Can I do a level 3 apprenticeship if I already have 2 a levels at grade D and E?

You can although it’s really hard to gain an apprenticeship if you are applying for vacancies where you have a qualification that is higher than the qualification of the apprenticeship you are applying to.

As an example it is incredibly challenging to gain a level 3 apprenticeship if you have a level 4 or level 5 qualification (equivalent to the first and second year of a degree). I was looking for apprenticeships for years and got nowhere before I eventually gave up and went to university.

Apprenticeship applications are arguably assessed and reviewed more personally than a university application. I rarely focus on grades myself when reviewing at the interview/assessment stage, maybe to gauge any history of relevant interests.

There’s more flexibility on grades, and more questions to gauge if the role is really the right one for the applicant.

University will let you take a degree that has minimal job prospect or one that you’ve shown no actual interest/understanding in.

Whereas,

an employer doesn’t want to invest training resource into someone who isn’t sure they’re going to enjoy and subsequently complete the scheme.

If you do change career path, or drop down a level, it’s extremely important to convey why this is the right choice for you in your application. One of the times where a cover letter is extremely useful.

Good advice, although it is really hard to gain an apprenticeship if you are overqualified.

You can’t be overqualified relative to the apprenticeship role being offered unless you’ve completed the academic or work-based training elsewhere. I’m which case, you’d be ineligible for funding.

As for higher level education not related to the apprenticeship. I’d be more interested why the individual was wanting to take a step back and re-train in the context of their interests, rather than considering prior experience level. It’s actually a bonus, since people from different backgrounds can often look at situations and problems in more creative ways.

If the applicant is clear with evidence on why this route is best for them, I’d have no issues on what they had studied in the past… providing it didn’t impact funding eligibility.

Apprenticeship applications are arguably assessed and reviewed more personally than a university application. I rarely focus on grades myself when reviewing at the interview/assessment stage, maybe to gauge any history of relevant interests.

There’s more flexibility on grades, and more questions to gauge if the role is really the right one for the applicant.

University will let you take a degree that has minimal job prospect or one that you’ve shown no actual interest/understanding in.

Whereas,

an employer doesn’t want to invest training resource into someone who isn’t sure they’re going to enjoy and subsequently complete the scheme.

If you do change career path, or drop down a level, it’s extremely important to convey why this is the right choice for you in your application. One of the times where a cover letter is extremely useful.