England is rapidly expanding degree apprenticeships that combine full-time work with university education. These programs let students earn wages while studying, providing practical employment experience. Over 60,000 apprenticeships are offered across almost 90 universities. Degree apprenticeships are part of broader efforts to tackle youth unemployment and student debt in the UK.

Credits: Pexels; Author: Julio Lopez;

The model aims to strengthen connections between colleges and employers, and employers such as AstraZeneca offer workplace training tied to academic credit. Apprentices can graduate with a degree that is debt-free or significantly less costly than traditional routes.