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Civil Service

Public Sector9 apprenticeship types
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The Civil Service offers apprenticeships from Level 2 to Level 7 across government departments and agencies, open to anyone aged 16 or over who meets the Civil Service nationality rules. Alongside department-run vacancies, it runs cross-government schemes in cyber security, digital (TechTrack), economics, social research and business administration (Career Launch), all advertised on Civil Service Jobs.

Programmes

8 tracked · status for the next intake that is recruiting

Apprenticeship types

9 offered · degree apprenticeships first

  • Government Security Cyber Degree Apprenticeship

    Level 6Degree

    Cyber · 4 years

    More about this programme: Government Security Cyber Degree Apprenticeship
    Standard
    Cyber Security Technical Professional (Integrated Degree)
    Qualification
    Cyber Security Technical Professional (Integrated Degree)
    University or provider
    Not published
    Business areas
    Government Security
    Locations
    Across the UK

    Permanent contract; rotations across departments. Page said 'applications currently closed' and still referred to the 2025/6 intake.

    Source for Government Security Cyber Degree Apprenticeship

  • Government Economic Service Degree Apprenticeship Programme (GESDAP)

    Level 6Degree

    Economics · Duration not published

    More about this programme: Government Economic Service Degree Apprenticeship Programme (GESDAP)
    Standard
    Not published
    Qualification
    Economics degree from the University of Kent (title not stated)
    University or provider
    University of Kent
    Business areas
    Economics
    Locations
    Birmingham, Bristol, Coventry, Croydon, Darlington, Harwell, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Salford, Sheffield, Titchfield, Wolverhampton, York

    Four days a week in a department and one day online study. Level 6 inferred from 'degree apprenticeship'. Locations are those listed for the latest published intake. Closed for applications.

    Source for Government Economic Service Degree Apprenticeship Programme (GESDAP)

  • Government Social Research Degree Apprenticeship Programme (GSRDAP)

    Level 6Degree

    Social Research · 4 years

    More about this programme: Government Social Research Degree Apprenticeship Programme (GSRDAP)
    Standard
    Social researcher (level 6)
    Qualification
    Honours degree in Applied Social Research (University of Kent)
    University or provider
    University of Kent
    Business areas
    Social Research
    Locations
    Across the UK

    Guaranteed permanent social researcher role on completion. From 2026 people who already hold a degree are not eligible. Closed for applications.

    Source for Government Social Research Degree Apprenticeship Programme (GSRDAP)

  • Government Security Cyber Apprenticeship

    Level 4

    Cyber · 2 years

    More about this programme: Government Security Cyber Apprenticeship
    Standard
    Cyber Security Technologist
    Qualification
    Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist
    University or provider
    Not published
    Business areas
    Government Security
    Locations
    Across the UK

    Fixed-term appointment with the chance to move into a permanent departmental job.

    Source for Government Security Cyber Apprenticeship

  • TechTrack Software Developer Apprenticeship

    Level 4

    Software Engineering · 2 years

    More about this programme: TechTrack Software Developer Apprenticeship
    Standard
    Software Developer
    Qualification
    Not published
    University or provider
    Makers Academy
    Business areas
    Government Digital and Data
    Locations
    England

    TechTrack roles start at Higher Executive Officer (HEO) level; open to existing civil servants and external applicants in England.

    Source for TechTrack Software Developer Apprenticeship

  • TechTrack DevOps Engineer Apprenticeship

    Level 4

    Software Engineering · 2 years

    More about this programme: TechTrack DevOps Engineer Apprenticeship
    Standard
    DevOps Engineer
    Qualification
    Not published
    University or provider
    Makers Academy
    Business areas
    Government Digital and Data
    Locations
    England
    Source for TechTrack DevOps Engineer Apprenticeship

  • TechTrack Business Analyst Apprenticeship

    Level 4

    Business · 18 months

    More about this programme: TechTrack Business Analyst Apprenticeship
    Standard
    Business Analyst
    Qualification
    Not published
    University or provider
    BPP
    Business areas
    Government Digital and Data
    Locations
    England
    Source for TechTrack Business Analyst Apprenticeship

  • TechTrack Cyber Security Technologist Apprenticeship

    Level 4

    Cyber · 18 months

    More about this programme: TechTrack Cyber Security Technologist Apprenticeship
    Standard
    Cyber Security Technologist
    Qualification
    Not published
    University or provider
    BPP (Estio)
    Business areas
    Government Digital and Data
    Locations
    England

    Pathways - Security Engineer, Risk Analyst, Defend and Respond.

