Have you been applying to apprenticeships without any success? Has this led to you questioning if an apprenticeship is the right choice for you and maybe university is a better choice? Today’s livestream on 31 January 2026 was a very focused discussion regarding degrees, in particular issues with the UK university system, university options, and apprenticeships.

Understanding Right to Work and DBS Requirements

The first question received was a short question regarding why organisations ask for right to workLegal permission to work in the UK and information for DBSDisclosure and Barring Service – criminal records check. @careeradviceuk explained that without showing right to work, the interview cannot occur because an offer cannot be made without proof that you have the right to work in the UK. Likewise, information for DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service – criminal records background check in the UK) is required because a formal offer cannot be made until the DBS is received and any offer made will be subject to a successful DBS.

Careers Without Degrees: Breaking the Myth

This early discussion brought on a long conversation regarding apprenticeships and universities. Early in the livestream a viewer asks @careeradviceuk what they felt about careers without degrees. Responding to the question, @careeradviceuk stated not all careers require degrees. There are a lot of good paying jobs, like the trades and construction, that don’t require a formal degree.

Likewise, @careeradviceuk shared that there are organisations that provide good training programs that can lead to good paying jobs within the organisation that don’t require degrees but instead a deep understanding of how the company operates.

The Problem with “Useless Degrees” in the UK

Another viewer mentioned UK universities offer a lot of useless degrees. @careeradviceuk did agree with the comment and felt a lot of the so-called “useless degrees” stemmed from universities reacting to a changing society that is becoming more interconnected. As a result, a lot of questionable degrees like international business, tourism management, and creative writing emerged.

Also, @careeradviceuk felt since there are a lot of schools offering university level education, many degrees have been “watered down,” like the MBA (Masters in Business Administration) and law. The creation of a large number of choices has devalued the degree and diminished employability skills, @careeradviceuk felt.

UK vs US University System: Key Differences

The viewer felt UK universities were behind other developed nations with their university education system and felt one of the issues was that UK universities were not free.

@careeradviceuk agreed and felt that UK university was too limiting, forcing those with no career or life experience to make life-changing choices about their careers. To highlight the difference, @careeradviceuk used the US university system as an example.

Under the US system, students can apply to any degree program they choose and typically, depending on the program and university, do not have to declare their degree choice until their second or third year. Plus the US system allows portabilityAbility to transfer credits between universities. Thereby allowing the student to change universities and/or programs, before the end of their third year, with minimal to no penalty.

The Apprenticeship Challenge: Why So Difficult?

Next, a viewer asked about apprenticeships and the difficulty of getting an apprenticeship. @careeradviceuk suggested that there are a few reasons:

First, apprenticeships are competitive due to the limited number of spots available. This means organisations offering apprenticeships can be selective and many times those with qualifications and/or experience in the area, from @careeradviceuk’s experience, will tend to get the spot.

Second, @careeradviceuk suggested timing. The apprenticeships may show at certain times of the year.

Finally, location can be a part. It may be there are limited opportunities in the viewer’s area.

Strategies for Landing an Apprenticeship

The viewer stated they were looking at specific organisations and did not want to work for a small organisation. Responding to that request, @careeradviceuk suggested sending out a speculative CV along with using social media to network with the various organisations. @careeradviceuk emphasised the need for resilience and the need to network.

The viewer stated the frustration they felt in not being able to land an apprenticeship while their other friends were at university planning their careers. Finally, @careeradviceuk asked if they felt maybe university was a better choice since they have spent several years trying to land an apprenticeship without any luck.

The Bigger Picture: Systemic Issues

Today’s livestream truly highlighted the frustrations associated with apprenticeships and some of the perceived downfalls of the UK university system. It does leave one to question if some of the issues lie in the fact the UK post-secondary system is giving too many choices and is too bureaucratic to function.

If the government streamlined the system, could it work better for both those who want a university education and those who want an apprenticeship?