Higher Level Apprenticeship qualifications
Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) currently offer you qualifications from Level 4 to Level 6 (Honours degree). The majority are at Level 5 (Foundation degree).
The length of a Higher Level Apprenticeship will vary depending on the programme you chose, but will be a minimum of two years.
Benefits to apprentices
By taking part in a Higher Level Apprenticeship, you can gain the skills that employers need and that are relevant to the local economy, therefore improving your prospects of good earnings and sustained employment.
Other benefits include:
- earning while you learn
- achieving professional-level qualifications without paying higher education tuition fees
- increased opportunities for career progression
- a clear pathway to achieving ambitions in the workplace
Benefits to employers
Higher Level Apprenticeships allow employers to train staff to the level needed so they have strong technical and good employability skills.
An apprenticeship can:
- fill higher level skills gap
- attract higher calibre staff
- increase productivity
- develop existing staff
Eligibility
Opportunities are available for you to gain qualifications from Level 4 upwards if you are a new employee or an existing employee in a new job role. Entry requirements will depend on the apprenticeship pathway.
To take part in the Higher Level Apprenticeship programme you need to:
- be employed or be about to take up paid employment as an apprentice with a Northern Ireland based company
- work a minimum of 21 hours per week (which includes time for ‘off-the-job’ training)
- meet the entry requirements of your chosen occupation
- be the minimum school leaving age in Northern Ireland
Higher Level Apprenticeships available
Higher Level Apprenticeships are available through the colleges and universities below.
College titles and abbreviations
College | Abbreviation |
---|---|
Belfast Metropolitan College | BMC |
College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise | CAFRE |
Northern Regional College | Northern |
North West Regional College | NWRC |
South Eastern Regional College | SERC |
Southern Regional College | SRC |
South West College | SWC |
Ulster University | UU |
Open University | OU |
Queen's University Belfast | QUB |
Currently, Higher Level Apprenticeships are available in over 20 occupational areas including ICT, Professional Services, Engineering, Life Sciences, Accountancy and Health Care. See below for full details.
Sector | Title | College / University | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|
Agri-food manufacture | Food and drink manufacture | CAFRE | Foundation degree in food and drink manufacture |
Built environment | Architectural engineering and energy | SWC | Foundation degree in architectural engineering and energy |
Civil and environmental engineering |
SWC |
Foundation degree in civil and environmental engineering |
|
Civil engineering |
BMC
|
Foundation degree in civil engineering |
|
NWRC | Foundation degree in civil engineering (with CertHE exit award) | ||
Construction |
Northern |
Higher National Certificate (HNC) in construction and the built environment pathway construction |
|
SERC | Higher National Certificate (HNC) in construction and the built environment pathway building services - engineering | ||
SERC NRC |
HNC in construction and the built environment pathway civil engineering | ||
Construction engineering with surveying | SWC | Foundation degree in construction engineering with surveying | |
Energy environment and sustainability | SWC | Foundation degree in energy environment and sustainability | |
Gas management | SERC | LOGIC certificate in gas safety management | |
Business and administration | Business technology | UU | BSc (Hons) business technology |
Accounting and management | UU |
BSc (Hons) accounting and management |
|
Global capital markets | UU | MSc global capital markets | |
Management | SERC | Foundation degree in leadership and management | |
Childcare and youth work | Children's care, learning and development |
SERC
|
Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education (CACHE) Diploma in leadership for children’s care, learning and development |
NWRC | City & Guilds Diploma in leadership for children's care, learning and development | ||
Engineering and manufacturing | Advanced manufacturing |
Northern |
Foundation degree in electrical and electronic engineering |
Northern SERC |
Foundation degree in mechanical and manufacturing engineering | ||
Civil engineering | UU | BEng(Hons)/ MEng(Hons) in civil engineering | |
Manufacturing engineering | SWC |
Foundation degree in engineering, with specialisms in manufacturing (two years) Foundation degree in engineering, with specialisms in manufacturing (three years) |
|
Mechanical engineering | NWRC | Foundation degree in mechanical engineering | |
Mechatronic engineering | SWC |
Foundation degree in engineering with specialisms in mechatronics (two years) Foundation degree in engineering, with specialisms in mechatronics (three years) |
|
Mechatronics | SERC SRC |
Foundation degree in mechatronic engineering | |
Finance and accounting | Accountancy |
BMC |
Accounting Technicians Ireland (ATI) certificate/ diploma for accounting technicians |
Insurance | SWC | CII diploma in insurance | |
Hospitality, events and tourism | International hospitality and tourism management | NWRC | Foundation degree in international hospitality and tourism management |
ICT and Digital | Cloud and application development | BMC | Foundation degree in cloud and application development |
Computing |
SWC
|
Foundation degree in computing |
|
SERC | Foundation degree in computing software development | ||
UU | Foundation degree in computing BSc(Hons) computing systems |
||
Computing infrastructure | SRC | Foundation degree in computing infrastructure | |
Cyber security | QUB | MSc applied cyber security | |
Cyber security and networking infrastructure | BMC | Foundation degree in cyber security and networking infrastructure | |
Software development | NWRC | Foundation degree in software development | |
Software engineering with digital technology partnership | QUB | BEng software engineering/ BEng Hon computer science | |
Life and industrial science | Applied industrial science (chemical science) | SRC | Foundation degree in applied industrial science (chemical science) |
Applied industrial science (life science) | SRC | Foundation degree in applied industrial science (life science) | |
Applied industrial science | UU | BSc(Hons) applied pharmaceutical sciences | |
Pharmaceutical analysis | QUB | MSc pharmaceutical analysis | |
Motor vehicle | Automotive management | SERC | Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) diploma in automotive management |
Advance automotive studies - heavy vehicle master technician | SERC | Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) certificate in advanced automotive studies | |
Advance automotive studies - light vehicle master technician | SERC | Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) certificate in advanced automotive studies (light vehicle) | |
Advanced automotive studies - lift truck engineering | SERC | Institute of Motoring Industry (IMI) certificate in advanced automotive studies | |
Advanced automotive studies - transport refrigeration master technician | SERC | Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) certificate in advanced automotive studies | |
Social care | Health and social care | SERC | Level 5 diploma in leadership for health and social care services (adults' management) Wales and Northern Ireland |
If you're interested in doing a Higher Level Apprenticeship, contact the relevant Further Education college or University for further information.
If you're not sure about which apprenticeship you want to follow, or want more information on what the Apprenticeships programme can do for you, contact the helpline: