

The change forms part of a broader reshaping of the apprenticeship system as the government moves towards the Growth and Skills Levy. The emphasis is increasingly on strengthening the early‑career pipeline and ensuring more young people can access high‑quality technical training.

Alongside this, new foundation‑level apprenticeships for under‑22s launched in August 2025. These programmes are designed to offer clearer entry points into work, helping learners build core employability, technical capability and confidence at the start of their careers.

While this direction supports early engagement with skills development, it also raises questions about how the system continues to support lifelong learning. Many employers rely on degree apprenticeships as a structured, work‑based route for developing existing staff, particularly in sectors facing ongoing skills shortages.

Why Level 6 degree apprenticeships matter more than ever

With Level 7 funding now restricted to a narrow group of learners, Level 6 degree apprenticeships have taken on increased importance. They continue to offer a full undergraduate degree alongside meaningful workplace experience and remain fully funded for adults of all ages.

This makes Level 6 programmes a crucial pathway for building advanced skills for life, whether for school leavers entering higher‑level roles or for adults seeking to upskill, retrain or progress without stepping away from employment. For employers, they provide a sustainable way to develop degree‑level capability aligned to real organisational need.

As a result, many universities are reviewing their Level 6 portfolios with renewed focus on workforce demand, emerging technologies and long‑term economic priorities. Degree apprenticeships are increasingly seen not just as qualification routes, but as engines of ongoing skills development.

What this means for universities and employers

The implications of the 2026 reforms are wide‑ranging. Some institutions are exploring fee‑paying models for Level 7 degree apprenticeships, enabling employers to continue supporting postgraduate‑level training outside the public funding system. While this preserves certain pathways, it also introduces new considerations around affordability, sustainability and demand.

At the same time, growth in Level 6 and foundation‑level provision is accelerating. Universities and employers are making strategic decisions about where to invest, which programmes to expand, and how to balance early‑career entry routes with opportunities for later‑life upskilling.

Across all of this, the focus is increasingly on ensuring apprenticeships deliver transferable, durable skills that support long‑term employability and progression.

How OneAdvanced supports providers through this transition

Periods of reform place added pressure on systems, data and delivery models. Apprenticeships are increasingly compliance‑focused and evidence‑driven, requiring clear oversight of learner progress, assessment and outcomes.

OneAdvanced’s  Apprenticeship Management system brings assessment, tracking, ePortfolio evidence and learning delivery into a single, integrated platform. This helps universities and training providers work more efficiently, maintain quality and adapt as funding rules and programme expectations evolve.

With UK sovereign AI embedded securely within the platform, institutions can manage complexity with confidence, supporting learners at different stages of their careers while continuing to meet regulatory and reporting requirements.

Looking ahead

The reforms taking effect in 2026 mark a turning point for degree apprenticeships. While the withdrawal of Level 7 funding for most adults limits access to publicly funded postgraduate‑level training, the continued strength of Level 6 provision and the expansion of early‑career routes provide a foundation for long‑term skills development.

As the system evolves, the role of degree apprenticeships in supporting skills for life – from first entry into higher‑level work through to ongoing career progression – remains critical. As National Apprenticeship Week 2026 celebrates the impact of apprenticeships across the country, it offers an opportunity to reflect on how degree apprenticeships continue to shape resilient careers, capable workforces and a more adaptable skills system.