Higher Level Apprenticeships
Supporting Your Business Growth
Whether you’re an employer looking to train fresh talent on the job or upskill your existing workforce to fill skills gaps, Queen’s University Belfast offers a range of Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) to support your business needs.
HLAs combine academic study with practical workplace experience, with apprentices spending four days working with you and one day each week at Queen’s. There’s no additional cost for your organisation or the apprentice, as fees are fully funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE).
- Access to a pipeline of skilled talent.
- Upskilling opportunities for existing staff.
- Reduced recruitment and training costs.
- No tuition fees due to DfE funding.
- Increased productivity and employee retention.
- Ability to fill specific skills gaps in the company.
- Fresh perspectives and new ideas.
- Customised training to meet industry standards.
- Enhanced company reputation and appeal to future employees.
- Partnership with Queen’s University and access to academic expertise.
We currently have one Level 6 HLA. The Higher-Level Apprenticeship (HLA) in Civil Engineering at Queen's University Belfast.
While most Level 6 HLAs take up to six years. This unique five-year programme allows apprentices to complete the equivalent of a full BEng a year earlier.
This programme provides a robust foundation in civil engineering, covering essential topics such as structures, geotechnics, and modern construction methods. Typically, Apprentices work four days a week with their employer and dedicate one day to academic studies on campus. This ensures that Apprentices can transform academic teaching into real-world practice throughout the programme.
Like all of our HLAs, this course is fully funded for apprentices, meaning there are no student fees, making it an appealing option for those balancing work, study, and earning.
LEVEL 7- HIGHER LEVEL APPRENTICESHIPS
At Queen’s, our master’s level 7 Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) provide employers with a valuable path to upskill their workforce in specialised fields without disruption.
Each programme is built on our well-established MSc courses and led by experienced academics, delivering advanced, industry-relevant expertise directly to your employees. Ideal for developing both new talent and longstanding employees, these HLAs help address skills gaps, bring fresh knowledge into the organisation, and foster meaningful career growth.
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GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYERS:
Upskilling existing staff - Employers can enrol existing staff on an HLA programme to upskill their workforce and develop talent within the company. All you need to do is identify the relevant HLA of interest and provide your employee with a letter of support that they will attach to their application form when applying for the course.
Recruiting a new apprentice – You can advertise an apprenticeship job vacancy on our website. We will display this infront of talent that are currently looking to be matched with an employer to complete an HLA. Please email Andrea Mackey a.mackey@qub.ac.uk to advertise a vacancy.
Apprenticeships have opened a whole new talent stream for Farrans. We are now able to attract employees into various roles, including engineering, estimating, programme planning and many others. Clara Hanna
Training Advisor at Farrans