Accessing Apprenticeships
for Refugees in the UK
Read our booklet!
Explore the stories of 3 women from refugee backgrounds who secured apprenticeships.
Understand why apprenticeships are beneficial as an employment pathway that incorporates learning, how these women responded to big challenges, and some top tips if you are in the same situation.
Our work advocating for change: Making apprenticeships accessible for all
In January 2026, we developed a policy brief in collaboration with Refugee Education UK. This brief presents simple, effective policy recommendations to unlock access to apprenticeship funding for refugee learners.
A policy win! As reported in the Financial Times, in March 2026, the Department for Work and Pensions announced its plan to allow providers to fund learners whose visas would run out before the apprenticeship is finished.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Are refugees eligible to apply for apprenticeships in the UK?
Yes!
Based on the Apprenticeship Funding Rules for August 2025 to July 2026, refugees are eligible to apply for apprenticeships.
See Annex A: Residency eligibility criteria (who we fund), paragraphs 334–335, pp. 127–131.
2) Are there any eligibility criteria exemptions for refugees?
Yes!
Refugees are exempt from the 3-year residency requirement rule that applies to all non-UK citizens. In practice, this means that if you have been in the UK for less than 3 years since your status was granted, you are still eligible to apply.
Many employers and training providers are not aware of this exemption.
See Annex A: Residency eligibility criteria (who we fund), paragraph 334, pp. 127.
3) Are asylum seekers eligible to apply for apprenticeships in the UK?
No
Unfortunately, the 2025/2026 funding rules state that asylum seekers, with or without the right to work, are not eligible to apply for apprenticeships.
See Annex A: Residency eligibility criteria (who we fund), paragraph 335, pp. 131.
Please note that the apprenticeship funding rules are subject to change, and they change annually. The information in these FAQs was produced in April 2026 and may not reflect current funding rules. Please make sure you always seek out the up-to-date policies, inform yourself on the current situation, and seek out legal advice if you need it.
Interested in learning more? We partner with businesses, training providers, and employment support organisations on the professional integration of refugee women in London. Reach out if you want to collaborate!