What is a Foundation Apprenticeship?
Foundation Apprenticeships are a work-based learning opportunity for senior-phase secondary school pupils.
Lasting one or two years, pupils begin their Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 or S6. Young people spend time out of school at college or with a local employer, and complete the Foundation Apprenticeship alongside their other subjects like National 5s and Highers.
Completion leads to a qualification at the same level of learning as a Higher and can lead to progression on to a job, such as a Modern or Graduate Apprenticeship.
Foundation Apprenticeships are recognised as entry qualifications by all Scottish colleges and universities.
Study a Foundation Apprenticeship course with us
Applications for Foundation Apprenticeships open in January each year as part of our wider schools programme application process. Dates are directly communicated to schools, and are also available on our website. Applicants can apply on our schools section until the closing date.
You can discuss an application or potential application with your guidance teacher at any time and request further information from the our schools team.
Christian Groat (17) of Charleston Academy
Christian studied a Foundation Apprenticeship in Civil Engineering at UHI Inverness as part of his sixth-year school timetable. He said:
“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after school, so I thought I’d try something different.
“I really enjoyed the work placement because it gave me an insight into what civil engineering looks like day-to-day, and I learned what civil engineers do.
“The teaching is relaxed and one of the highlights has been the additional learning. I want to be a civil or structural engineer and I think studying at UHI Inverness will give me a boost when applying to universities.”
