BA Early Learning and Childcare (Graduate Apprenticeship) *: Information for Employers

QMU is now recruiting for a new Graduate Apprenticeship degree for early years practitioners to start in September 2027.

The Graduate Apprenticeship is a well-established and successful learning programme where your employees can build a rewarding career in early learning and childcare, learning in a real-world environment, and earning a wage.

“Demand for Graduate Apprenticeships is increasing year on year with an increasing number of Scottish employers using work-based learning to meet their critical skills needs.”

Diane Greenlees, SDS Director of Critical Skills and Occupations

For employers, it is an opportunity for recruitment, training and staff development. Your role is critically important in supporting your Graduate Apprentice, offering mentoring as well as creating opportunities for them to apply their learning in the workplace.

Tuition fees are fully funded by the Scottish Government through SAAS.

*Subject to validation

Why QMU?

Queen Margaret University previously delivered a Graduate Apprenticeship programme (in Business Management). We’re immensely proud of our hard-working, motivated Graduate Apprentices, with over 55% having achieved First Class with Honours. We have developed innovative teaching methods, including flexible scheduling of learning activities, and employ a state-of-the-art online learning platform. We are now looking to have the same success in the early years sector, drawing on an academic team who are experts in their field, and actively involved in research activities, ensuring that our new Graduate Apprenticeship will be up to date and relevant.

Developing this Graduate Apprenticeship

QMU’s new BA Early Learning and Childcare (Graduate Apprenticeship) has been developed in partnership with local authority and independent early years educators, ensuring that our degree programme responds to the contemporary early learning and childcare sector. Most learning happens in your workplace on projects which can benefit your early years setting. For example, students will reflect on their practice, apply new knowledge immediately, and share their learning with your wider team, ensuring the whole setting benefits from their professional growth.

Registration with SSSC

Completion of the two-year degree leads to registration for graduates at PRACTITIONER level in Day Care of Children Services with the Scottish Social Services Council. With further study, it can also support progression to a managerial role in the sector or to wider academic or teaching roles.

What are the key benefits to employers?

“Our Graduate Apprenticeship programme has been designed with the contemporary ELC landscape in mind. With QMU’s experience in early years and our strength in online learning, we’re excited to offer something that genuinely helps practitioners grow and makes a positive difference for children and families.”

Dr Caralyn Blaisdell, Senior Lecturer in Education, Programme Leader

The Graduate Apprenticeship degree is a three-way partnership of employee, employer and university. For employers, it offers an innovative, cost-effective way to attract and retain highly skilled, motivated, and ambitious employees. By supporting a Graduate Apprentice on their academic journey, you add skills and strengths to your organisation or business, whatever its size.

Save on training costs: There are no tuition fees for employers participating in the Graduate Apprenticeship programme. All employers are expected to maintain the employee’s full contracted salary.
Hire new employees or encourage existing staff to thrive: The Graduate Apprenticeship programme helps you identify committed practitioners who are ready to grow into future leaders within your setting and across the sector. Investing in their learning supports retention by helping staff feel valued and recognised, while strengthening workforce planning by developing your next generation of leaders. It can also help you recruit and welcome new people into your organisation.
Build expertise in your team: Graduate Apprentices are supported by a workplace mentor. In turn, mentors will be supported through training and networking, giving employers a valuable way to develop confident leaders and mentors, share best practice, and contribute to growing strength and expertise within your team.
Strengthening practice and encouraging innovation: QMU offers a supportive, student centred environment that nurtures curiosity and innovation. Graduate Apprentices build strong knowledge and expertise in early learning and childcare, while also developing wider professional qualities — including digital skills, resilience, adaptability, creative problem solving, effective communication and collaborative practice that makes a positive difference for children and families.
Meet current and future sector needs: Graduate Apprentices contribute directly to everyday practice within your setting, bringing fresh ideas and up to date approaches that benefit children and families. Their involvement also offers mentors the chance to grow their leadership confidence, helping to strengthen your team for the years ahead.

Do Graduate Apprenticeships cost employers?

Employers do not pay fees for the Graduate Apprentice’s training and education. Tuition fees for this degree are paid by Students Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). Graduate Apprenticeship students enter directly into Year Two, meaning the full degree is completed in two years instead of the usual three. Both work-based activities and academic study count towards the qualification.

Most of the learning takes place in the workplace as part of the Graduate Apprentice’s normal job. They also complete two taught modules per semester. Taught modules are mainly comprised of flexible self-directed activities, and we expect students to spend around 6 hours a week on these, plus about 6 hours of independent study. Each module will include two scheduled online seminars. There will also be occasional on campus days where students can come together and learn alongside other Graduate Apprentices on the programme.

This is considered part of the Graduate Apprentice’s normal work, and you are expected to pay your Graduate Apprentice’s full contracted wage and accommodate scheduled activities whenever possible.

Which employers can partner with QMU’s Graduate Apprenticeship programme?

Graduate Apprenticeships are open to early years employers of all sizes and sectors in Scotland, helping to build high-quality practice in the profession now and in the future.

What is expected of employers supporting a Graduate Apprentice?

Typically, you would be expected to:

meet the academic team at QMU initially to agree the work-based projects that you will support in your setting;
attend one meeting per semester with QMU and your Graduate Apprentice normally on Teams; and
appoint a workplace mentor to support the Graduate Apprentice through their studies and to contribute to developing the training and assessment elements. QMU offers a range of activities to support employers, such as mentor training and ongoing contact with sector-experienced lecturers.

Which employees can be put forward for a Graduate Apprenticeship degree?

The BA Early Learning and Childcare (Graduate Apprenticeship) is open to existing employees and new recruits working full- or part-time in early years settings in Scotland.
The Graduate Apprenticeship begins directly into Year Two. Therefore, applicants must have their HNC in Childhood Practice (or be currently studying for this HNC) in order to be considered. We may also consider equivalent practice qualifications and relevant experience.

They must also be,

aged sixteen or over (there is no maximum age limit);
resident in Scotland and have been living here for three years before starting the degree*;
normally working in an early year setting in Scotland for a minimum of 21 hours per week; and,
able to show that they have the right to work in Scotland.

*Students must be living (ordinarily resident) in Scotland on the day their course starts, where ‘ordinarily resident’ means to have 'habitual and normal residence in one place'. The Scottish Government expects someone who is ordinarily resident in Scotland to have made their home in Scotland with the intention of staying and living here, and not just to undertake a course of study.
We welcome applications from mature students with relevant qualifications.

What’s next? Get in touch with QMU

Please contact Nicky Orr, Industry Engagement Officer, ILO@qmu.ac.uk.