Foundation Apprenticeship is completed while you are at school over one or two years, starting in S5 or S6. You will spend some time away from school at college and on work placement with an employer. Practical work experience is a great opportunity to start your career and will look good on your CV or personal statement.

Most Foundation Apprenticeships are studied at SCQF Level 6, and many colleges and universities will accept them as equivalent to one SQA Higher. There are also three new Foundation Apprenticeships available at SCQF Levels 4 and 5.

After completing a Foundation apprenticeship, depending on the other qualifications you may be studying for, you could either go straight into employment, into a Modern or Graduate Apprenticeship, or onto a college or university course.

See types of Foundation Apprenticeships here.

A Modern Apprenticeship (MA) is a job with training where you work towards a recognised formal qualification, for example a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ). Your employer pays you a wage and helps you gain valuable experience and workplace skills.

They are available at two levels: SCQF Level 5 and SCQF Level 6/7. Often, apprenticeships cover both levels of training.

There are other levels of apprenticeship in Scotland. One of these, Technical Apprenticeships at SCQF Levels 8 and 9, are also available to school leavers. These are sometimes also called Higher Apprenticeships.

There are over 80 types of MA, from banking and construction to hairdressing and rail engineering.

An MA might be right for you if you prefer to learn from hands-on experience, and would prefer part time rather than full time study. Being able to earn while you learn is another plus point.

See types of Modern Apprenticeships here.

Graduate Apprenticeships are ideal if you want to gain valuable industry experience, while earning both money and a degree at the same time. This means you will have the same learning opportunities as those who go straight to college or university as well as those taking the alternate route of full time work.

Graduate Apprenticeships are developed with employers, industry representatives, universities and colleges.

Some graduate apprenticeships offer salary ranges of between £12,000 and £15,000 a year, with others ranging between £15,000 and £25,500 a year.

Graduate Apprenticeships are available at 3 levels of qualification: Diploma at SCQF Level 8, Honours degree at SCQF Level 10 and Master’s Degree at SCQF Level 11.

There are currently 11 types of Graduate Apprenticeship in business, computing, construction and engineering disciplines.

See types of Graduate Apprenticeships here.