    Source for TechTrack Cyber Security Technologist Apprenticeship

  • Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship

    Level 3

    Business · 2 years

    More about this programme: Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship
    Standard
    Business Administrator
    Qualification
    Level 3 Business Administrator
    University or provider
    Not published
    Business areas
    Administration
    Locations
    Birmingham, London, Manchester

    2-year fixed-term contract at Administrative Officer (AO) grade. 2026 window closed.

    Source for Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

Accepts UCAS pointsFrom 96 UCAS pointsA levels from CCC
A levels
Scheme-specific. GESDAP and GSRDAP: e.g. CCC at A level (96 UCAS points). Government Security Cyber: 120 UCAS points.
UCAS points
96 (economics and social research degree apprenticeships); 120 (Government Security Cyber)
GCSEs
Career Launch: at least two GCSEs at 9-4/A-C. GESDAP: five GCSEs incl. Maths 6/B and English 4/C. GSRDAP: five GCSEs incl. Maths and English 4/C.
Equivalents
Equivalent qualifications accepted (UCAS tariff)
Other
Must meet Civil Service nationality rules; aged 16+ (Career Launch: 16+ and not in full-time education; cyber schemes: 18 by October of the application year). GESDAP/GSRDAP require 3 years' UK residence before the start. Security vetting applies.

As Civil Service publishes them; requirements differ between programmes, so check the advert before you apply.

Application process

  1. Apply on Civil Service Jobs
  2. Assessment/interview
  3. Offer
  4. Start
  1. 1

    Apply on Civil Service Jobs

    Applications are assessed using Civil Service Success Profiles.

  2. 2

    Assessment/interview

    When: Career Launch: interviews in October

    Cyber L4 and L6 applicants are assessed once; the L6 centre has extra assessments.

  3. 3

    Offer

    When: Career Launch: by end of November

    Subject to pre-employment checks and security vetting.

  4. 4

    Start

    When: Career Launch: onboarding from December, learning starts early in the new year; GSRDAP: September

Typical timeline

Opens
Career Launch: August (2025 cycle)
Closes
Not published
Assessment
Career Launch: October
Offers
Career Launch: end of November
Starts
Career Launch: January; GSRDAP: September

Locations and universities

Locations
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Universities and training providers
University of Kent, Makers Academy, BPP

Salary and benefits

Starting salary
Career Launch: at least £23,512 (37 hours/week). Government Security Cyber: £24,327 nationally or £28,050 in London.
Progression
Government Security Cyber degree: advancement opportunity with a pay rise after 2 years.
Notes
GESDAP minimum for the 2024 cohort was £24,000 nationally and £26,780 in London. Other schemes vary by department.
Benefits
  • Civil Service pension scheme
  • Flexible working in most roles
  • Paid annual leave and all UK bank holidays
  • Cycle to Work and season ticket advance
  • Fee-free degree on degree apprenticeships

Cohort size and intakes

Intake years
2026 intake
Cohort 2027
Not published
Cohort 2026
Not published
Cohort 2025
Not published

What stands out

Thousands of people start an apprenticeship in the Civil Service every year. GESDAP was the UK's first economics degree apprenticeship and GSRDAP the first social research degree apprenticeship; 97% of GESDAP's first cohort achieved a 2:1 or above.

Sources

Where every fact above comes from
  1. 1
    civil-service-careers.gov.uk/apprenticeships

    Accessed · Levels 2-7, professions, eligibility (nationality rules, 16+)

  2. 2
    civil-service-careers.gov.uk/apprenticeships/career-launch

    Accessed · Career Launch: L3 Business Administrator, 2 years, cities, salary, timeline, GCSEs

  3. 3
    civil-service-careers.gov.uk/government-security-cyber-degree-apprenticeship-level-6

    Accessed · Cyber L6: 4 years, integrated degree, salary, 120 UCAS, age

  4. 4
    civil-service-careers.gov.uk/government-security-cyber-apprenticeship-level-4

    Accessed · Cyber L4: 2-year fixed term, Cyber Security Technologist

  5. 5
    civil-service-careers.gov.uk/professions/working-in-digital-data-and-technology/techtrack

    Accessed · TechTrack L4 roles, durations, providers, HEO grade

  6. 6
    civil-service-careers.gov.uk/ges-how-to-apply-for-our-apprenticeship-programme

    Accessed · GESDAP: University of Kent, entry requirements, locations, 2024 pay

  7. 7
    gov.uk/guidance/government-social-research-degree-apprenticeship-programme

    Accessed · GSRDAP: 4 years, Applied Social Research degree, Kent, entry requirements, September start

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