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Get a degree in business leadership and management while earning a salary and without paying tuition fees

Ken Gulson

4 min read

Ken Gulson is the Course Leader for our Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. Here he explains what the degree apprenticeship is and why it can lead to a prosperous career path. 

Studying for a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship allows you to earn money, while working towards a degree, without paying any tuition fees. You’ll develop your business leadership and management skills, and improve your job prospects, while working full-time and studying at university level. 

You’ll develop your skills in business accounting, business strategy, managing and leading a team, and marketing. You'll also learn professional management and leadership principles and how to think quickly, critically and analytically.

What is the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship scheme? 

The Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship scheme was developed by the Government, business leaders, universities and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) to address the shortage of qualified managers in some of the UK’s key industries. 

As degree apprenticeships were developed between the Government, employers and universities, you’ll learn skills that will be in high demand in the future. You’ll also leave university with a nationally recognised qualification.

Who pays the tuition fees?

As you study for the degree while working, your employer or the Government pay your tuition fees, including assessment fees. You only need to budget for any additional costs such as books and printing. You can find more information about additional costs on our Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship course page

Organisations with an annual pay bill of over £3 million pay an apprenticeship levy to the Government, which covers the cost of their employees’ apprenticeships. Organisations with an annual pay bill of less than £3 million only pay five per cent of the fees and the Government pays the rest.

Who is this apprenticeship for?

You need to be over 18 to apply and keen to become one of the leaders of the future.

A Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship can support your career development and progression at any time, whether you're at the start of your career or already established. You also need to be in employment either with an employer who already offers degree apprenticeships or an employer who is willing to explore the degree apprenticeship route.

How long does it take and how will I study?

The degree apprenticeship is a three-year course. We work closely with your employer to determine how you will study – it might be completely online, or a combination of distance learning and teaching sessions on campus.

Courses are designed so that students can develop leadership and management skills and earn a degree while working full time.

Ken Gulson, Senior Teaching Fellow

How will this degree apprenticeship benefit my employer?

You’ll develop skills that are valuable to employers and will be able to apply them to your workplace straight away. The course is designed in partnership with your employer so we make sure it’s structured around your job, and that your work and study commitments are aligned.  

How will this degree apprenticeship boost my career prospects?

Students of the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship graduate as confident management professionals who have learned to lead and manage people, projects, operations and services that are essential to the UK’s future in virtually any industry. You’ll be given the grounding in business skills that are fundamental to all organisations so your skills will apply to numerous sectors. 

You’ll also be granted Chartered Manager status, which is the highest status you can achieve in the management and leadership profession.

How do I apply?

If you’re already working, we’ll need to speak to your current employer about how we can work together before you can apply. Your employer will need to contact us to discuss next steps.

If you’re keen to embark on a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship with a new employer, the best thing you can do is look for employment with a company that offers them. You can visit the UCAS website or the Gov.uk degree apprenticeship search to see current vacancies.

You can read more information about applying on our ‘how to apply’ page.

Ken Gulson is Senior Teaching Fellow in accounting and financial management in the Faculty of Business and Law