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    1. Home
    2. Employment, training and careers
    3. Looking for work
    4. Training programmes
    5. Apprenticeships
    New Apprenticeship Image
    Apprenticeship Image

    Higher Level Apprenticeships

    If you've completed A Levels or equivalent, you may be interested in a Higher Level Apprenticeship, which offers the opportunity to gain quality training and a recognised higher qualification while in paid employment.

    Higher Level Apprenticeship qualifications

    Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) currently offer you qualifications from Level 4 to Level 7 (Masters degree). The majority are at Level 5 (Foundation degree or equivalent).

    The length of a Higher Level Apprenticeship will vary depending on the programme you choose, 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
    • strengthen your CV with enhanced skills and qualifications
    • build confidence and motivation and pride in your professional journey
    • inspire peers and future apprentices with your success
    • open doors and advance your career opportunities
    • achieving professional-level qualifications without paying higher education tuition fees

    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:

    • provide a route to attract and develop the talent and skills needed by the business
    • highlight your organisation's commitment to skills development and excellence
    • attract high-calibre talent by demonstrating support for apprenticeships
    • strengthen your brand reputation within your sector and community
    • inspire continuous improvement in training, mentoring and business outcomes
    • grow your business and talent and competitive edge
    • share your knowledge and expertise and re-energise your business
    • succession planning and fill higher level skills gap
    • increase productivity

    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, as a minimum, to:

    • be employed or be about to take up permanent paid employment as an apprentice, or be an existing employee moving to a new job role, with a Northern Ireland based company
    • work a minimum of 21 hours per week (which includes time for ‘off-the-job’ training)
    • have achieved all necessary entry qualifications determined by the relevant sector
    • pass any entry tests specified by the relevant sector
    • be the minimum school leaving age in Northern Ireland

    You may need to meet other eligibility considerations, for example you may not be eligible if you're a non-EU national, a public sector worker or based on the qualifications you have previously been awarded.

    Apprentices from Third Countries including European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss Nationals

    If you're a Third country national, including European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss Nationals, you and your family members are eligible to undertake a HLA provided you've a right to live and work in the UK, for example, through:

    • having secured settled status in the UK with the appropriate visa/permit
    • having indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK
    • having been recognised as a refugee by the UK Government, or the spouse or civil partner or child of a refugee, or having been granted Humanitarian Protection, or having EU Temporary Protection with evidence/permit to show their status and eligibility to work in the UK
    • having secured pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
    • acquiring the right to live and work under the UK’s immigration system

    Legal responsibility for establishing that the apprentice has a right to live and work in the UK rests with the employer.

    Under the Common Travel Area arrangements, Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals (including those who continue to reside in the RoI) are eligible to undertake a HLA subject to satisfying all other eligibility criteria.

    Higher Level Apprenticeships available

    Higher Level Apprenticeships are available through the Further Education colleges and universities in Northern Ireland, in over 20 occupational areas including:

    • ICT
    • Professional Services
    • Engineering
    • Life Sciences
    • Accountancy
    • Health Care

    See details below of qualifications available per sector and where they’re available.

    Accounting

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 5Accounting Technician

    Belfast Metropolitan College

    Northern Regional College

    North West Regional College

    Southern Regional College

    South Eastern Regional College

    South West College 

    Level 6Accounting and ManagementUlster University
    Level 6Accounting and FinanceUlster University
    Level 6Accounting and Finance (Top-up)Ulster University
    Level 6Accounting Technology (Top-up)

    Belfast Metropolitan College

    Southern Regional College

    Level 7Accountancy South West College
    Level 7International Accounting with Analytics Ulster University

    Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 4Engineering Northern Regional College
    Level 4Engineering (Advanced Manufacture)South West College
    Level 4Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)North West Regional College
    Level 4Engineering (General)North West Regional College
    Level 4Engineering (Maintenance)South West College
    Level 4Engineering (Mechanical and Manufacturing)South Eastern Regional College
    Level 5Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)

    Southern Regional College

    Northern Regional College

    North West Regional College

    Level 5Engineering (General)North West Regional College
    Level 5Engineering (Manufacturing)South West College
    Level 5Engineering (Mechanical and Manufacturing)Northern Regional College
    Level 5Engineering (Mechatronic) 

    South Eastern Regional College

    Southern Regional College

    South West College

    Level 5Engineering (Technical Design and Manufacturing) Southern Regional College
    Level 5Print Management Belfast Metropolitan College
    Level 6Engineering (Top-up)

    Southern Regional College

    South West College

    Level 6Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) Ulster University
    Level 6Engineering (Mechanical and Manufacturing)Ulster University
    Level 6Engineering (Mechatronic)Ulster University
    Level 7Engineering (Mechanical with Management)Queen's University Belfast

    Agri-food Manufacturing

    Level HLA Title Training Provider
    Level 5Food and Drink ManufactureCollege of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
    Level 5Food Innovation and TechnologyCollege of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
    Level 6Food and Drink Manufacture (Top-up)College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise

    Built Environment

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 4Building Services Engineering (HVAC)South Eastern Regional College
    Level 4Construction (Modern Methods of Construction)Northern Regional College
    Level 4Construction ManagementSouth Eastern Regional College
    Level 4Construction Management RenewablesNorth West Regional College
    Level 5Architectural TechnologyNorthern Regional College
    Level 5Building Services with Sustainable EnergySouth West College
    Level 5Construction (Digital)Southern Regional College
    Level 5Construction (Quantity Surveying)Southern Regional College
    Level 5Construction Engineering with Surveying

