Apprenticeships in Oxford
Best known for housing the oldest university in England, Oxford is a beautiful city on the rivers Thames and Cherwell, 50 miles west of London. The city also offers many business opportunities, with companies such as Elsevier, BMW Group, SLB, IBM, and Siemens having a significant presence.
Careers in Oxford
Oxfordshire is rich in diverse businesses, such as publishing, health and social care, education and finance. In recent years, it has also become a hub for science, particularly energy solutions, and technology.
Glassdoor listed Oxford tenth on its 2025 list of the best cities to work in, with jobs including Corporate Lawyer, Operations Consultant, and Test Analyst.
The majority of Oxford apprenticeships are run in conjunction with the University of Oxford and Oxfordshire County Council. However, you will also find many public and private organisations across several sectors.
You’ll find plenty of networking opportunities as local business groups host regular lunches and events in and around the city.
Let’s see what else Oxford has to offer to aspiring apprentices.
The latest apprentice jobs in Oxford
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Apprentice Cyberspace Communication Specialist
Royal Air ForceUK -
Apprentice Air Technician Weapons
Royal Air ForceUK -
Sky Apprenticeships (Register Interest)
SkyUK -
National Trust Apprenticeship Scheme
National TrustUK -
National Grid Apprenticeship Schemes
National GridUK -
BMW Apprenticeships 2025 (Register Interest)
BMWUK
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Search all jobs.
Top employers in Oxford
Oxford’s most prominent employers are a mix of manufacturing, education, healthcare and more. Some of the largest Oxford employers include:
Living and working in Oxford
Oxford, nicknamed the City of Dreaming Spires, is a historic cathedral city that blends architectural marvels with equally beautiful green spaces and modern living.
The city is home to many students and graduates who don’t want to leave after completing their courses.
This young educated population makes jobs competitive and the cost of living is high.
However, there are many career opportunities across various industries.
For example, Oxford attracts over 7 million tourists a year, creating jobs in leisure and tourism, and hospitality.
Oxford is abundant in history and culture. From Britain’s oldest public museum, the Ashmolean Museum, and Blenheim Palace (the birthplace of Winston Churchill) to the Harry Potter locations tour and the Oxford Artisan Distillery, there is something for everyone.
Foodies are well catered to, with a smorgasbord of culinary delights from Indian, Sri Lankan and Tibetian street food to Raymond Blanc’s two-Michelin star restaurant, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.
There’s no shortage of excellent pubs either, from ‘pizza pub’ The White Rabbit, to the Magdalen Arms.
It is a bike-friendly city, with plenty of indoor and outdoor sports available all year round.
Hikers can visit the Cotswolds, and there are several Green Flag-awarded parks and green spaces, including Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park, St Sepulchre’s Cemetery, Bury Knowle Park and Blackbird Leys Park.
Oxford’s main industries are education, health, and social care, but there are also many opportunities in science, law, politics, and the creative arts.
Degree apprenticeships in Oxford
Degree apprenticeships are a partnership between a reputable university and an employer.
The University of Oxford was ranked 37th in RateMy Apprenticeships Best 100 Employer’s Awards. The University provides over 600 Government-approved degree apprenticeships in specialist subjects such as Horticulture, carpentry and cultural heritage, plus technical subjects and professional services.
Industry spotlight
As home to one-half of the renowned Oxbridge universities, it is no surprise that education is the most prominent industry in Oxford. Oxford Wiltshire Berkshire Teacher Training offer a Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship, Oxford County Council also offers teaching apprenticeships from Teaching Assistant (Level 3) to Early Years (Level 2 and 3).
Oxford University Hospitals is a major apprenticeship provider, with subjects ranging from pharmacy services and healthcare support workers to business administration and science assistants. These apprenticeships are available at different levels. Many include practical placements at hospitals in clinical or laboratory settings as appropriate.
With Oxford’s esteemed literary history, it is not surprising that publishing is a significant industry in the city. Offered by companies such as the Publishers Association, a Publishing Assistant (Level 3) or Publishing Professional (Level 4) apprenticeship gives successful candidates a grounding in publishing ethics, editing, marketing and more.
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a programme where you work and earn a living wage while studying for a qualification to boost your expertise and earning potential.
Apprenticeships offer several benefits to apprentices, businesses and the UK Government, including:
Apprentice:
- Apprentice learns on the job
- No student loans or tuition fees
- Earns at least a living wage
- Gain industry-recognised qualifications
- An apprentice can usually train faster than a university course
Employer:
- Upskill their workforce
- Gets apprentices part-funded
- An apprentice can usually train faster than a university course
Government:
- Upskill the UK workforce
- Diversify the workforce by encouraging participation from untypical sources
- An apprentice can usually train faster than a university course
Boost Your Employability
Why Choose an Apprenticeship?
Personal Mentoring
Oxford apprentices will be mentored by senior members of staff at their chosen company. This hands-on consistent contact is an effective mythos of learning all aspects of the job role first-hand while still training. Most apprenticeships monitor progress through periodic assessments, and your mentor can also help you to prepare for tests and evaluations.
Work to Live
All UK apprentices are guaranteed at least the minimum living wage for their age group. Beyond that, your pay is determined by your employer so some companies and roles will be more lucrative than others.
Numbers Are Growing
UK apprenticeships are growing in numbers and popularity, up 1.3% for 2024/2025 from the previous year. This means more young people and those wanting to switch careers have an alternative route from university or ‘working their way up’ over several years. Apprenticeships help diversify and upskill the UK workforce, hence being allocated Government funding.
UpSkill
UK apprenticeships are structured into four levels: Level 2 (Intermediate), Level 3 (Advanced), Levels 4- 5 (Higher), and Levels 6-7 (Degree).
Each apprenticeship has different entry requirements and corresponds to a qualification you will work towards. Higher-level apprenticeships and beyond are typically for specialising or gaining industry qualifications necessary to progress in your chosen field.
Debt-free Degrees
With tuition fees, set texts, accommodation and day-to-day living, attending a university can be prohibitively expensive.
On an apprenticeship, you will earn a living wage and your tuition will be funded by the Government and your employer. You don’t have to struggle to balance a low-paid job alongside your studies to pay your way. And when you graduate, there won’t be any student loans waiting to be paid.
The Right Fit
New apprenticeships are created every year in almost every industry. Specialist jobs in the public and private sectors, such as medicine and teaching, that once required lengthy and costly university courses are becoming easier to access through apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships in Oxford run the gamut from education and healthcare to publishing and technology, so you will find something to suit you.
To learn more about current apprenticeships in Oxford and beyond, use our location and subject search filters and let us know if you have any questions.
