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Finding a Level 4 Apprenticeship in Software development

hi, I was just wondering as I am looking to start an apprenticeship in September 2022, is it hard to find a L4 apprenticeship and how does the progression work from L4 to a degree apprenticeship and what the experience is like when trying to find a job with this qualification
If you are wanting to do a degree apprenticeship, DO NOT do a level 4 apprenticeship - this will disallow you from doing a degree apprenticeship. The first year of a degree apprenticeship is the level 4, and if you already have it, you will be disqualified from the degree apprenticeship.

Do the Level 3 in Software Development Technician, or go straight into a degree apprenticeship.
Reply 2
so instead of doing the level 4, after a levels should I jump straight to a level 5?
Original post by *T_H*
so instead of doing the level 4, after a levels should I jump straight to a level 5?

No, that’s not possible. After A levels, you can start the degree apprenticeship straight away. Or do a level 3. I did a level 3 after failing my AS levels, now I’m doing a degree apprenticeship.
Reply 4
sorry but I don't understand, what level is the degree apprenticeship, to my knowledge it is at level 5/6.
also what is the university studying portion of your course like, is there a lot of content to cover?
Original post by *T_H*
sorry but I don't understand, what level is the degree apprenticeship, to my knowledge it is at level 5/6.
also what is the university studying portion of your course like, is there a lot of content to cover?

The degree apprenticeship has 3 levels. Year 1 is Level 4, Year 2 is Level 5, Year 3 is Level 6.
A level 4 doesn't necessarily disqualify you from a level 6 (degree apprenticeship) in the same area. A level 4 apprenticeship can be great, particularly at companies like Google, Bloomberg and Facebook who solely offer level 4 apprenticeships. This is because companies put significantly more value on industry experience than education/qualifications and the top companies. These massive tech giants have decided that to become a software developer/engineer, you do not need education above a level 4 qualification so the additional 2-3 years of university is not as valuable as the experience that would take its place.

I do not intend to say that level 4 apprenticeships are better than level 6 apprenticeships because, at any non-tech giant company, they may not be able to get you to the level of a competent software developer/engineer in the time a tech giant would be. So apply for a level 6 unless you can get a level 4 at a top company.

Oh yeah and with the ability to program well, you will unlikely struggle to find a job for the rest of your career. It has a ridiculously high demand and little supply of software engineers.
Reply 7
I just failed my as level and I’m 19 . I want to do an apprenticeship in software engineering/ development. Would you you say I start with level 3 then go to level 4 then work my way up and if so after I finish level 4 am I allowed to apply for level 5 in a different company
Original post by uchihax
I just failed my as level and I’m 19 . I want to do an apprenticeship in software engineering/ development. Would you you say I start with level 3 then go to level 4 then work my way up and if so after I finish level 4 am I allowed to apply for level 5 in a different company


Level 3 apprenticeships in software development are rare and I don't think I have ever seen a level 5. They are mostly level 4 and level 6 (both of which require a-levels). A level 3 apprenticeship would be ideal but are hard to find. An alternative would be going to a coding bootcamp and then trying to find a junior-level role (likely frontend or web development). You can then move your way up.
Reply 9
Original post by Hoc est Bellum
Level 3 apprenticeships in tsoftware development are rare and I don't think I have ever seen a level 5. They are mostly level 4 and level 6 (both of which require a-levels). A level 3 apprenticeship would be ideal but are hard to find. An alternative would be going to a coding bootcamp and then trying to find a junior-level role (likely frontend or web development). You can then move your way up.

Thank you . Thinking of self teaching myself and doing a course from udemy . I’m honestly just scared because I’m raised in a family where university is the only way . But I’ll take the risk and see where I need up going . Wish me the best
Original post by Mahoganyyyy
If you are wanting to do a degree apprenticeship, DO NOT do a level 4 apprenticeship - this will disallow you from doing a degree apprenticeship. The first year of a degree apprenticeship is the level 4, and if you already have it, you will be disqualified from the degree apprenticeship.

Do the Level 3 in Software Development Technician, or go straight into a degree apprenticeship.
I can't find a level 6 degree apprenticeship in Marketing so I was going to do a level 4 for now. You're saying I wouldn't be able to progress onto a 5 or 6 afterwards? Wouldn't they just shorten the course by a year? 4 is equivalent to a foundation degree, yes?
Not one bit of what he said is true; the only limitation is that you can't redo learning that you have already gained through other education routes, including apprenticeships, degrees, A-levels, etc.

For example, if you took Business for A-Levels and then wanted to do a Business Administration apprenticeship, then you wouldn’t be allowed. This is because the standard for Business Administration is a Level 3, and the A-Level you got in business is also a Level 3, so the learning aims will be roughly the same.

But, say you wanted to progress to do Business Management, then there wouldn’t be an issue as the qualification is of a higher level (Level 6/Degree), and the content involved in the course is completely different.

In your instance, you would probably be doing the Marketing Executive (Level 4). This wouldn’t then stop you from doing a higher-level standard such as Digital Marketer (Level 6) or Marketing Manager (Level 6). It also wouldn’t shorten the course either; they are completely different qualifications with their own learning outcomes.

The education levels are just something the government uses to benchmark and categorize qualifications. I will say not everyone needs to do a degree apprenticeship; there seems to be a big push on social media to do them for some reason. I've seen a few people do the marketing one and haven't needed to do the degree ones.

Each apprenticeship standard caters to a different set of roles. For example, the marketing executive one's typical roles will include Communications Executive, Communications Specialist, Marketing and Communications Officer, Marketing Executive, Marketing Officer, Marketing Specialist.

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