    Northern Regional College

    South West College

    Level 5Construction ManagementNorth West Regional College
    Level 6Building Services with Sustainable Energy (Top-up)South West College
    Level 6Construction (Top-up)Southern Regional College
    Level 6Construction Engineering and ManagementUlster University
    Level 6Construction Engineering and Management (Top-up)South West College
    Level 6Quantity Surveying ( Top-up)Southern Regional College
    Level 6Quantity Surveying and Commercial ManagementUlster University

    Childcare and Youth Work

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 5Leadership for Children’s Care, Learning and Development (Management)

    Belfast Metropolitan College

    Northern Regional College

    North West Regional College

    South Eastern Regional College

    South West College

    Civil Engineering

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 4Civil EngineeringSouth Eastern Regional College
    Level 5Civil Engineering

    Belfast Metropolitan College

    South West College

    Level 6Civil EngineeringQueen's University Belfast
    Level 6Civil EngineeringUlster University
    Level 7Civil EngineeringUlster University
    Level 7Civil Engineering and InfrastructureUlster University

    Health and Social Care

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 4Healthcare PracticeSouth West College
    Level 5Health and Social CareSouth Eastern Regional College
    Level 5Leadership Health and Social Care (Adult Management Care)Northern Regional College
    Level 5Leadership Health and Social Care (Adult Residential  Management)Northern Regional College

    Hospitality and Tourism

    Level HLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 5Culinary Arts

    Belfast Metropolitan College

    South Eastern Regional College

    Level 5Tourism Hospitality and Event Management 

    Belfast Metropolitan College

    Northern Regional College

    North West Regional College

    South Eastern Regional College

    Southern Regional College

    South West College

    Level 6International Hospitality Management Ulster University

    ICT

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 5Cloud Computing with Cyber SecurityNorthern Regional College
    Level 5Cloud Computing, Analytics and Security for IndustrySouthern Regional College
    Level 5Computing

    Northern Regional College

    North West Regional College

    South West College

    Level 5Cyber Security and Digital ForensicsSouth Eastern Regional College 
    Level 5Cyber Security with Cloud and Network InfrastructureBelfast Metropolitan College 
    Level 5Software and Cloud Development with Data AnalysisBelfast Metropolitan College 
    Level 6Cloud Computing with Cyber Security (Top-up)Northern Regional College
    Level 6Computing for Industry (Top-up)Southern Regional College
    Level 6Computing Science (Top-up)South West College
    Level 6Computing SystemsUlster University
    Level 6Cyber Security and Digital Forensics (Top-up)South Eastern Regional College
    Level 6Cyber Security with Cloud and Network Infrastructure (Top-up)Belfast Metropolitan College
    Level 6Software and Cloud Development with Data Science (Top-up)Belfast Metropolitan College
    Level 7Artificial Intelligence/ Computer ScienceUlster University

    Leisure and Wellbeing

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 5Sport and ExerciseSouthern Regional College

    Life sciences

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 5Applied Industrial Science (Analytical)Southern Regional College
    Level 5Applied Industrial Science (Bioscience)Southern Regional College
    Level 6Applied Pharmaceutical ScienceUlster University
    Level 7Pharmaceutical AnalysisQueen's University Belfast

    Planning and Project Management

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 7Building Information Modelling Project ManagementQueen's University Belfast
    Level 7Construction and Project ManagementQueen's University Belfast
    Level 7City Planning and DesignQueen's University Belfast
    Level 7Planning and DevelopmentQueen's University Belfast

    Professional Services

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 5BusinessSouthern Regional College
    Level 5Business and EnterpriseNorth West Regional College
    Level 5Business Data ManagementBelfast Metropolitan College
    Level 5Business Management

    Northern Regional College

    South West College

    Level 5FinTechSouthern Regional College
    Level 5Leadership and ProductivitySouth Eastern Regional College
    Level 6Business StudiesSouth West College
    Level 6Financial TechnologyUlster University
    Level 6Business TechnologyUlster University
    Level 6LawUlster University
    Level 6Leading on Customer OperationsUlster University
    Level 6Procurement and SupplyBelfast Metropolitan College
    Level 7Business TechnologyUlster University
    Level 7FinTechUlster University

    Sales and Marketing

    LevelHLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 5Digital Marketing, Advertising and CommunicationsSouthern Regional College
    Level 5MarketingBelfast Metropolitan College
    Level 6Digital Marketing, Advertising and Communication (Top-up)Southern Regional College

    Transport and Logistics 

    Level HLA TitleTraining Provider
    Level 5Supply Chain and LogisticsNorthern Regional College

    More information

    If you're interested in doing a Higher Level Apprenticeship, contact the relevant Further Education College or University for further information.

    • Further Education NI
    • Ulster University
    • Open University
    • Queen's University Belfast

    If you're  not sure about which apprenticeship you want to follow, or just need more information on what the Apprenticeships programme can do for you, contact the mailbox:

    • Contact apprenticeships

     

    More useful links

    • Search for apprenticeship opportunities
    • Guide to qualifications
    • Careers

    For employers

    If you want to take on an apprentice or improve the skills of your employees to help your business work better, the Apprenticeships programme could be for you.

    Apprenticeships for employers
    (nibusinessinfo.co.uk website)

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    Apprenticeships

    • Apprenticeships
    • Apprenticeships explained
    • Find apprenticeship training
    • Getting started on the Apprenticeship programme
    • Higher Level Apprenticeships
    • Level 2 apprenticeship frameworks
    • Level 3 apprenticeship framework
    • Occupational profiles
    • Pharmacy services - level 3 apprenticeship framework
    • Search for apprenticeship opportunities
    • Travel Services Level 2 Occupational profile
    • Travel Services Level 3 Occupational profile
    • Types of apprenticeships

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