Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships allow you to work and be paid while getting a qualification. You'll usually be directly employed by a civil engineering company. You can build up technical skills and industry knowledge and your employer pays for your courses.
At the end of your apprenticeship you should be in a full-time, permanent job have an industry recognised qualification and no student fee debts.
We see many people come to civil engineering after taking A-levels, Scottish highers or vocational subjects and hence we include advice on apprenticeships at the same level (i.e. level 3) as well as higher level apprenticeships all the way up to degree-level.
You can approach engineering companies direct for apprenticeship opportunities.
Level 3 apprenticeships in the UK
Level 3 apprenticeships are equivalent to A-levels. You need at least five relevant GCSEs or equivalent including English, maths and science.
Typically level 3 apprenticeships means going to college for one day and work the rest of the week.
Level 3 apprenticeships are an option for those moving into civil engineering at a later age although the entry requirements are the same.
England and Wales
Apply for either an advanced apprenticeship or one of the new trailblazer apprenticeships.
Northern Ireland
ICE is co-ordinating a consortium of civil engineering employers under the Work+ Civil Engineering Apprenticeships scheme. You can apply through this scheme to your chosen employer(s) and they will help you choose your FE College.This apprenticeship can also lead to EngTech professional qualification.
Please see ice.org.uk/workplus for details and entry requirements. You can apply for alternative apprenticeship pathways outside the Work+ scheme too.
Scotland
You can choose a modern apprenticeship at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 6/7.
Once you have completed a level 3 apprenticeship you can apply to become a professionally qualified engineering technician (EngTech). You can also move on to a higher or degree apprenticeship by studying part-time while you work with the support of your employer.
Higher and degree apprenticeships in the UK
Government and industry in the UK are investing heavily in apprenticeships, including higher level qualifications up to degree level. They are a genuine alternative to a traditional full-time undergraduate degree and set to grow markedly over the next few years.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
A higher apprenticeship or degree apprenticeship involves working while studying for a level 4-6 qualification – usually a HNC, HND, foundation degree or part-time bachelor's degree (BSc or BEng). You should already have a level 3 apprenticeship, a relevant BTEC or A-levels.
Northern Ireland
A higher apprenticeship or degree apprenticeship involves working while studying for a level 4-7 qualification. ICE is co-ordinating a consortium of civil engineering employers under the Work+ Civil Engineering Apprenticeships scheme, offering Level 5 (foundation degree) and Level 6/7 (BEng/MEng degree) qualifications. You should already have a level 3 apprenticeship, a relevant BTEC or A-levels. You can apply through this scheme to your chosen employer(s) and they will help you choose your FE College (Foundation Degree) or University course (Degree).
This apprenticeship can also lead to EngTech, IEng or CEng professional qualification. Please see ice.org.uk/workplus. You can apply for alternative apprenticeship pathways outside the Work+ scheme too.
Scotland
Modern and graduate apprenticeships offer similar opportunities. For example, with a graduate level apprenticeship in civil engineering you’ll gain an HND or DipHE qualification in civil engineering.
A degree apprenticeship should help you progress towards becoming professionally qualified as an incorporated engineer.
Applying for an apprenticeship
Find apprenticeship openings across from the UK here:
UK apprenticeships to look at
- The Railway Engineering Design Technician Apprenticeship
- The Civil Engineering Technician Apprenticeship
- The Civil Engineer Degree Apprenticeship
- The Construction Site Engineering Technician Apprenticeship
- The Civil Engineer Site Manager Degree Apprenticeship
For these apprenticeships ICE will carry out the end-point assessment in combination with the appropriate professional review. This enables apprentices to gain professionally qualified membership of ICE and registration with the Engineering Council as an incorporated engineer (IEng) or engineering technician (Eng Tech) when their course finishes.
Apprenticeships outside the UK
Outside the UK refer to the qualifications’ authority in your own country to find apprenticeship opportunities.
The International Engineering Alliance’s Dublin Accord is used by different countries to recognise each other’s civil engineering technician level qualifications.